BRLN vs. VCIT
BRLN (BlackRock Floating Rate Loan ETF) and VCIT (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - BRLN is a Bank Loan fund actively managed by BlackRock, while VCIT is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 5-10 Year Corporate Bond Index. BRLN is actively managed, while VCIT is passively managed. Over the past 3 years, BRLN returned 7.18%/yr vs 6.04%/yr for VCIT. At a 0.14 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. BRLN charges 0.55%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VCIT.
Performance
BRLN vs. VCIT - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BRLN achieves a 1.14% return, which is significantly higher than VCIT's -0.26% return.
BRLN
- 1D
- 0.35%
- 1M
- 0.60%
- YTD
- 1.14%
- 6M
- 1.72%
- 1Y
- 4.81%
- 3Y*
- 7.18%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VCIT
- 1D
- -0.01%
- 1M
- -0.79%
- YTD
- -0.26%
- 6M
- 0.06%
- 1Y
- 5.98%
- 3Y*
- 6.04%
- 5Y*
- 1.04%
- 10Y*
- 2.85%
BRLN vs. VCIT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRLN BlackRock Floating Rate Loan ETF | 1.14% | 5.38% | 7.49% | 13.42% | 2.13% |
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | -0.26% | 9.34% | 3.20% | 8.98% | 2.64% |
Correlation
The correlation between BRLN and VCIT is 0.07, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 7, 2022 | 0.14 |
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
BRLN vs. VCIT — Risk / Return Rank
BRLN
VCIT
BRLN vs. VCIT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BlackRock Floating Rate Loan ETF (BRLN) and Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT). 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.
| BRLN | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.16 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.26 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.41 | 2.03 | +0.38 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.32 | 6.67 | +2.66 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| BRLN | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.54 | 1.48 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.16 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.46 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 2.16 | 0.75 | +1.41 |
Drawdowns
BRLN vs. VCIT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BRLN drawdown since its inception was -3.85%, smaller than the maximum VCIT drawdown of -20.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRLN and VCIT.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| BRLN | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -3.85% | -20.56% | +16.71% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.00% | -2.96% | +0.96% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -3.85% | -6.11% | +2.26% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -20.56% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -20.56% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.42% | -1.79% | +1.37% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.31% | -3.16% | +2.85% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.52% | 0.90% | -0.38% |
Volatility
BRLN vs. VCIT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for BlackRock Floating Rate Loan ETF (BRLN) is 1.11%, while Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) has a volatility of 1.39%. This indicates that BRLN experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VCIT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| BRLN | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.11% | 1.39% | -0.28% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.34% | 3.10% | -0.76% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.14% | 4.07% | -0.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.74% | 6.61% | -2.87% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.74% | 6.28% | -2.54% |
BRLN vs. VCIT - Expense Ratio Comparison
BRLN has a 0.55% expense ratio, which is higher than VCIT's 0.03% expense ratio.
Dividends
BRLN vs. VCIT - Dividend Comparison
BRLN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.37%, more than VCIT's 4.82% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRLN BlackRock Floating Rate Loan ETF | 6.37% | 6.50% | 7.87% | 9.06% | 1.48% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 4.82% | 4.62% | 4.43% | 3.72% | 3.03% | 2.87% | 2.78% | 3.37% | 3.61% | 3.21% | 3.29% | 3.34% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BRLN and VCIT have a correlation of 0.07, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VCIT has higher volatility (1.39%) compared to BRLN (1.11%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRLN dropped -3.85% vs VCIT's -20.56%.
On 3-year performance, BRLN leads with 7.18% vs 6.04% for VCIT. On fees, VCIT is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, BRLN has been the lower-risk option at 1.11%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, BRLN has performed better with a 7.18% return vs 6.04%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCIT is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.55% for BRLN.
BRLN has the higher dividend yield at 6.37%, compared with 4.82% for VCIT.
BRLN is categorized as Bank Loan, while VCIT is Corporate Bonds. They also come from different issuers: BlackRock and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.55% for BRLN and 0.03% for VCIT.
BRLN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.54 vs 1.48), 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.
Find the right allocation for BRLN and VCIT
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer