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 −4.04% over the past year and −5.61% YTD, with dividends reinvested. Since Dec. 26, 1979, VWESX is up +603.11% in real purchasing-power return, or +4.27%/yr, and is currently −38.71% below its real total-return high on Aug. 6, 2020.

Data ending Fri Sep. 4, 2026

Growth of $10,000

Wed 1979-12-26💬 to Fri 2026-09-04 Overall
Return 		Exponential
Trendline
VWESX × 		+603.11%
+4.27%/yr 		+5.21%/yr
R2=0.934
Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares Mutual Fund

Growth of $10,000 Summary

Wed 1979-12-26💬 to Fri 2026-09-04 Start
Value 		End
Value
VWESX × 		$10,000.00
1979-12-26 		$70,311.27
2026-09-04

This Year’s Performance

through 2026-09-04

  YTD YoY
VWESX × 		−5.61% −4.04%

Drawdowns

  Current
Drawdown 		Worst
Drawdown
VWESX × 		−38.71%
on 2026-09-04
from 2020-08-06 peak 		−45.10%
on 2023-10-19
from 2020-08-06 peak

Rolling Returns

Period ending Fri 2026-09-04 1 yr 2 yr 3 yr 5 yr 10 yr
VWESX × 		−4.04% −7.58%
−3.87%/yr 		+0.76%
+0.25%/yr 		−32.79%
−7.64%/yr 		−20.78%
−2.30%/yr

Annual Returns

Year VWESX
2026 (YTD) −5.61%
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 −6.84%
1998 +8.53%
1997 +11.92%
1996 −2.03%
1995 +23.35%
1994 −5.36%
1993 +11.46%
1992 +7.87%
1991 +17.41%
1990 +0.11%
1989 +10.16%
1988 +5.19%
1987 −5.31%
1986 +13.06%
1985 +17.69%
1984 +9.88%
1983 +2.84%
1982 +23.89%
1981 +0.06%
1980 −7.10%
1979 −0.68%