VGHAX vs VTBNX
Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares vs Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund Institutional Shares
Which is better, VGHAX or VTBNX?
Large Cap Growth against Long Term High Quality.
VTBNX has a lower expense ratio.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | VGHAX | VTBNX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.27% | 0.02%Best |
| AUM | $32.8B | $207.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.15% | 3.80% |
| Holdings | 109 | 14,920 |
| YTD Price Return | +0.75% | -3.95% |
| 1Y Price Return | +12.43% | -4.74% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | -0.65% | +0.00% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | -2.69% | -3.85% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 6.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.7% | -21.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Long Term High Quality |
| Inception | Nov 12, 2001 | Feb 17, 2009 |
Not shown on this pair: $10,000 over 5 years, Top 10 Weight.
A price return is not the return of a fund that pays its income out. The coupon or distribution never appears in the price, so the return rows carry no winner here. VGHAX currently yields 6.15% and VTBNX 3.80%.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 13, 2021 to Sep 11, 2026 (5 years).
VGHAX vs VTBNX Performance
Vanguard Health Care Fund Admiral Shares (VGHAX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund Institutional Shares (VTBNX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VGHAX's price moved +12.43% and VTBNX's -4.74%, before the income each one paid out.
Over three years, VGHAX compounded at -0.65% per year against +0.00% for VTBNX; over five years the annualized figures are -2.69% and -3.85% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VGHAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 6.3% for VTBNX. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -32.7% for VGHAX and -21.5% for VTBNX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VGHAX charges 0.27% per year while VTBNX charges 0.02%. On a $10,000 position that is $27 vs $2 annually, a gap of $25 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VGHAX currently yields 6.15% against 3.80% for VTBNX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 86 holdings in VGHAX and 12,623 in VTBNX, totalling 99.5% and 61.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, VGHAX as of Mar 31, 2026 and VTBNX as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 86 positions we hold weights for in VGHAX and 12,623 in VTBNX, against full books of 109 and 14,920.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VGHAX and VTBNX you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, VGHAX or VTBNX?
VGHAX has an expense ratio of 0.27% while VTBNX charges 0.02%. VTBNX is the cheaper option, by $25 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, VGHAX or VTBNX?
VGHAX has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 6.3% for VTBNX. Worst drawdown: VGHAX -32.7% vs VTBNX -21.5%.
Should I hold both VGHAX and VTBNX?
VGHAX and VTBNX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, VGHAX or VTBNX?
VGHAX yields 6.15% while VTBNX yields 3.80%, so VGHAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTBNX better than VGHAX?
VTBNX has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.