VBLAX vs. VICSX
VBLAX (Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VICSX (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VBLAX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while VICSX is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 5–10 Year Corporate Bond Index. Over the past 5 years, VBLAX returned -5.20%/yr vs 0.69%/yr for VICSX. Their correlation of 0.90 means they have usually moved in the same direction. VBLAX charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.06%/yr for VICSX.
Performance
VBLAX vs. VICSX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBLAX achieves a -3.42% return, which is significantly lower than VICSX's -0.69% return.
VBLAX
- 1D
- -0.50%
- 1M
- -3.76%
- 6M
- -3.26%
- YTD
- -3.42%
- 1Y
- -1.17%
- 3Y*
- 1.23%
- 5Y*
- -5.20%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 0.08%
VICSX
- 1D
- -0.18%
- 1M
- -1.22%
- 6M
- -0.77%
- YTD
- -0.69%
- 1Y
- 2.22%
- 3Y*
- 5.90%
- 5Y*
- 0.69%
- 10Y*
- 2.67%
- ALL TIME*
- 4.25%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VBLAX vs. VICSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBLAX Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | -3.42% | 6.57% | -4.14% | 7.55% | -27.22% | -3.36% | 15.75% | 16.45% |
VICSX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | -0.69% | 9.36% | 3.66% | 8.88% | -14.09% | -1.56% | 9.52% | 11.13% |
Correlation
The correlation between VBLAX and VICSX is 0.92, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.92 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.93 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.92 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 7, 2019 | 0.90 |
The correlation between VBLAX and VICSX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VBLAX vs. VICSX — Risk / Return Rank
VBLAX
VICSX
VBLAX vs. VICSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBLAX) and Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VICSX). 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.
| VBLAX | VICSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.79 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.09 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.13 | -0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.02 | 1.01 | -1.03 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.05 | 2.79 | -2.84 |
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Drawdowns
VBLAX vs. VICSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBLAX drawdown since its inception was -38.62%, which is greater than VICSX's maximum drawdown of -20.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBLAX and VICSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBLAX | VICSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -38.62% | -20.53% | -18.09% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.45% | -2.98% | -3.47% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -11.56% | -5.22% | -6.34% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.32% | -20.30% | -16.02% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -20.53% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -27.42% | -2.20% | -25.22% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.25% | -3.14% | -15.11% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.75% | 1.08% | +1.67% |
Volatility
VBLAX vs. VICSX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBLAX) has a higher volatility of 2.10% compared to Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VICSX) at 1.03%. This indicates that VBLAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VICSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBLAX | VICSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.10% | 1.03% | +1.07% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.00% | 3.11% | +2.89% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.87% | 3.90% | +3.97% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.81% | 6.17% | +6.64% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 12.56% | 5.34% | +7.22% |
VBLAX vs. VICSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBLAX has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is higher than VICSX's 0.06% 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
VBLAX vs. VICSX - Dividend Comparison
VBLAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.54%, more than VICSX's 4.43% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBLAX Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.54% | 4.64% | 4.61% | 4.08% | 4.13% | 2.62% | 5.39% | 3.25% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VICSX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.43% | 4.59% | 4.77% | 3.70% | 3.00% | 2.76% | 2.77% | 3.35% | 3.62% | 3.22% | 3.03% | 3.36% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.92, VBLAX and VICSX 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.
VBLAX has higher volatility (2.10%) compared to VICSX (1.03%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBLAX dropped -38.62% vs VICSX's -20.53%.
VICSX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.77 vs -0.02), 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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