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

Total Real Returns

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

VWESX real return snapshot: after CPI-U inflation, VWESX returned −10.54% over the past year and −9.15% YTD, with dividends reinvested. Since Dec. 26, 1979, VWESX is up +576.99% in real purchasing-power return, or +4.17%/yr, and is currently −41.00% below its real total-return high on Aug. 6, 2020.

Data ending Mon Oct. 19, 2026

Growth of $10,000

Wed 1979-12-26💬 to Mon 2026-10-19 Overall
Return 		Exponential
Trendline
VWESX × 		+576.99%
+4.17%/yr 		+5.19%/yr
R2=0.932
Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares Mutual Fund

Growth of $10,000 Summary

Wed 1979-12-26💬 to Mon 2026-10-19 Start
Value 		End
Value
VWESX × 		$10,000.00
1979-12-26 		$67,698.62
2026-10-19

This Year’s Performance

through 2026-10-19

  YTD YoY
VWESX × 		−9.15% −10.54%

Drawdowns

  Current
Drawdown 		Worst
Drawdown
VWESX × 		−41.00%
on 2026-10-19
from 2020-08-06 peak 		−45.10%
on 2023-10-19
from 2020-08-06 peak

Rolling Returns

Period ending Mon 2026-10-19 1 yr 2 yr 3 yr 5 yr 10 yr
VWESX × 		−10.54% −9.19%
−4.71%/yr 		+7.46%
+2.43%/yr 		−33.33%
−7.79%/yr 		−22.09%
−2.46%/yr

Annual Returns

Year VWESX
2026 (YTD) −9.15%
2025 +4.43%
2024 −5.48%
2023 +5.76%
2022 −30.13%
2021 −8.79%
2020 +13.84%
2019 +17.77%
2018 −7.69%
2017 +9.68%
2016 +5.67%
2015 −2.87%
2014 +17.32%
2013 −7.22%
2012 +9.77%
2011 +13.86%
2010 +9.15%
2009 +5.92%
2008 +2.24%
2007 −0.30%
2006 +0.38%
2005 +1.69%
2004 +5.56%
2003 +4.35%
2002 +10.66%
2001 +7.94%
2000 +8.16%
1999 −6.83%
1998 +8.53%
1997 +11.92%
1996 −2.03%
1995 +23.35%
1994 −5.35%
1993 +11.46%
1992 +7.86%
1991 +17.42%
1990 +0.11%
1989 +10.15%
1988 +5.20%
1987 −5.32%
1986 +13.07%
1985 +17.67%
1984 +9.87%
1983 +2.84%
1982 +23.92%
1981 +0.06%
1980 −7.12%
1979 −0.64%