VCADX vs. BCITX
VCADX (Vanguard California Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares) and BCITX (American Century California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund) are both Municipal Bonds funds. Over the past 10 years, VCADX returned 2.35%/yr vs 1.88%/yr for BCITX. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VCADX charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.46%/yr for BCITX.
Performance
VCADX vs. BCITX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with VCADX having a 1.16% return and BCITX slightly higher at 1.19%. Over the past 10 years, VCADX has outperformed BCITX with an annualized return of 2.35%, while BCITX has yielded a comparatively lower 1.88% annualized return.
VCADX
- 1D
- 0.09%
- 1M
- 0.62%
- YTD
- 1.16%
- 6M
- 1.51%
- 1Y
- 6.82%
- 3Y*
- 4.48%
- 5Y*
- 1.70%
- 10Y*
- 2.35%
BCITX
- 1D
- 0.18%
- 1M
- 0.61%
- YTD
- 1.19%
- 6M
- 1.63%
- 1Y
- 6.31%
- 3Y*
- 3.85%
- 5Y*
- 1.07%
- 10Y*
- 1.88%
VCADX vs. BCITX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCADX Vanguard California Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 1.16% | 5.90% | 2.24% | 5.91% | -6.61% | 0.46% | 4.62% | 7.04% | 1.28% | 4.94% |
BCITX American Century California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund | 1.19% | 4.74% | 2.17% | 4.75% | -7.36% | 1.11% | 3.71% | 6.62% | 0.71% | 4.63% |
Correlation
The correlation between VCADX and BCITX is 0.87, 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 | 0.87 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.89 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 13, 2001 | 0.89 |
The correlation between VCADX and BCITX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.87 to 0.92 - a consistent structural relationship.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
VCADX vs. BCITX — Risk / Return Rank
VCADX
BCITX
VCADX vs. BCITX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard California Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VCADX) and American Century California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund (BCITX). 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.
| VCADX | BCITX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.17 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.79 | 1.76 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.30 | 2.38 | -0.08 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.53 | 7.78 | -0.24 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VCADX | BCITX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.02 | 2.85 | +0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.53 | 0.36 | +0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.69 | 0.56 | +0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.10 | 1.16 | -0.07 |
Drawdowns
VCADX vs. BCITX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCADX drawdown since its inception was -11.13%, smaller than the maximum BCITX drawdown of -12.17%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCADX and BCITX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| VCADX | BCITX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -11.13% | -12.17% | +1.04% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.98% | -2.62% | -0.36% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.23% | -4.25% | +0.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -11.13% | -11.40% | +0.27% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -11.13% | -11.40% | +0.27% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.99% | -0.73% | -0.26% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.50% | -1.92% | +0.42% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.91% | 0.80% | +0.11% |
Volatility
VCADX vs. BCITX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard California Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VCADX) and American Century California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund (BCITX) have volatilities of 0.87% and 0.85%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| VCADX | BCITX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.87% | 0.85% | +0.02% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.80% | 1.71% | +0.09% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.28% | 2.19% | +0.09% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.25% | 3.00% | +0.25% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.43% | 3.37% | +0.06% |
VCADX vs. BCITX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCADX has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than BCITX's 0.46% expense ratio.
Dividends
VCADX vs. BCITX - Dividend Comparison
VCADX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.14%, more than BCITX's 3.03% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BCITX American Century California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund | 3.03% | 3.49% | 3.40% | 2.70% | 1.67% | 1.93% | 2.22% | 2.77% | 2.65% | 2.48% | 2.42% | 2.39% |
VCADX Vanguard California Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 3.14% | 3.82% | 3.35% | 2.57% | 2.36% | 1.77% | 2.28% | 2.72% | 2.71% | 2.66% | 2.76% | 2.86% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VCADX and BCITX have a correlation of 0.87, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VCADX has higher volatility (0.87%) compared to BCITX (0.85%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VCADX dropped -11.13% vs BCITX's -12.17%.
VCADX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.02 vs 2.85), 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.
Find the right allocation for VCADX and BCITX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer