SBND vs. VCSH
SBND (Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF) and VCSH (Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SBND is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg Beta Advantage Short Term Bond (-300%), while VCSH is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, SBND returned 6.00%/yr vs 5.56%/yr for VCSH. Their correlation of 0.82 suggests significant overlap in exposure. SBND charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VCSH.
Performance
SBND vs. VCSH - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SBND achieves a 0.83% return, which is significantly higher than VCSH's 0.62% return.
SBND
- 1D
- -0.19%
- 1M
- 0.28%
- YTD
- 0.83%
- 6M
- 1.11%
- 1Y
- 4.86%
- 3Y*
- 6.00%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VCSH
- 1D
- -0.10%
- 1M
- 0.25%
- YTD
- 0.62%
- 6M
- 0.82%
- 1Y
- 4.15%
- 3Y*
- 5.56%
- 5Y*
- 2.36%
- 10Y*
- 2.64%
SBND vs. VCSH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SBND Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF | 0.83% | 7.50% | 4.83% | 7.20% | -7.24% | -0.70% |
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.62% | 6.77% | 4.91% | 6.20% | -5.62% | -0.92% |
Correlation
The correlation between SBND and VCSH is 0.76, 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 | 0.76 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 21, 2021 | 0.82 |
The correlation between SBND and VCSH has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.76 to 0.82 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SBND vs. VCSH — Risk / Return Rank
SBND
VCSH
SBND vs. VCSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF (SBND) and Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH). 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.
| SBND | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.19 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.31 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.42 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.86 | 2.98 | -0.12 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.86 | 12.06 | -0.20 |
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Drawdowns
SBND vs. VCSH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SBND drawdown since its inception was -10.78%, smaller than the maximum VCSH drawdown of -12.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SBND and VCSH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SBND | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -10.78% | -12.86% | +2.08% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.71% | -1.40% | -0.31% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.71% | -1.40% | -0.31% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -9.48% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -12.86% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.29% | -0.34% | +0.05% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.84% | -0.96% | -1.88% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.41% | 0.35% | +0.06% |
Volatility
SBND vs. VCSH - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF (SBND) is 0.62%, while Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) has a volatility of 0.68%. This indicates that SBND experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VCSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SBND | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.62% | 0.68% | -0.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.69% | 1.48% | +0.21% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.46% | 1.92% | +0.54% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.60% | 2.89% | +0.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.60% | 3.35% | +0.25% |
SBND vs. VCSH - Expense Ratio Comparison
SBND has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VCSH'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
SBND vs. VCSH - Dividend Comparison
SBND's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.54%, more than VCSH's 4.45% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SBND Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF | 4.54% | 4.65% | 4.58% | 3.90% | 2.80% | 0.43% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 4.45% | 4.35% | 3.96% | 3.09% | 2.01% | 1.81% | 2.27% | 2.87% | 2.65% | 2.26% | 2.10% | 2.08% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SBND and VCSH have a correlation of 0.76, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VCSH has higher volatility (0.68%) compared to SBND (0.62%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SBND dropped -10.78% vs VCSH's -12.86%.
On 3-year performance, SBND leads with 6.00% vs 5.56% for VCSH. On fees, VCSH is cheaper at 0.04% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, SBND has performed better with a 6.00% return vs 5.56%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCSH is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for SBND.
SBND has the higher dividend yield at 4.54%, compared with 4.45% for VCSH.
SBND is categorized as Short-Term Bond, while VCSH is Corporate Bonds. SBND tracks Bloomberg Beta Advantage Short Term Bond (-300%), while VCSH tracks Bloomberg U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: Columbia and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for SBND and 0.04% for VCSH.
VCSH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.17 vs 1.99), 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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