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 −1.67% over the past year and −5.39% YTD, with dividends reinvested. Since Dec. 26, 1979, VWESX is up +604.85% in real purchasing-power return, or +4.28%/yr, and is currently −38.56% below its real total-return high on Aug. 6, 2020.

Data ending Mon Jul. 27, 2026

Growth of $10,000

Wed 1979-12-26💬 to Mon 2026-07-27 Overall
Return 		Exponential
Trendline
VWESX × 		+604.85%
+4.28%/yr 		+5.23%/yr
R2=0.935
Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares Mutual Fund

Growth of $10,000 Summary

Wed 1979-12-26💬 to Mon 2026-07-27 Start
Value 		End
Value
VWESX × 		$10,000.00
1979-12-26 		$70,484.66
2026-07-27

This Year’s Performance

through 2026-07-27

  YTD YoY
VWESX × 		−5.39% −1.67%

Drawdowns

  Current
Drawdown 		Worst
Drawdown
VWESX × 		−38.56%
on 2026-07-27
from 2020-08-06 peak 		−45.10%
on 2023-10-19
from 2020-08-06 peak

Rolling Returns

Period ending Mon 2026-07-27 1 yr 2 yr 3 yr 5 yr 10 yr
VWESX × 		−1.67% −2.29%
−1.15%/yr 		−1.38%
−0.46%/yr 		−33.09%
−7.72%/yr 		−20.56%
−2.28%/yr

Annual Returns

Year VWESX
2026 (YTD) −5.39%
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 +5.66%
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 +7.93%
2000 +8.15%
1999 −6.83%
1998 +8.53%
1997 +11.93%
1996 −2.04%
1995 +23.35%
1994 −5.35%
1993 +11.46%
1992 +7.87%
1991 +17.41%
1990 +0.11%
1989 +10.16%
1988 +5.19%
1987 −5.32%
1986 +13.07%
1985 +17.68%
1984 +9.86%
1983 +2.86%
1982 +23.90%
1981 +0.06%
1980 −7.10%
1979 −0.67%