Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT) Performance
VGLT total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −3.2% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −5.9% total return
- 5 years
- −6.4% a year
- 10 years
- −1.5% a year
- Since first price
- +2.3% a year since 2009
VGLT trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | VGLT total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +1.5% | +1.1% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | −0.9% | −2.1% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −3.5% | −5.7% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | −3.2% | −6.5% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | −5.9% | −10.1% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +12.1%+3.9%/yr | −1.5% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | −28.3%−6.4%/yr | −40.3% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | −13.8%−1.5%/yr | −36.4% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +15.2%+0.9%/yr | −26.5% | +32.2%+1.9%/yr | +9.9%+0.6%/yr | +696.0%+14.8%/yr |
| Since inceptionNov 24, 2009 | +45.8%+2.3%/yr | −13.3% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: VGLT vs AGG
From Nov 24, 2009: VGLT grew to $14,575, AGG to $14,678.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VGLT returns by calendar year
10 of 16 full years positive. Best 2011 (+29.2%), worst 2022 (−29.3%). 2026 is year to date.
VGLT annual returns table
| Year | VGLT | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −3.2% | −11.4% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +5.4% | −8.5% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | −6.3% | −11.6% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +3.3% | −20.8% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −29.3% | −33.1% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | −5.0% | −14.4% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +17.6% | −14.2% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +14.3% | −8.0% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −1.5% | −8.9% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +8.6% | −4.7% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +1.2% | −16.9% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | −1.0% | −13.8% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +25.2% | −4.4% | +6.0% | +27.3% | +13.5% |
| 2013 | −12.5% | −15.3% | −2.0% | −13.4% | +32.3% |
| 2012 | +3.3% | −8.4% | +3.8% | +2.6% | +16.0% |
| 2011 | +29.2% | −9.1% | +7.7% | +34.0% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | +9.0% | −12.4% | +6.4% | +9.0% | +15.1% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
VGLT largest drawdowns
Now 38.6% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2020 | −46.2% | Oct 19, 2023 | not yet | 3.2 years | 6.2 years so far |
| Jul 25, 2012 | −17.8% | Aug 19, 2013 | Oct 15, 2014 | 1.1 years | 2.2 years |
| Jul 8, 2016 | −16.9% | Dec 14, 2016 | Jun 3, 2019 | 5 months | 2.9 years |
| Mar 9, 2020 | −14.2% | Mar 18, 2020 | Aug 4, 2020 | 9 days | 5 months |
| Aug 31, 2010 | −14.0% | Feb 8, 2011 | Aug 4, 2011 | 5 months | 11 months |
| Jan 30, 2015 | −13.8% | Jun 26, 2015 | Feb 11, 2016 | 5 months | 1.0 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VGLT risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +0.9% | −7.3% | −2.2% | +1.9% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.4% | 13.6% | 12.9% | 12.4% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.22 | -0.76 | -0.28 | 0.11 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.31 | -0.93 | -0.39 | 0.17 |
| Best month | +9.1% | +9.1% | +10.7% | +10.7% |
| Worst month | −5.9% | −9.2% | −9.2% | −9.2% |
| Best 12 months | +15.3% | +15.3% | +37.0% | +37.0% |
| Worst 12 months | −7.7% | −31.8% | −31.8% | −31.8% |
| Positive months | 56% | 47% | 49% | 50% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.49 | 0.49 | 0.15 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.49 | 0.57 | 0.18 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
VGLT rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 192 | −31.8% | +2.5% | +37.0% | 56% |
| 3-year (a year) | 168 | −16.2% | +3.3% | +13.7% | 70% |
| 5-year (a year) | 144 | −9.1% | +3.4% | +11.0% | 65% |
| 10-year (a year) | 84 | −2.2% | +1.2% | +9.0% | 76% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2009. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VGLT performance overview
Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT) returned −5.9% over the past year and −1.5% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2009 it has returned +2.3% a year, turning $10,000 into about $14,575. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −46.2%, from Aug 4, 2020 to Oct 19, 2023; the fund has not yet regained that high. VGLT finished 10 of its 16 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2011 (+29.2%) and the worst 2022 (−29.3%). Volatility has been 12.4% a year.
Related: VGLT chart, VGLT dividends, VGLT bond profile. See the VGLT overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VGLT performance FAQ
What is the VGLT return over the past year?
VGLT returned −5.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 10.1%.
What is the average annual return of VGLT?
VGLT has returned −6.4% a year over 5 years, −1.5% a year over 10 years, +2.3% a year since November 24, 2009 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VGLT be worth?
$10,000 invested in VGLT at its first recorded close on November 24, 2009 would be worth about $14,575 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VGLT?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −29.3%. The best was 2011 at +29.2%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VGLT?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −46.2% between August 4, 2020 and October 19, 2023. It has not yet recovered to that high; it is 38.6% below its peak.
How volatile is VGLT?
Over the past 3 years VGLT had an annualized volatility of 12.4% and a Sharpe ratio of -0.22 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).