All charts and data below are CPI-U inflation-adjusted and with dividends reinvested. (Why?)

Total Real Returns

VFSTX: Total Real Return Chart (Dividends Reinvested, Inflation Adjusted)

VFSTX real return snapshot: after CPI-U inflation, VFSTX returned −2.77% over the past year and −3.67% YTD, with dividends reinvested. Since Feb. 3, 1983, VFSTX is up +179.44% in real purchasing-power return, or +2.38%/yr, and is currently −13.72% below its real total-return high on Dec. 31, 2020.

Data ending Fri Oct. 16, 2026

Growth of $10,000

Thu 1983-02-03💬 to Fri 2026-10-16 Overall
Return 		Exponential
Trendline
VFSTX × 		+179.44%
+2.38%/yr 		+2.29%/yr
R2=0.814
Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares Mutual Fund

Growth of $10,000 Summary

Thu 1983-02-03💬 to Fri 2026-10-16 Start
Value 		End
Value
VFSTX × 		$10,000.00
1983-02-03 		$27,943.75
2026-10-16

This Year’s Performance

through 2026-10-16

  YTD YoY
VFSTX × 		−3.67% −2.77%

Drawdowns

  Current
Drawdown 		Worst
Drawdown
VFSTX × 		−13.72%
on 2026-10-16
from 2020-12-31 peak 		−20.21%
on 2022-10-20
from 2020-12-31 peak

Rolling Returns

Period ending Fri 2026-10-16 1 yr 2 yr 3 yr 5 yr 10 yr
VFSTX × 		−2.77% +0.21%
+0.11%/yr 		+6.75%
+2.20%/yr 		−8.70%
−1.80%/yr 		−9.03%
−0.94%/yr

Annual Returns

Year VFSTX
2026 (YTD) −3.67%
2025 +3.97%
2024 +2.04%
2023 +2.62%
2022 −11.56%
2021 −6.97%
2020 +3.75%
2019 +3.37%
2018 −1.02%
2017 −0.08%
2016 +0.67%
2015 +0.31%
2014 +1.01%
2013 −0.50%
2012 +2.76%
2011 −1.01%
2010 +3.68%
2009 +11.03%
2008 −4.80%
2007 +1.73%
2006 +2.44%
2005 −1.17%
2004 −1.09%
2003 +2.14%
2002 +2.67%
2001 +6.55%
2000 +4.68%
1999 +0.63%
1998 +4.94%
1997 +5.20%
1996 +1.47%
1995 +9.98%
1994 −2.10%
1993 +4.49%
1992 +4.68%
1991 +9.77%
1990 +3.01%
1989 +6.59%
1988 +2.51%
1987 −1.62%
1986 +10.29%
1985 +10.80%
1984 +10.00%
1983 +4.41%