LQD vs. VCIT
LQD (iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF) and VCIT (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF) are both Corporate Bonds funds - LQD tracks the iBoxx $ Liquid Investment Grade Index while VCIT tracks the Bloomberg U.S. 5-10 Year Corporate Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, LQD returned 2.46%/yr vs 2.86%/yr for VCIT. Their correlation of 0.90 suggests significant overlap in exposure. LQD charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VCIT.
Performance
LQD vs. VCIT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, LQD achieves a 0.61% return, which is significantly higher than VCIT's 0.22% return. Over the past 10 years, LQD has underperformed VCIT with an annualized return of 2.46%, while VCIT has yielded a comparatively higher 2.86% annualized return.
LQD
- 1D
- -0.27%
- 1M
- 0.76%
- YTD
- 0.61%
- 6M
- 0.68%
- 1Y
- 5.23%
- 3Y*
- 4.88%
- 5Y*
- -0.24%
- 10Y*
- 2.46%
VCIT
- 1D
- -0.23%
- 1M
- 0.50%
- YTD
- 0.22%
- 6M
- 0.37%
- 1Y
- 5.37%
- 3Y*
- 6.06%
- 5Y*
- 1.14%
- 10Y*
- 2.86%
LQD vs. VCIT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LQD iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 0.61% | 7.90% | 0.86% | 9.40% | -17.92% | -1.84% | 10.97% | 17.37% | -3.79% | 7.06% |
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.22% | 9.34% | 3.20% | 8.98% | -13.98% | -1.77% | 9.46% | 14.10% | -1.74% | 5.31% |
Correlation
The correlation between LQD and VCIT is 0.97 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 23, 2009 | 0.90 |
The correlation between LQD and VCIT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.98 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
LQD vs. VCIT — Risk / Return Rank
LQD
VCIT
LQD vs. VCIT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) 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.
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.
| LQD | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.33 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.49 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 1.23 | -0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.57 | 1.82 | -0.25 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.40 | 5.78 | -1.39 |
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Drawdowns
LQD vs. VCIT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum LQD drawdown since its inception was -24.95%, which is greater than VCIT's maximum drawdown of -20.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LQD and VCIT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| LQD | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -24.95% | -20.56% | -4.39% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.34% | -2.96% | -0.38% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -8.43% | -6.11% | -2.32% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.95% | -20.56% | -4.39% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -24.95% | -20.56% | -4.39% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.58% | -1.32% | -2.26% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.99% | -3.15% | -0.84% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.19% | 0.93% | +0.26% |
Volatility
LQD vs. VCIT - Volatility Comparison
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) has a higher volatility of 1.43% compared to Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) at 1.23%. This indicates that LQD's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VCIT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| LQD | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.43% | 1.23% | +0.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.99% | 3.18% | +0.81% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.33% | 4.11% | +1.22% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 8.65% | 6.62% | +2.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.69% | 6.29% | +2.40% |
LQD vs. VCIT - Expense Ratio Comparison
LQD has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than VCIT's 0.03% 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
LQD vs. VCIT - Dividend Comparison
LQD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.56%, less than VCIT's 4.80% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LQD iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 4.56% | 4.48% | 4.45% | 3.99% | 3.30% | 2.30% | 2.66% | 3.29% | 3.67% | 3.10% | 3.34% | 3.47% |
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 4.80% | 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
With a correlation of 0.97, LQD and VCIT 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.
LQD has higher volatility (1.43%) compared to VCIT (1.23%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LQD dropped -24.95% vs VCIT's -20.56%.
On 10-year performance, VCIT leads with 2.86% vs 2.46% for LQD. On fees, VCIT is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, VCIT has been the lower-risk option at 1.23%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VCIT has performed better with a 2.86% return vs 2.46%. 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 0.15% for LQD.
VCIT has the higher dividend yield at 4.80%, compared with 4.56% for LQD.
LQD tracks iBoxx $ Liquid Investment Grade Index, while VCIT tracks Bloomberg U.S. 5-10 Year Corporate Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for LQD and 0.03% for VCIT.
VCIT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.31 vs 0.99), 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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