VIITX vs VWIUX
Vanguard Institutional Intermediate Term Bond Fund Institutional Plus Class vs Vanguard Intermediate Term Tax-Exempt Fund admiral class
Which is better, VIITX or VWIUX?
Intermediate Term Bond against Municipal Bond.
VIITX 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 | VIITX | VWIUX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.02%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | - | $86.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.60% | 3.44% |
| Holdings | 2,710 | 16,510 |
| YTD Price Return | -4.71% | -5.29% |
| 1Y Price Return | -4.84% | -4.60% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | +0.41% | +0.36% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | -2.76% | -2.33% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.3%Best | 5.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.4%Best | -15.4% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Tax Preferred |
| Style | Intermediate Term Bond | Municipal Bond |
| Inception | Dec 1, 1997 | Feb 12, 2001 |
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. VIITX currently yields 4.60% and VWIUX 3.44%.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 7, 2021 to Oct 2, 2026 (5 years).
VIITX vs VWIUX Performance
Vanguard Institutional Intermediate Term Bond Fund Institutional Plus Class (VIITX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Intermediate Term Tax-Exempt Fund admiral class (VWIUX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VIITX's price moved -4.84% and VWIUX's -4.60%, before the income each one paid out.
Over three years, VIITX compounded at +0.41% per year against +0.36% for VWIUX; over five years the annualized figures are -2.76% and -2.33% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VWIUX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 5.6% compared with 4.3% for VIITX. 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 -14.4% for VIITX and -15.4% for VWIUX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VIITX charges 0.02% per year while VWIUX charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $2 vs $9 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VIITX currently yields 4.60% against 3.44% for VWIUX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 691 holdings in VIITX and 1,698 in VWIUX, totalling 32.7% and 17.8% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
1 positions in common, counted across the 691 positions we hold weights for in VIITX and 1,698 in VWIUX, against full books of 2,710 and 16,510.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VIITX | Weight in VWIUX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMCAR 2025-1 BGm Financial Consumer Automobile Receivables Trust 2025-1 5 08/16/2030 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VIITX and VWIUX 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, VIITX or VWIUX?
VIITX has an expense ratio of 0.02% while VWIUX charges 0.09%. VIITX is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, VIITX or VWIUX?
VWIUX has been the more volatile fund at 5.6% annualized versus 4.3% for VIITX. Worst drawdown: VIITX -14.4% vs VWIUX -15.4%.
Should I hold both VIITX and VWIUX?
VIITX and VWIUX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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, VIITX or VWIUX?
VIITX yields 4.60% while VWIUX yields 3.44%, so VIITX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VWIUX better than VIITX?
VIITX has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.