Understanding YTD

[lawman]

When I check VFIDX on Yahoo finance the first page that comes up is the summary page..On that page it shows the YTD return to be -4.29%. When I go to the performance page it shows year to date return to be 1.28% ...Can someone explain to me the difference? Thanks

https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/VFIDX/performance?p=VFIDX

 

[Jerry1]

I’m just guessing but I think it’s the difference between the change in price - clearly negative YTD and the income generated which I believe is the 1.28%.

So, if you had a $1K bond on 1/1 today it’s worth less so if you sell it you’ll only get about $950 - a loss. But if the bond paid interest, you still had income YTD.

Again, that’s my guess.

 

[disneysteve]

When I check VFIDX on Yahoo finance the first page that comes up is the summary page..On that page it shows the YTD return to be -4.29%. When I go to the performance page it shows year to date return to be 1.28% ...Can someone explain to me the difference? Thanks

If you go to the source at Vanguard's site directly:

YTD as of 2/18/22: -4.31%
YTD as of 1/31/22: -2.62%

Yahoo isn't showing what date their different YTD numbers are for, which is problematic as just a couple of weeks can make a big difference.

 

[MichaelB]

I’m just guessing but I think it’s the difference between the change in price - clearly negative YTD and the income generated which I believe is the 1.28%.

So, if you had a $1K bond on 1/1 today it’s worth less so if you sell it you’ll only get about $950 - a loss. But if the bond paid interest, you still had income YTD.

Again, that’s my guess.

If you go to the source at Vanguard's site directly:

YTD as of 2/18/22: -4.31%
YTD as of 1/31/22: -2.62%

Yahoo isn't showing what date their different YTD numbers are for, which is problematic as just a couple of weeks can make a big difference.

Could be both. Different dates, and one includes reinvested dividends while the other is just price.

 

[disneysteve]

Could be both. Different dates, and one includes reinvested dividends while the other is just price.

That could also be true. The Yahoo data isn't very clearly presented regardless.


I always go directly to a MF's site when I want info. I figure that's the most accurate source.

 

[street]

One of the YTD is back one year from this day. The other YTD represents from 01/01/22 to the present time/day I believe.

 

[lawman]

okay.....I don't think one is a trailing YTD but more likely the difference is due to different YTD stop dates..Seems like every YTD number should include the stop date..Thanks!

 

[OldShooter]

IMO YTD numbers are not worth very much.

In business I waited until maybe May before using YTD revenue or profit numbers because shorter periods are easily affected by non-recurring events.

With investment income, the only number worth anything is total return. (Price change + dividends and interest) But here again, a YTD February total return number with a January dividend included gives a totally misleading impression.

A 12-month total return number ensures that a year's worth of dividends are included, so is more likely to be indicative. 5-year total return is better.