Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEL) Performance
VTEL total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −2.0% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −1.8% total return
- Since first price
- +4.5% since 2025
VTEL trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | VTEL total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +1.5% | +1.2% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | −2.1% | −3.0% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −3.3% | −5.2% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | −2.0% | −4.8% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | −1.8% | −5.5% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| Since inceptionMay 22, 2025 | +4.5% | −0.7% | — | — | — |
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: VTEL vs AGG
From May 22, 2025: VTEL grew to $10,451, AGG to $10,458.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VTEL returns by calendar year
2026 is year to date.
VTEL annual returns table
| Year | VTEL | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −2.0% | −8.6% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
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.
VTEL largest drawdowns
Now 4.9% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 6, 2026 | −8.6% | Sep 29, 2026 | not yet | 3 months | 4 months so far |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VTEL risk statistics
| Statistic | Since 2025 |
|---|---|
| Annualized return | +0.8% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.9% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.39 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.48 |
| Best month | +3.6% |
| Worst month | −4.6% |
| Best 12 months | +8.6% |
| Worst 12 months | −3.0% |
| Positive months | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | — |
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.
VTEL rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 6 | −3.0% | +6.3% | +8.6% | 67% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2025. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VTEL performance overview
Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEL) returned −1.8% over the past year, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price on May 22, 2025 it has returned +4.5%. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −8.6%, from Jul 6, 2026 to Sep 29, 2026; the fund has not yet regained that high. Volatility has been 6.9% a year.
Related: VTEL chart, VTEL dividends, VTEL bond profile. See the VTEL overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VTEL performance FAQ
What is the VTEL return over the past year?
VTEL returned −1.8% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 5.5%.
How much would $10,000 invested in VTEL be worth?
$10,000 invested in VTEL at its first recorded close on May 22, 2025 would be worth about $10,451 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What is the biggest drawdown of VTEL?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −8.6% between July 6, 2026 and September 29, 2026. It has not yet recovered to that high; it is 4.9% below its peak.
How volatile is VTEL?
Over the past history VTEL had an annualized volatility of 6.9% and a Sharpe ratio of -0.39 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).