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VBTLX · Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares
Over the last 15 years (2011-10 to 2026-10), $10,000 invested in VBTLX with dividends reinvested grew to $12,630, 1.56% a year, with a worst peak-to-trough fall of -17.76%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Growth of $10,000 · 2011-10 to 2026-10 · dividends reinvested
How VBTLX held up in past market crashes
VBTLX has been through 4 of the market crashes since 2000 in our data. Its deepest price fall was 16.0% in the 2022 bear market, when the S&P 500 fell 25.4%. Its price had not yet regained that high by the latest close (price only, not counting the dividends or interest it paid). No fund is safe from losses; past falls do not predict future ones.
| Crash | VBTLX deepest fall | S&P 500 (SPY) | Peak to bottom | Back to peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 financial crisis | -7.6% | -56.5% | Jan 2008 to Oct 2008 | 10 months |
| 2018 fourth-quarter selloff | -1.4% | -20.2% | Sep 2018 to Nov 2018 | 1 months |
| 2020 COVID crash | -6.5% | -34.1% | Mar 2020 to Mar 2020 | 3 months |
| 2022 bear market | -16.0% | -25.4% | Jan 2022 to Oct 2022 | Not yet |
Price declines in the fund's listing currency, dividends not included, inside each crash's S&P 500 peak-to-bottom window. See how 50 popular ETFs compare in the crash study.
About VBTLX
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Admiral Shares is a mutual fund designed to offer broad, diversified exposure to the investment-grade U.S. bond market. Its primary function is to track the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index, which encompasses a wide array of fixed income securities including U.S. Treasuries, government agency bonds, mortgage-backed, asset-backed, and corporate bonds, all denominated in U.S. dollars and with maturities over one year. Notably, the fund excludes riskier credit instruments and bonds with equity-like characteristics, focusing instead on high-quality, investment-grade debt. This conservative approach results in a portfolio where over 70% of holdings have AAA or AA ratings, emphasizing stability and credit quality. The fund’s substantial weighting in U.S. Treasuries and its low expense ratio support its role as a core bond holding, suitable for investors seeking broad market coverage and consistent income from monthly dividends. Since its inception in 2001, it has played a significant role in providing investors with a cost-effective means of accessing the total U.S. bond market, supporting portfolio diversification and risk mitigation.
Put VBTLX to the test
Every tool below opens prefilled with VBTLX: free, no account needed.
Backtest VBTLX →
Full history, any date range, benchmarks, drawdowns, rolling returns.
Would VBTLX survive 2008? →
What actually happened to it in the crisis: real drawdown and recovery.
Project it forward →
Monte Carlo simulation of where it could go from here.
Compare VBTLX vs VTI →
Side by side with the total US market: returns, drawdowns and volatility over their shared history.
Replay $100/mo into VBTLX →
Animated growth of steady monthly contributions.
Fundamentals →
Holdings-level financials where available.
Educational use only, not investment advice. Results are hypothetical.Read full disclaimer
This tool is for educational and informational purposes only and does not provide financial, investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Results are hypothetical and based on historical data and assumptions that may be inaccurate. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult a licensed professional before making investment decisions.