Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index (VGSH): Rolling Returns

Simulation Settings
Category:
Period: January 2010 - January 2026 (~16 years)
Initial Amount: 1$
Currency: USD
Inflation: US
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When holding the Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index (VGSH) ETF, how long should you stay invested to have high probability to achieve a positive return?

Over the selected period (~16 years), the longest duration with a negative return was 49 months (from April 2020 to April 2024).

This indicates that, within the same timeframe, any rolling period of 50 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 TREASURY INDEX (VGSH) ETF
Annualized Rolling Returns
Annualized Rolling Returns - Inflation Adjusted
Time Period: 1 February 2016 - 31 January 2026 (10 Years)
Time Period: 1 January 2010 - 31 January 2026 (~16 years)
All Data
(2010/01 - 2026/01)
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 TREASURY INDEX (VGSH) ETF
Rolling Returns Chart
Rolling Returns Chart - Inflation Adjusted
Time Period: 1 January 2010 - 31 January 2026 (~16 years)
Over Time
Histogram
US Inflation Adjusted:

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Worst Median Best Negative Periods
-5.04%
Oct 2021 - Sep 2022
+0.77% +6.73%
Oct 2023 - Sep 2024
18.13%
33 out of 182
-12.24%
Oct 2021 - Sep 2022
-0.99% +4.92%
May 2019 - Apr 2020
65.38%
119 out of 182
-2.62%
Nov 2020 - Oct 2022
+0.74% +5.31%
Oct 2023 - Sep 2025
14.71%
25 out of 170
-8.98%
Nov 2020 - Oct 2022
-1.03% +2.98%
Jun 2018 - May 2020
72.35%
123 out of 170
-1.20%
Jul 2020 - Jun 2023
+0.68% +4.41%
Nov 2022 - Oct 2025
13.92%
22 out of 158
-6.58%
Jul 2020 - Jun 2023
-1.00% +1.48%
Nov 2022 - Oct 2025
82.91%
131 out of 158
-0.12%
May 2020 - Apr 2024
+0.68% +2.50%
Feb 2022 - Jan 2026
1.37%
2 out of 146
-5.02%
May 2020 - Apr 2024
-0.98% +0.43%
Jun 2016 - May 2020
92.47%
135 out of 146
+0.39%
May 2013 - Apr 2018
+0.94% +1.84%
Jan 2016 - Dec 2020
0.00%
0 out of 134
-3.33%
Jun 2020 - May 2025
-0.98% +0.25%
Jun 2015 - May 2020
96.27%
129 out of 134
+0.39%
May 2012 - Apr 2018
+0.91% +1.91%
Jan 2020 - Dec 2025
0.00%
0 out of 122
-3.00%
Nov 2016 - Oct 2022
-1.01% +0.33%
Jun 2014 - May 2020
93.44%
114 out of 122
+0.45%
Sep 2011 - Aug 2018
+1.02% +2.21%
Dec 2018 - Nov 2025
0.00%
0 out of 110
-2.85%
Mar 2016 - Feb 2023
-1.10% +0.07%
Jun 2013 - May 2020
97.27%
107 out of 110
+0.52%
Nov 2010 - Oct 2018
+1.00% +2.13%
Feb 2018 - Jan 2026
0.00%
0 out of 98
-2.49%
Mar 2015 - Feb 2023
-1.26% -0.08%
May 2012 - Apr 2020
100.00%
98 out of 98
+0.53%
Nov 2013 - Oct 2022
+1.07% +1.88%
Feb 2017 - Jan 2026
0.00%
0 out of 86
-2.18%
May 2015 - Apr 2024
-1.56% -0.18%
Jun 2011 - May 2020
100.00%
86 out of 86
+0.52%
Nov 2012 - Oct 2022
+1.13% +1.76%
Jan 2016 - Dec 2025
0.00%
0 out of 74
-2.01%
Oct 2013 - Sep 2023
-1.55% -0.31%
May 2010 - Apr 2020
100.00%
74 out of 74
+0.50%
Nov 2011 - Oct 2022
+1.05% +1.65%
Jan 2015 - Dec 2025
0.00%
0 out of 62
-1.96%
Nov 2011 - Oct 2022
-1.51% -0.38%
Jan 2010 - Dec 2020
100.00%
62 out of 62
+0.54%
Nov 2010 - Oct 2022
+0.89% +1.56%
Feb 2014 - Jan 2026
0.00%
0 out of 50
-2.00%
Nov 2010 - Oct 2022
-1.66% -0.97%
Jan 2010 - Dec 2021
100.00%
50 out of 50
+0.68%
Mar 2010 - Feb 2023
+0.93% +1.47%
Feb 2013 - Jan 2026
0.00%
0 out of 38
-1.92%
Oct 2010 - Sep 2023
-1.61% -1.16%
Feb 2013 - Jan 2026
100.00%
38 out of 38
+0.92%
May 2010 - Apr 2024
+1.12% +1.39%
Feb 2012 - Jan 2026
0.00%
0 out of 26
-1.68%
May 2010 - Apr 2024
-1.48% -1.17%
Feb 2012 - Jan 2026
100.00%
26 out of 26
+1.17%
Feb 2010 - Jan 2025
+1.26% +1.38%
Feb 2011 - Jan 2026
0.00%
0 out of 14
-1.38%
Feb 2010 - Jan 2025
-1.34% -1.21%
Feb 2011 - Jan 2026
100.00%
14 out of 14
+1.40%
Feb 2010 - Jan 2026
+1.40% +1.44%
Jan 2010 - Dec 2025
0.00%
0 out of 2
-1.13%
Feb 2010 - Jan 2026
-1.13% -1.10%
Jan 2010 - Dec 2025
100.00%
2 out of 2
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