RCDB.NEO vs. VSC.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

RCDB.NEO (RBC Canadian Discount Bond ETF) and VSC.TO (Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF) are both Short-Term Bond funds. RCDB.NEO is actively managed, while VSC.TO is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, RCDB.NEO returned 2.25%/yr vs 2.76%/yr for VSC.TO. A 0.61 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. RCDB.NEO charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.11%/yr for VSC.TO.

Performance

RCDB.NEO vs. VSC.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in RBC Canadian Discount Bond ETF (RCDB.NEO) and Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF (VSC.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with RCDB.NEO having a 1.15% return and VSC.TO slightly lower at 1.14%.

RCDB.NEO

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 1.09%
• YTD: 1.15%
• 6M: 0.91%
• 1Y: 3.01%
• 3Y*: 4.84%
• 5Y*: 2.25%
• 10Y*: —

VSC.TO

• 1D: -0.08%
• 1M: 0.93%
• YTD: 1.14%
• 6M: 1.15%
• 1Y: 3.74%
• 3Y*: 5.79%
• 5Y*: 2.76%
• 10Y*: 2.74%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

RCDB.NEO vs. VSC.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
RCDB.NEO RBC Canadian Discount Bond ETF	1.15%	3.75%	5.58%	5.68%	-4.07%	-0.68%	5.61%	0.58%
VSC.TO Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF	1.14%	4.63%	6.69%	6.75%	-4.23%	-0.97%	6.27%	1.14%

Correlation

The correlation between RCDB.NEO and VSC.TO is 0.58, 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	0.58
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.73
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.71
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 12, 2019	0.61

The correlation between RCDB.NEO and VSC.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.58 (1 year) to 0.73 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

RCDB.NEO vs. VSC.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

RCDB.NEO

RCDB.NEO Risk / Return Rank: 38
RCDB.NEO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 37
RCDB.NEO Sortino Ratio Rank: 36
RCDB.NEO Omega Ratio Rank: 36
RCDB.NEO Calmar Ratio Rank: 40
RCDB.NEO Martin Ratio Rank: 41

VSC.TO

VSC.TO Risk / Return Rank: 56
VSC.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 56
VSC.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 57
VSC.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 63
VSC.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 50
VSC.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 56

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

RCDB.NEO vs. VSC.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for RBC Canadian Discount Bond ETF (RCDB.NEO) and Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF (VSC.TO). 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.

	RCDB.NEO	VSC.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.29	1.91	-0.62
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.85	2.70	-0.85
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.24	1.39	-0.15
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.91	2.46	-0.55
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	6.47	9.75	-3.28
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

RCDB.NEO vs. VSC.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current RCDB.NEO Sharpe Ratio is 1.29, which is lower than the VSC.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.91. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of RCDB.NEO and VSC.TO, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	RCDB.NEO	VSC.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.29	1.91	-0.62
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.80	1.02	-0.22
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.54	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.45	0.60	-0.15

Drawdowns

RCDB.NEO vs. VSC.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum RCDB.NEO drawdown since its inception was -8.31%, smaller than the maximum VSC.TO drawdown of -15.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RCDB.NEO and VSC.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	RCDB.NEO	VSC.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-8.31%	-15.87%	+7.56%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.59%	-1.53%	-0.06%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-1.59%	-1.53%	-0.06%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-6.90%	-7.68%	+0.78%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-15.87%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.03%	-0.11%	+0.08%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.41%	-0.97%	-0.44%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.47%	0.38%	+0.09%

Volatility

RCDB.NEO vs. VSC.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for RBC Canadian Discount Bond ETF (RCDB.NEO) is 0.67%, while Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF (VSC.TO) has a volatility of 0.75%. This indicates that RCDB.NEO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VSC.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	RCDB.NEO	VSC.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.67%	0.75%	-0.08%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.84%	1.64%	+0.20%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.35%	1.97%	+0.38%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	2.83%	2.73%	+0.10%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	5.48%	5.15%	+0.33%

RCDB.NEO vs. VSC.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

RCDB.NEO has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is higher than VSC.TO's 0.11% 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

RCDB.NEO vs. VSC.TO - Dividend Comparison

RCDB.NEO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.11%, less than VSC.TO's 3.69% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
RCDB.NEO RBC Canadian Discount Bond ETF	2.11%	1.96%	1.58%	1.22%	1.16%	1.33%	1.68%	0.78%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VSC.TO Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF	3.69%	3.61%	3.54%	3.14%	2.85%	2.59%	2.64%	2.71%	2.77%	2.75%	2.89%	3.05%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both RCDB.NEO and VSC.TO in my portfolio?

RCDB.NEO and VSC.TO have a correlation of 0.58, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, RCDB.NEO or VSC.TO?

On fees, VSC.TO is cheaper at 0.11% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, RCDB.NEO or VSC.TO?

VSC.TO is cheaper with a 0.11% expense ratio, compared with 0.17% for RCDB.NEO.

What is the main difference between RCDB.NEO and VSC.TO?

They also come from different issuers: RBC and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.17% for RCDB.NEO and 0.11% for VSC.TO.