Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX)

TotalReturn:

'Total return is the amount of value an investor earns from a security over a specific period, typically one year, when all distributions are reinvested. Total return is expressed as a percentage of the amount invested. For example, a total return of 20% means the security increased by 20% of its original value due to a price increase, distribution of dividends (if a stock), coupons (if a bond) or capital gains (if a fund). Total return is a strong measure of an investment’s overall performance.'

• The total return over 5 years of Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund is 2.7%, which is smaller, thus worse compared to the benchmark SPY (68.1%) in the same period.
• Looking at total return, or increase in value in of -11.9% in the period of the last 3 years, we see it is relatively smaller, thus worse in comparison to SPY (47%).

CAGR:

'The compound annual growth rate isn't a true return rate, but rather a representational figure. It is essentially a number that describes the rate at which an investment would have grown if it had grown the same rate every year and the profits were reinvested at the end of each year. In reality, this sort of performance is unlikely. However, CAGR can be used to smooth returns so that they may be more easily understood when compared to alternative investments.'

• Compared with the benchmark SPY (11%) in the period of the last 5 years, the annual performance (CAGR) of 0.5% of Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund is lower, thus worse.
• Looking at annual performance (CAGR) in of -4.1% in the period of the last 3 years, we see it is relatively lower, thus worse in comparison to SPY (13.7%).

Volatility:

'Volatility is a rate at which the price of a security increases or decreases for a given set of returns. Volatility is measured by calculating the standard deviation of the annualized returns over a given period of time. It shows the range to which the price of a security may increase or decrease. Volatility measures the risk of a security. It is used in option pricing formula to gauge the fluctuations in the returns of the underlying assets. Volatility indicates the pricing behavior of the security and helps estimate the fluctuations that may happen in a short period of time.'

• The historical 30 days volatility over 5 years of Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund is 5.3%, which is lower, thus better compared to the benchmark SPY (21.4%) in the same period.
• During the last 3 years, the 30 days standard deviation is 5.8%, which is lower, thus better than the value of 18.7% from the benchmark.

DownVol:

'Risk measures typically quantify the downside risk, whereas the standard deviation (an example of a deviation risk measure) measures both the upside and downside risk. Specifically, downside risk in our definition is the semi-deviation, that is the standard deviation of all negative returns.'

• The downside risk over 5 years of Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund is 3.8%, which is smaller, thus better compared to the benchmark SPY (15.4%) in the same period.
• During the last 3 years, the downside deviation is 4.2%, which is lower, thus better than the value of 13.3% from the benchmark.

Sharpe:

'The Sharpe ratio is the measure of risk-adjusted return of a financial portfolio. Sharpe ratio is a measure of excess portfolio return over the risk-free rate relative to its standard deviation. Normally, the 90-day Treasury bill rate is taken as the proxy for risk-free rate. A portfolio with a higher Sharpe ratio is considered superior relative to its peers. The measure was named after William F Sharpe, a Nobel laureate and professor of finance, emeritus at Stanford University.'

• Compared with the benchmark SPY (0.4) in the period of the last 5 years, the Sharpe Ratio of -0.37 of Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund is smaller, thus worse.
• Compared with SPY (0.6) in the period of the last 3 years, the risk / return profile (Sharpe) of -1.14 is lower, thus worse.

Sortino:

'The Sortino ratio, a variation of the Sharpe ratio only factors in the downside, or negative volatility, rather than the total volatility used in calculating the Sharpe ratio. The theory behind the Sortino variation is that upside volatility is a plus for the investment, and it, therefore, should not be included in the risk calculation. Therefore, the Sortino ratio takes upside volatility out of the equation and uses only the downside standard deviation in its calculation instead of the total standard deviation that is used in calculating the Sharpe ratio.'

• The downside risk / excess return profile over 5 years of Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund is -0.52, which is smaller, thus worse compared to the benchmark SPY (0.55) in the same period.
• Compared with SPY (0.84) in the period of the last 3 years, the ratio of annual return and downside deviation of -1.56 is lower, thus worse.

Ulcer:

'Ulcer Index is a method for measuring investment risk that addresses the real concerns of investors, unlike the widely used standard deviation of return. UI is a measure of the depth and duration of drawdowns in prices from earlier highs. Using Ulcer Index instead of standard deviation can lead to very different conclusions about investment risk and risk-adjusted return, especially when evaluating strategies that seek to avoid major declines in portfolio value (market timing, dynamic asset allocation, hedge funds, etc.). The Ulcer Index was originally developed in 1987. Since then, it has been widely recognized and adopted by the investment community. According to Nelson Freeburg, editor of Formula Research, Ulcer Index is “perhaps the most fully realized statistical portrait of risk there is.'

• Compared with the benchmark SPY (9.45 ) in the period of the last 5 years, the Ulcer Index of 6.9 of Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund is lower, thus better.
• Compared with SPY (10 ) in the period of the last 3 years, the Downside risk index of 8.86 is lower, thus better.

MaxDD:

'Maximum drawdown is defined as the peak-to-trough decline of an investment during a specific period. It is usually quoted as a percentage of the peak value. The maximum drawdown can be calculated based on absolute returns, in order to identify strategies that suffer less during market downturns, such as low-volatility strategies. However, the maximum drawdown can also be calculated based on returns relative to a benchmark index, for identifying strategies that show steady outperformance over time.'

• Compared with the benchmark SPY (-33.7 days) in the period of the last 5 years, the maximum DrawDown of -19.1 days of Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund is greater, thus better.
• During the last 3 years, the maximum DrawDown is -19.1 days, which is greater, thus better than the value of -24.5 days from the benchmark.

MaxDuration:

'The Drawdown Duration is the length of any peak to peak period, or the time between new equity highs. The Max Drawdown Duration is the worst (the maximum/longest) amount of time an investment has seen between peaks (equity highs) in days.'

• Looking at the maximum days below previous high of 708 days in the last 5 years of Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund, we see it is relatively larger, thus worse in comparison to the benchmark SPY (351 days)
• During the last 3 years, the maximum time in days below previous high water mark is 708 days, which is higher, thus worse than the value of 351 days from the benchmark.

AveDuration:

'The Drawdown Duration is the length of any peak to peak period, or the time between new equity highs. The Avg Drawdown Duration is the average amount of time an investment has seen between peaks (equity highs), or in other terms the average of time under water of all drawdowns. So in contrast to the Maximum duration it does not measure only one drawdown event but calculates the average of all.'

• Compared with the benchmark SPY (78 days) in the period of the last 5 years, the average days below previous high of 228 days of Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund is greater, thus worse.
• Compared with SPY (101 days) in the period of the last 3 years, the average time in days below previous high water mark of 343 days is greater, thus worse.