VCEB vs. VTEB
VCEB (Vanguard ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF) and VTEB (Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VCEB is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg Barclays MSCI US Corp SRI Select Index, while VTEB is a Municipal Bonds fund tracking the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VCEB returned 0.66%/yr vs 0.93%/yr for VTEB. A 0.68 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VCEB charges 0.12%/yr vs 0.05%/yr for VTEB.
Performance
VCEB vs. VTEB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCEB achieves a 0.50% return, which is significantly lower than VTEB's 1.52% return.
VCEB
- 1D
- 0.01%
- 1M
- 0.58%
- YTD
- 0.50%
- 6M
- 0.49%
- 1Y
- 5.58%
- 3Y*
- 5.11%
- 5Y*
- 0.66%
- 10Y*
- —
VTEB
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- 0.61%
- YTD
- 1.52%
- 6M
- 1.95%
- 1Y
- 7.14%
- 3Y*
- 3.59%
- 5Y*
- 0.93%
- 10Y*
- 2.10%
VCEB vs. VTEB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCEB Vanguard ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF | 0.50% | 7.48% | 2.23% | 8.52% | -15.15% | -1.99% | 2.46% |
VTEB Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF | 1.52% | 3.72% | 1.31% | 6.15% | -7.99% | 1.14% | 1.93% |
Correlation
The correlation between VCEB and VTEB is 0.66, 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 | 0.66 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.75 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.70 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 25, 2020 | 0.68 |
The correlation between VCEB and VTEB has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.66 to 0.75 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VCEB vs. VTEB — Risk / Return Rank
VCEB
VTEB
VCEB vs. VTEB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF (VCEB) and Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB). 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.
| VCEB | VTEB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.34 | 2.64 | -1.30 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.96 | 3.92 | -1.96 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.58 | -0.34 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.92 | 2.58 | -0.67 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.96 | 9.21 | -3.25 |
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
| VCEB | VTEB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.34 | 2.64 | -1.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.10 | 0.24 | -0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.40 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.06 | 0.48 | -0.42 |
Drawdowns
VCEB vs. VTEB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCEB drawdown since its inception was -21.60%, which is greater than VTEB's maximum drawdown of -17.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCEB and VTEB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCEB | VTEB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -21.60% | -17.00% | -4.60% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.82% | -2.71% | -0.11% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.09% | -5.53% | -0.56% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.39% | -12.64% | -8.75% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -17.00% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.87% | -0.46% | -0.41% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.64% | -2.33% | -5.31% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.91% | 0.76% | +0.15% |
Volatility
VCEB vs. VTEB - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF (VCEB) has a higher volatility of 1.34% compared to Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB) at 0.90%. This indicates that VCEB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VTEB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCEB | VTEB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.34% | 0.90% | +0.44% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.14% | 2.03% | +1.11% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.19% | 2.72% | +1.47% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.84% | 3.90% | +2.94% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.66% | 5.26% | +1.40% |
VCEB vs. VTEB - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCEB has a 0.12% expense ratio, which is higher than VTEB's 0.05% 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
VCEB vs. VTEB - Dividend Comparison
VCEB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.64%, more than VTEB's 3.35% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCEB Vanguard ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF | 4.64% | 4.57% | 4.47% | 3.70% | 2.84% | 1.69% | 0.43% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VTEB Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF | 3.35% | 3.29% | 3.14% | 2.79% | 2.09% | 1.64% | 1.99% | 2.30% | 2.25% | 1.96% | 1.66% | 0.58% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VCEB and VTEB have a correlation of 0.66, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VCEB has higher volatility (1.34%) compared to VTEB (0.90%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VCEB dropped -21.60% vs VTEB's -17.00%.
On 5-year performance, VTEB leads with 0.93% vs 0.66% for VCEB. On fees, VTEB is cheaper at 0.05% per year. On volatility, VTEB has been the lower-risk option at 0.90%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, VTEB has performed better with a 0.93% return vs 0.66%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VTEB is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.12% for VCEB.
VCEB has the higher dividend yield at 4.64%, compared with 3.35% for VTEB.
VCEB is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while VTEB is Municipal Bonds. VCEB tracks Bloomberg Barclays MSCI US Corp SRI Select Index, while VTEB tracks S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index. Their fees differ too: 0.12% for VCEB and 0.05% for VTEB.
VTEB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.64 vs 1.34), 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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