IBDU vs. VCLT
IBDU (iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF) and VCLT (Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF) are both Corporate Bonds funds - IBDU tracks the Bloomberg December 2029 Maturity Corporate Index while VCLT tracks the Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, IBDU returned 1.29%/yr vs -1.78%/yr for VCLT. Their correlation of 0.84 suggests significant overlap in exposure. IBDU charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VCLT.
Performance
IBDU vs. VCLT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBDU achieves a 0.54% return, which is significantly lower than VCLT's 0.99% return.
IBDU
- 1D
- -0.13%
- 1M
- 0.12%
- YTD
- 0.54%
- 6M
- 0.88%
- 1Y
- 4.76%
- 3Y*
- 5.73%
- 5Y*
- 1.29%
- 10Y*
- —
VCLT
- 1D
- -0.35%
- 1M
- 1.49%
- YTD
- 0.99%
- 6M
- -0.04%
- 1Y
- 7.69%
- 3Y*
- 4.34%
- 5Y*
- -1.78%
- 10Y*
- 2.31%
IBDU vs. VCLT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBDU iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF | 0.54% | 7.59% | 3.62% | 8.67% | -13.04% | -2.05% | 10.38% | 2.22% |
VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.99% | 7.18% | -1.90% | 11.17% | -25.50% | -1.73% | 13.27% | 2.89% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBDU and VCLT is 0.78, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.78 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.83 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.85 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 20, 2019 | 0.84 |
The correlation between IBDU and VCLT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.78 to 0.85 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IBDU vs. VCLT — Risk / Return Rank
IBDU
VCLT
IBDU vs. VCLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF (IBDU) and Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT). 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.
| IBDU | VCLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.14 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.86 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.41 | 1.17 | +0.24 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.02 | 1.47 | +1.55 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.33 | 3.62 | +7.71 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IBDU | VCLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.12 | 0.97 | +1.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.23 | -0.14 | +0.37 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.18 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.33 | 0.39 | -0.07 |
Drawdowns
IBDU vs. VCLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBDU drawdown since its inception was -19.44%, smaller than the maximum VCLT drawdown of -34.31%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBDU and VCLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBDU | VCLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.44% | -34.31% | +14.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.59% | -5.25% | +3.66% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.14% | -13.03% | +8.89% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.44% | -34.31% | +14.87% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -34.31% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.54% | -14.36% | +13.82% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.41% | -8.16% | +2.75% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 2.13% | -1.71% |
Volatility
IBDU vs. VCLT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF (IBDU) is 0.58%, while Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) has a volatility of 2.31%. This indicates that IBDU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VCLT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IBDU | VCLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.58% | 2.31% | -1.73% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.49% | 5.75% | -4.26% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.26% | 7.92% | -5.66% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.72% | 12.78% | -7.06% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.32% | 12.84% | -5.52% |
IBDU vs. VCLT - Expense Ratio Comparison
IBDU has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than VCLT's 0.04% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
IBDU vs. VCLT - Dividend Comparison
IBDU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.66%, less than VCLT's 5.55% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBDU iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF | 4.66% | 4.67% | 4.75% | 4.21% | 3.34% | 2.29% | 2.42% | 0.74% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 5.55% | 5.51% | 5.19% | 4.67% | 4.44% | 3.07% | 3.16% | 3.81% | 4.55% | 4.01% | 4.33% | 4.68% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IBDU and VCLT have a correlation of 0.78, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VCLT has higher volatility (2.31%) compared to IBDU (0.58%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBDU dropped -19.44% vs VCLT's -34.31%.
On 5-year performance, IBDU leads with 1.29% vs -1.78% for VCLT. On fees, VCLT is cheaper at 0.04% per year. On volatility, IBDU has been the lower-risk option at 0.58%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, IBDU has performed better with a 1.29% return vs -1.78%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCLT is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.10% for IBDU.
VCLT has the higher dividend yield at 5.55%, compared with 4.66% for IBDU.
IBDU tracks Bloomberg December 2029 Maturity Corporate Index, while VCLT tracks Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.10% for IBDU and 0.04% for VCLT.
IBDU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.12 vs 0.97), 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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