VBTLX vs BND: which was the better investment?
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares against Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Apr 10, 2007 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VBTLX beat BND?
It was effectively a tie over the full overlap period (Apr 10, 2007 to Jul 13, 2026): $10,000 grew to $17,804 in VBTLX and $17,647 in BND, a difference of under 2%.
What would $10,000 in VBTLX be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBTLX) on Apr 10, 2007 would be worth about $17,804 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 78.0% (3.0% per year). The same $10,000 in BND would be worth $17,647.
Which was riskier — VBTLX or BND?
VBTLX swung with an annualized volatility of 4.6% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -18.7%; BND ran at 5.2% volatility with a -18.6% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.23 for VBTLX vs 0.19 for BND.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Apr 10, 2007 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with VBTLX vs BND. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.