VTIP vs TIP: which was the better investment?
Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF against iShares TIPS Bond ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Oct 16, 2012 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VTIP beat TIP?
Yes — measured from Oct 16, 2012 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, VTIP came out ahead: $13,528 versus $12,579 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 2.2% annual return against 1.7%.
What would $10,000 in VTIP be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF (VTIP) on Oct 16, 2012 would be worth about $13,528 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 35.3% (2.2% per year). The same $10,000 in TIP would be worth $12,579.
Which was riskier — VTIP or TIP?
VTIP swung with an annualized volatility of 2.5% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -6.3%; TIP ran at 5.6% volatility with a -14.5% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.09 for VTIP vs -0.06 for TIP.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Oct 16, 2012 through Jul 15, 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 VTIP vs TIP. 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.