When holding the Vanguard Short-Term Infl-Prot Secs (VTIP) ETF, how long should you stay invested to have high probability to achieve a positive return?

Over the selected period (~14 years), the longest duration with a negative return was 61 months (from February 2013 to February 2018).

This indicates that, within the same timeframe, any rolling period of 62 months or more has consistently resulted in a positive return.

Understanding this metric is crucial as it highlights the importance of a safe investment horizon. Knowing the minimum duration required to likely see positive returns helps investors set realistic expectations and reinforces the strategy of staying invested through market cycles. This approach can mitigate the emotional reactions to short-term market fluctuations and enhance the likelihood of achieving financial goals.

Rolling Returns

A rolling return is a measure of investment performance that calculates the return of an investment over a set period of time, with the starting date rolling forward. This approach can provide a more accurate representation of the investment's historical performance and helps investors to evaluate the investment's consistency over time.

VANGUARD SHORT-TERM INFL-PROT SECS (VTIP) ETF
Annualized Rolling Returns
Annualized Rolling Returns - Inflation Adjusted
Time Period: 1 July 2016 - 30 June 2026 (10 Years)
Time Period: 1 January 2013 - 30 June 2026 (~14 years)
All Data
(2013/01 - 2026/06)
US Inflation Adjusted:

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Rolling Period Analysis

By selecting the 'Rolling Period', the chart and data will update. To study a different date range, change the simulation settings.

VANGUARD SHORT-TERM INFL-PROT SECS (VTIP) ETF
Rolling Returns Chart
Rolling Returns Chart - Inflation Adjusted
Time Period: 1 January 2013 - 30 June 2026 (~14 years)
Over Time
Histogram
US Inflation Adjusted:

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Swipe left to see all data
Worst Median Best Negative Periods
-2.99%
Oct 2021 - Sep 2022
+2.45% +8.06%
May 2024 - Apr 2025
22.52%
34 out of 151
-10.34%
Oct 2021 - Sep 2022
-0.27% +5.63%
May 2024 - Apr 2025
52.32%
79 out of 151
-1.47%
Jan 2013 - Dec 2014
+1.59% +6.53%
Oct 2023 - Sep 2025
15.11%
21 out of 139
-5.57%
Mar 2021 - Feb 2023
-0.41% +3.67%
Oct 2023 - Sep 2025
58.99%
82 out of 139
-0.91%
Jan 2013 - Dec 2015
+2.17% +5.46%
Oct 2022 - Sep 2025
5.51%
7 out of 127
-3.65%
Oct 2020 - Sep 2023
-0.69% +2.45%
Mar 2023 - Feb 2026
69.29%
88 out of 127
-0.08%
Jan 2013 - Dec 2016
+2.80% +4.12%
Mar 2018 - Feb 2022
1.74%
2 out of 115
-2.01%
May 2020 - Apr 2024
-0.85% +0.95%
Aug 2017 - Jul 2021
72.17%
83 out of 115
-0.02%
Mar 2013 - Feb 2018
+2.81% +4.15%
Apr 2020 - Mar 2025
0.97%
1 out of 103
-1.42%
Oct 2017 - Sep 2022
-0.78% +0.74%
Jan 2016 - Dec 2020
78.64%
81 out of 103
+0.18%
Jan 2013 - Dec 2018
+2.60% +4.12%
Apr 2020 - Mar 2026
0.00%
0 out of 91
-1.48%
Oct 2016 - Sep 2022
-0.38% +0.61%
Sep 2015 - Aug 2021
78.02%
71 out of 91
+0.61%
Apr 2013 - Mar 2020
+2.45% +3.93%
Mar 2019 - Feb 2026
0.00%
0 out of 79
-1.32%
Oct 2016 - Sep 2023
-0.27% +0.26%
Nov 2018 - Oct 2025
67.09%
53 out of 79
+1.34%
Jan 2013 - Dec 2020
+2.24% +3.70%
May 2018 - Apr 2026
0.00%
0 out of 67
-1.17%
Mar 2015 - Feb 2023
-0.45% +0.18%
Mar 2018 - Feb 2026
85.07%
57 out of 67
+1.45%
Oct 2013 - Sep 2022
+2.28% +3.35%
Jul 2017 - Jun 2026
0.00%
0 out of 55
-1.20%
Oct 2013 - Sep 2022
-0.65% -0.10%
Mar 2017 - Feb 2026
100.00%
55 out of 55
+1.29%
Jan 2013 - Dec 2022
+2.33% +3.18%
Jun 2016 - May 2026
0.00%
0 out of 43
-1.27%
Jan 2013 - Dec 2022
-0.58% -0.04%
Sep 2015 - Aug 2025
100.00%
43 out of 43
+1.59%
Jan 2013 - Dec 2023
+2.36% +2.93%
Jun 2015 - May 2026
0.00%
0 out of 31
-1.08%
May 2013 - Apr 2024
-0.41% -0.13%
Jan 2015 - Dec 2025
100.00%
31 out of 31
+1.85%
Jan 2013 - Dec 2024
+2.44% +2.59%
May 2014 - Apr 2026
0.00%
0 out of 19
-0.81%
Jan 2013 - Dec 2024
-0.35% -0.25%
Feb 2014 - Jan 2026
100.00%
19 out of 19
+2.17%
Jan 2013 - Dec 2025
+2.22% +2.45%
Jul 2013 - Jun 2026
0.00%
0 out of 7
-0.52%
Apr 2013 - Mar 2026
-0.47% -0.37%
Jul 2013 - Jun 2026
100.00%
7 out of 7
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