IYC vs. VCR
IYC (iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF) and VCR (Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF) are both Consumer Discretionary Equities funds - IYC tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Services Index while VCR tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Consumer Discretionary 25/50 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IYC returned 11.80%/yr vs 13.68%/yr for VCR. With a 0.96 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. IYC charges 0.38%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for VCR.
Performance
IYC vs. VCR - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IYC achieves a -3.42% return, which is significantly lower than VCR's -2.41% return. Over the past 10 years, IYC has underperformed VCR with an annualized return of 11.80%, while VCR has yielded a comparatively higher 13.68% annualized return.
IYC
- 1D
- -0.27%
- 1M
- -2.64%
- YTD
- -3.42%
- 6M
- -4.50%
- 1Y
- 2.57%
- 3Y*
- 13.50%
- 5Y*
- 5.77%
- 10Y*
- 11.80%
VCR
- 1D
- -0.91%
- 1M
- -2.81%
- YTD
- -2.41%
- 6M
- -4.50%
- 1Y
- 8.02%
- 3Y*
- 12.53%
- 5Y*
- 5.14%
- 10Y*
- 13.68%
IYC vs. VCR - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IYC iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF | -3.42% | 7.85% | 27.54% | 34.03% | -31.78% | 19.65% | 24.58% | 27.36% | 1.76% | 19.87% |
VCR Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF | -2.41% | 5.77% | 24.27% | 40.38% | -35.15% | 24.86% | 48.36% | 27.45% | -2.31% | 22.82% |
Correlation
The correlation between IYC and VCR is 0.95, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 30, 2004 | 0.96 |
The correlation between IYC and VCR has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.95 to 0.97 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IYC vs. VCR — Risk / Return Rank
IYC
VCR
IYC vs. VCR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF (IYC) and Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR). 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.
| IYC | VCR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.25 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.38 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.04 | 1.09 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.22 | 0.52 | -0.30 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.62 | 1.57 | -0.96 |
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Drawdowns
IYC vs. VCR - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IYC drawdown since its inception was -53.10%, smaller than the maximum VCR drawdown of -61.54%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IYC and VCR.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IYC | VCR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.10% | -61.54% | +8.44% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.97% | -15.59% | +3.62% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.62% | -27.36% | +5.74% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.90% | -39.20% | +3.30% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.90% | -39.20% | +3.30% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.07% | -6.85% | -0.22% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.94% | -9.39% | -0.55% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.17% | 5.11% | -0.94% |
Volatility
IYC vs. VCR - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF (IYC) is 4.93%, while Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR) has a volatility of 6.34%. This indicates that IYC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VCR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IYC | VCR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.93% | 6.34% | -1.41% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.18% | 13.88% | -2.70% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.65% | 18.86% | -4.21% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.80% | 24.10% | -3.30% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.91% | 22.44% | -2.53% |
IYC vs. VCR - Expense Ratio Comparison
IYC has a 0.38% expense ratio, which is higher than VCR's 0.10% expense ratio.
Dividends
IYC vs. VCR - Dividend Comparison
IYC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.52%, less than VCR's 0.75% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IYC iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF | 0.52% | 0.51% | 0.47% | 0.68% | 0.68% | 0.39% | 0.65% | 0.89% | 0.90% | 0.92% | 1.10% | 1.03% |
VCR Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF | 0.75% | 0.74% | 0.74% | 0.84% | 0.98% | 0.79% | 1.71% | 1.17% | 1.37% | 1.21% | 1.60% | 1.32% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.95, IYC and VCR 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.
VCR has higher volatility (6.34%) compared to IYC (4.93%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IYC dropped -53.10% vs VCR's -61.54%.
On 10-year performance, VCR leads with 13.68% vs 11.80% for IYC. On fees, VCR is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, IYC has been the lower-risk option at 4.93%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VCR has performed better with a 13.68% return vs 11.80%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCR is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.38% for IYC.
VCR has the higher dividend yield at 0.75%, compared with 0.52% for IYC.
IYC tracks Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Services Index, while VCR tracks MSCI US Investable Market Consumer Discretionary 25/50 Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.38% for IYC and 0.10% for VCR.
VCR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.43 vs 0.18), 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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