VWSUX vs. VWSTX
VWSUX (Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares) and VWSTX (Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares) are both Municipal Bonds funds from Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VWSUX returned 2.01%/yr vs 1.95%/yr for VWSTX. With a 0.99 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. VWSUX charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.17%/yr for VWSTX.
Performance
VWSUX vs. VWSTX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with VWSUX having a 1.20% return and VWSTX slightly lower at 1.17%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VWSUX having a 2.01% annualized return and VWSTX not far behind at 1.95%.
VWSUX
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- 0.38%
- YTD
- 1.20%
- 6M
- 1.54%
- 1Y
- 3.76%
- 3Y*
- 4.17%
- 5Y*
- 2.54%
- 10Y*
- 2.01%
VWSTX
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- 0.37%
- YTD
- 1.17%
- 6M
- 1.50%
- 1Y
- 3.68%
- 3Y*
- 4.16%
- 5Y*
- 2.51%
- 10Y*
- 1.95%
VWSUX vs. VWSTX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWSUX Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 1.20% | 4.90% | 3.77% | 3.70% | -0.73% | 0.19% | 1.91% | 2.59% | 1.67% | 1.10% |
VWSTX Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 1.17% | 4.79% | 3.68% | 3.87% | -0.81% | 0.17% | 1.82% | 2.50% | 1.59% | 1.00% |
Correlation
The correlation between VWSUX and VWSTX is 1.00 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.00 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 1.00 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.00 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.00 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 13, 2001 | 0.99 |
The correlation between VWSUX and VWSTX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.99 to 1.00 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VWSUX vs. VWSTX — Risk / Return Rank
VWSUX
VWSTX
VWSUX vs. VWSTX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWSUX) and Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWSTX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| VWSUX | VWSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.02 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.19 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 2.71 | 2.67 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 5.57 | 5.45 | +0.12 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 24.88 | 24.05 | +0.84 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VWSUX | VWSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.46 | 3.44 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 2.09 | 2.08 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.80 | 1.76 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 2.05 | 2.04 | +0.02 |
Drawdowns
VWSUX vs. VWSTX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWSUX drawdown since its inception was -3.08%, roughly equal to the maximum VWSTX drawdown of -3.09%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWSUX and VWSTX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWSUX | VWSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -3.08% | -3.09% | +0.01% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.69% | -0.69% | 0.00% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.01% | -1.01% | 0.00% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -2.23% | -2.32% | +0.09% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -3.08% | -3.08% | 0.00% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.15% | -0.32% | +0.17% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.15% | 0.16% | -0.01% |
Volatility
VWSUX vs. VWSTX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWSUX) and Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares (VWSTX) have volatilities of 0.39% and 0.38%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VWSUX | VWSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.39% | 0.38% | +0.01% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.82% | 0.81% | +0.01% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.11% | 1.09% | +0.02% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.23% | 1.21% | +0.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.12% | 1.11% | +0.01% |
VWSUX vs. VWSTX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWSUX has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than VWSTX's 0.17% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VWSUX vs. VWSTX - Dividend Comparison
VWSUX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.12%, more than VWSTX's 3.04% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWSTX Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Shares | 3.04% | 3.90% | 3.73% | 2.42% | 1.16% | 0.61% | 1.17% | 1.71% | 1.45% | 1.06% | 0.87% | 0.70% |
VWSUX Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 3.12% | 4.00% | 3.82% | 2.27% | 1.24% | 0.63% | 1.26% | 1.79% | 1.53% | 1.16% | 0.97% | 0.78% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 1.00, VWSUX and VWSTX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VWSUX has higher volatility (0.39%) compared to VWSTX (0.38%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VWSUX dropped -3.08% vs VWSTX's -3.09%.
VWSUX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.46 vs 3.44), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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