BOND vs. VLTCX
BOND (PIMCO Active Bond ETF) and VLTCX (Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both funds - BOND is a Intermediate Core-Plus Bond fund actively managed by PIMCO, while VLTCX is a Corporate Bonds fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, BOND returned 1.96%/yr vs 1.58%/yr for VLTCX. Their 0.79 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. BOND charges 0.54%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for VLTCX.
Performance
BOND vs. VLTCX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BOND achieves a -0.31% return, which is significantly higher than VLTCX's -2.30% return. Over the past 10 years, BOND has outperformed VLTCX with an annualized return of 1.96%, while VLTCX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.58% annualized return.
BOND
- 1D
- -0.33%
- 1M
- -1.43%
- 6M
- -0.84%
- YTD
- -0.31%
- 1Y
- 3.01%
- 3Y*
- 4.85%
- 5Y*
- 0.00%
- 10Y*
- 1.96%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.88%
VLTCX
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- -3.24%
- 6M
- -2.68%
- YTD
- -2.30%
- 1Y
- 0.19%
- 3Y*
- 2.93%
- 5Y*
- -3.41%
- 10Y*
- 1.58%
- ALL TIME*
- 4.42%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $46.87M | $49.77M | $50.25M | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
BOND vs. VLTCX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BOND PIMCO Active Bond ETF | -0.31% | 8.39% | 2.77% | 6.48% | -14.57% | -0.77% | 7.80% | 8.54% | 0.08% | 4.76% |
VLTCX Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | -2.30% | 7.27% | -1.47% | 11.05% | -25.77% | -1.16% | 13.68% | 23.19% | -6.85% | 12.40% |
Correlation
The correlation between BOND and VLTCX is 0.90, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.90 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.91 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.88 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.81 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 1, 2012 | 0.79 |
The correlation between BOND and VLTCX shifts across timeframes, from 0.79 (all time) to 0.91 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
BOND vs. VLTCX — Risk / Return Rank
BOND
VLTCX
BOND vs. VLTCX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for PIMCO Active Bond ETF (BOND) and Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLTCX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| BOND | VLTCX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.82 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.13 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 1.03 | +0.14 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.28 | 0.21 | +1.07 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.47 | 0.46 | +3.02 |
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Drawdowns
BOND vs. VLTCX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BOND drawdown since its inception was -19.71%, smaller than the maximum VLTCX drawdown of -34.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BOND and VLTCX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BOND | VLTCX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.71% | -34.56% | +14.85% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.01% | -5.34% | +2.33% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.21% | -10.12% | +4.91% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.71% | -34.56% | +14.85% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -19.71% | -34.56% | +14.85% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.34% | -16.80% | +14.46% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.48% | -8.10% | +4.62% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.11% | 2.44% | -1.33% |
Volatility
BOND vs. VLTCX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for PIMCO Active Bond ETF (BOND) is 1.15%, while Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLTCX) has a volatility of 1.95%. This indicates that BOND experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VLTCX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BOND | VLTCX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.15% | 1.95% | -0.80% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.22% | 5.70% | -2.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.01% | 7.48% | -3.47% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.80% | 11.83% | -6.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.10% | 10.59% | -5.49% |
BOND vs. VLTCX - Expense Ratio Comparison
BOND has a 0.54% expense ratio, which is higher than VLTCX's 0.07% expense ratio.
Dividends
BOND vs. VLTCX - Dividend Comparison
BOND's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.25%, more than VLTCX's 5.14% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BOND PIMCO Active Bond ETF | 4.81% | 5.11% | 5.02% | 4.06% | 3.44% | 2.58% | 2.66% | 3.38% | 3.18% | 2.87% | 2.85% | 4.14% |
VLTCX Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 5.14% | 5.48% | 5.58% | 4.65% | 4.41% | 3.03% | 3.15% | 3.82% | 4.56% | 4.01% | 4.37% | 4.71% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.90, BOND and VLTCX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VLTCX has higher volatility (1.95%) compared to BOND (1.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BOND dropped -19.71% vs VLTCX's -34.56%.
BOND currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.96 vs 0.15), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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