LDRC vs. VTC
LDRC (iShares iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder ETF) and VTC (Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - LDRC is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the BlackRock iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder Index, while VTC is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, LDRC returned 4.49% vs 5.25% for VTC. A 0.68 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. LDRC charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VTC.
Performance
LDRC vs. VTC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, LDRC achieves a 0.80% return, which is significantly higher than VTC's 0.23% return.
LDRC
- 1D
- -0.02%
- 1M
- 0.05%
- YTD
- 0.80%
- 6M
- 1.31%
- 1Y
- 4.49%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VTC
- 1D
- -0.54%
- 1M
- -0.52%
- YTD
- 0.23%
- 6M
- 0.23%
- 1Y
- 5.25%
- 3Y*
- 5.13%
- 5Y*
- 0.44%
- 10Y*
- —
LDRC vs. VTC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
LDRC iShares iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder ETF | 0.80% | 6.33% | 0.37% |
VTC Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF | 0.23% | 7.58% | -1.39% |
Correlation
The correlation between LDRC and VTC is 0.66, 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 | 0.66 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 11, 2024 | 0.68 |
The correlation between LDRC and VTC has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.66 to 0.68 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
LDRC vs. VTC — Risk / Return Rank
LDRC
VTC
LDRC vs. VTC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder ETF (LDRC) and Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF (VTC). 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.
| LDRC | VTC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.81 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.24 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.44 | 1.21 | +0.23 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.52 | 1.83 | +2.69 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.70 | 5.79 | +6.90 |
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
| LDRC | VTC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.02 | 1.21 | +0.81 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.06 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.92 | 0.31 | +1.61 |
Drawdowns
LDRC vs. VTC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum LDRC drawdown since its inception was -1.00%, smaller than the maximum VTC drawdown of -22.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LDRC and VTC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| LDRC | VTC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -1.00% | -22.05% | +21.05% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.00% | -2.88% | +1.88% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | — | -6.46% | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -22.05% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.08% | -1.34% | +1.26% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.26% | -5.84% | +5.58% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.35% | 0.91% | -0.56% |
Volatility
LDRC vs. VTC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder ETF (LDRC) is 0.44%, while Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF (VTC) has a volatility of 1.43%. This indicates that LDRC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| LDRC | VTC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.44% | 1.43% | -0.99% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.49% | 3.27% | -1.78% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.24% | 4.37% | -2.13% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.51% | 7.08% | -4.57% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.51% | 7.68% | -5.17% |
LDRC vs. VTC - Expense Ratio Comparison
LDRC has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than VTC'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
LDRC vs. VTC - Dividend Comparison
LDRC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.22%, less than VTC's 4.95% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LDRC iShares iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder ETF | 4.22% | 4.22% | 0.75% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VTC Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF | 4.95% | 4.76% | 4.50% | 3.80% | 3.13% | 2.36% | 2.69% | 3.34% | 3.53% | 0.55% |
Frequently Asked Questions
LDRC and VTC have a correlation of 0.66, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VTC has higher volatility (1.43%) compared to LDRC (0.44%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LDRC dropped -1.00% vs VTC's -22.05%.
On 1-year performance, VTC leads with 5.25% vs 4.49% for LDRC. On fees, VTC is cheaper at 0.04% per year. On volatility, LDRC has been the lower-risk option at 0.44%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, VTC has performed better with a 5.25% return vs 4.49%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VTC is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.10% for LDRC.
VTC has the higher dividend yield at 4.95%, compared with 4.22% for LDRC.
LDRC is categorized as Short-Term Bond, while VTC is Corporate Bonds. LDRC tracks BlackRock iBonds 1-5 Year Corporate Ladder Index, while VTC tracks Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.10% for LDRC and 0.04% for VTC.
LDRC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.02 vs 1.21), 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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