SCHJ vs. VCIT
SCHJ (Schwab 1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF) and VCIT (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF) are both Corporate Bonds funds - SCHJ tracks the Bloomberg US Corporate (1-5 Y) while VCIT tracks the Barclays U.S. 5-10 Year Corp Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SCHJ returned 2.31%/yr vs 1.22%/yr for VCIT. Their correlation of 0.86 suggests significant overlap in exposure. SCHJ charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VCIT.
Performance
SCHJ vs. VCIT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SCHJ achieves a 0.56% return, which is significantly higher than VCIT's 0.18% return.
SCHJ
- 1D
- -0.08%
- 1M
- 0.13%
- YTD
- 0.56%
- 6M
- 0.86%
- 1Y
- 4.52%
- 3Y*
- 5.49%
- 5Y*
- 2.31%
- 10Y*
- —
VCIT
- 1D
- -0.22%
- 1M
- 0.28%
- YTD
- 0.18%
- 6M
- 0.07%
- 1Y
- 6.13%
- 3Y*
- 6.00%
- 5Y*
- 1.22%
- 10Y*
- 2.93%
SCHJ vs. VCIT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCHJ Schwab 1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF | 0.56% | 6.80% | 4.89% | 6.36% | -5.73% | -0.67% | 5.30% | 0.61% |
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.18% | 9.34% | 3.20% | 8.98% | -13.98% | -1.77% | 9.46% | 1.04% |
Correlation
The correlation between SCHJ and VCIT is 0.90, 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 | 0.90 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.88 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.89 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 11, 2019 | 0.86 |
The correlation between SCHJ and VCIT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.86 to 0.90 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SCHJ vs. VCIT — Risk / Return Rank
SCHJ
VCIT
SCHJ vs. VCIT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab 1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF (SCHJ) 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.
| SCHJ | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.92 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.56 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.48 | 1.27 | +0.21 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.08 | 2.08 | +1.00 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.17 | 6.95 | +5.22 |
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
| SCHJ | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.42 | 1.50 | +0.92 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.79 | 0.19 | +0.61 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.47 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.64 | 0.75 | -0.12 |
Drawdowns
SCHJ vs. VCIT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SCHJ drawdown since its inception was -13.62%, smaller than the maximum VCIT drawdown of -20.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCHJ and VCIT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SCHJ | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -13.62% | -20.56% | +6.94% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.47% | -2.96% | +1.49% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.47% | -6.11% | +4.64% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.43% | -20.56% | +11.13% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -20.56% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.45% | -1.36% | +0.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.88% | -3.16% | +1.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.37% | 0.88% | -0.51% |
Volatility
SCHJ vs. VCIT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Schwab 1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF (SCHJ) is 0.55%, while Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) has a volatility of 1.38%. This indicates that SCHJ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky 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
| SCHJ | VCIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.55% | 1.38% | -0.83% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.35% | 3.06% | -1.71% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.87% | 4.10% | -2.23% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.94% | 6.61% | -3.67% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.13% | 6.28% | -2.15% |
SCHJ vs. VCIT - Expense Ratio Comparison
SCHJ has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is higher than VCIT'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
SCHJ vs. VCIT - Dividend Comparison
SCHJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.50%, less than VCIT's 4.80% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCHJ Schwab 1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF | 4.50% | 4.42% | 4.00% | 2.98% | 1.64% | 0.94% | 2.54% | 0.42% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
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 0.90, SCHJ 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.
VCIT has higher volatility (1.38%) compared to SCHJ (0.55%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCHJ dropped -13.62% vs VCIT's -20.56%.
On 5-year performance, SCHJ leads with 2.31% vs 1.22% for VCIT. On fees, VCIT is cheaper at 0.04% per year. On volatility, SCHJ has been the lower-risk option at 0.55%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, SCHJ has performed better with a 2.31% return vs 1.22%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCIT is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.05% for SCHJ.
VCIT has the higher dividend yield at 4.80%, compared with 4.50% for SCHJ.
SCHJ tracks Bloomberg US Corporate (1-5 Y), while VCIT tracks Barclays U.S. 5-10 Year Corp Index. They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.05% for SCHJ and 0.04% for VCIT.
SCHJ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.42 vs 1.50), 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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