SCHJ vs. VCLT
SCHJ (Schwab 1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF) and VCLT (Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF) are both Corporate Bonds funds - SCHJ tracks the Bloomberg US Corporate (1-5 Y) while VCLT tracks the Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SCHJ returned 2.31%/yr vs -1.78%/yr for VCLT. A 0.72 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. SCHJ charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VCLT.
Performance
SCHJ vs. VCLT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SCHJ achieves a 0.56% return, which is significantly lower than VCLT's 0.99% return.
SCHJ
- 1D
- -0.08%
- 1M
- 0.13%
- YTD
- 0.56%
- 6M
- 0.86%
- 1Y
- 4.52%
- 3Y*
- 5.49%
- 5Y*
- 2.31%
- 10Y*
- —
VCLT
- 1D
- -0.35%
- 1M
- 1.49%
- YTD
- 0.99%
- 6M
- -0.04%
- 1Y
- 7.69%
- 3Y*
- 4.34%
- 5Y*
- -1.78%
- 10Y*
- 2.31%
SCHJ vs. VCLT - 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% |
VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.99% | 7.18% | -1.90% | 11.17% | -25.50% | -1.73% | 13.27% | 2.16% |
Correlation
The correlation between SCHJ and VCLT is 0.77, 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 | 0.77 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.75 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.75 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 11, 2019 | 0.72 |
The correlation between SCHJ and VCLT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.72 to 0.77 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SCHJ vs. VCLT — Risk / Return Rank
SCHJ
VCLT
SCHJ vs. VCLT - 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 Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT). 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 | VCLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.45 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.35 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.48 | 1.17 | +0.31 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.08 | 1.47 | +1.61 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.17 | 3.62 | +8.55 |
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 | VCLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.42 | 0.97 | +1.45 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.79 | -0.14 | +0.93 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.18 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.64 | 0.39 | +0.25 |
Drawdowns
SCHJ vs. VCLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SCHJ drawdown since its inception was -13.62%, smaller than the maximum VCLT drawdown of -34.31%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCHJ and VCLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SCHJ | VCLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -13.62% | -34.31% | +20.69% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.47% | -5.25% | +3.78% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.47% | -13.03% | +11.56% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.43% | -34.31% | +24.88% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -34.31% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.45% | -14.36% | +13.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.88% | -8.16% | +6.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.37% | 2.13% | -1.76% |
Volatility
SCHJ vs. VCLT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Schwab 1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF (SCHJ) is 0.55%, while Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) has a volatility of 2.31%. This indicates that SCHJ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VCLT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SCHJ | VCLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.55% | 2.31% | -1.76% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.35% | 5.75% | -4.40% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.87% | 7.92% | -6.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.94% | 12.78% | -9.84% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.13% | 12.84% | -8.71% |
SCHJ vs. VCLT - Expense Ratio Comparison
SCHJ has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is higher than VCLT'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. VCLT - Dividend Comparison
SCHJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.50%, less than VCLT's 5.55% 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% |
VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 5.55% | 5.51% | 5.19% | 4.67% | 4.44% | 3.07% | 3.16% | 3.81% | 4.55% | 4.01% | 4.33% | 4.68% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SCHJ and VCLT have a correlation of 0.77, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VCLT has higher volatility (2.31%) compared to SCHJ (0.55%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCHJ dropped -13.62% vs VCLT's -34.31%.
On 5-year performance, SCHJ leads with 2.31% vs -1.78% for VCLT. On fees, VCLT 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 -1.78%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCLT is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.05% for SCHJ.
VCLT has the higher dividend yield at 5.55%, compared with 4.50% for SCHJ.
SCHJ tracks Bloomberg US Corporate (1-5 Y), while VCLT tracks Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Index. They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.05% for SCHJ and 0.04% for VCLT.
SCHJ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.42 vs 0.97), 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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