BND ETF — Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)

Updated October 2, 2026.

BND is a low-cost ETF that tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. its distribution rate is 4.26%, its trailing-12-month yield is 4.20%, its expense ratio is 0.03%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 97/100 (Safe). Total return is 72.0% over the past 19.5 years, 587.9 points behind SPY at 659.9%.

At the current 4.26% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $426 per year, or $35.50 per month.

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF is an ETF that tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index, providing broad exposure to U.S. investment-grade bonds including government, corporate, mortgage-backed, and asset-backed securities. The fund distributes monthly and carries a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. It appeals to income investors seeking diversified fixed-income exposure with minimal costs.

BND performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-02.

Total return is 72.0% over the past 19.5 years, 587.9 points behind SPY at 659.9%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is -2.1%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 4.5%.

BND key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

97 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

4.13%

Issuer

Vanguard

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Fixed Income

Inception date

04/03/2007

Expense ratio

0.03%

Distribution rate

4.26%

Distribution frequency

Monthly

Trailing yield

4.20%

Last close

$69.94 (as of 2026-10-02)

AUM

$161,786,845,840

Average volume

13884100.0

Next dividend

$0.2485

Last ex-dividend date

10/01/2026

Next payment date

10/05/2026

Beta

0.98

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (4.26%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield (4.20%) is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: Vanguard or company page; Index: Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

BND risks and drawbacks

Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 4.5%.

Who may consider BND — and who may not

BND may suit someone looking for low-cost broad dividend exposure, a high Distribution Safety Score, moderate current income with a quality tilt. It is a weaker fit for investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Compare BND

BND vs similar funds:

• BND vs AGG
• BND vs SGOV
• BND vs SCHD
• BND vs VCIT
• BND vs TLT
• BND vs IEF

Frequently asked questions

More securities from Vanguard.