VCIT vs. USVN
VCIT (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF) and USVN (US Treasury 7 Year Note ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VCIT is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 5-10 Year Corporate Bond Index, while USVN is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE BofA Current 7-Year US Treasury Index - Benchmark TR Gross. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, VCIT returned 6.37%/yr vs 3.04%/yr for USVN. Their correlation of 0.93 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VCIT charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for USVN.
Performance
VCIT vs. USVN - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCIT achieves a 0.41% return, which is significantly higher than USVN's -0.54% return.
VCIT
- 1D
- -0.07%
- 1M
- 0.40%
- YTD
- 0.41%
- 6M
- 0.89%
- 1Y
- 6.00%
- 3Y*
- 6.37%
- 5Y*
- 1.11%
- 10Y*
- 2.93%
USVN
- 1D
- -0.17%
- 1M
- 0.15%
- YTD
- -0.54%
- 6M
- -0.27%
- 1Y
- 3.35%
- 3Y*
- 3.04%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VCIT vs. USVN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.41% | 9.34% | 3.20% | 5.51% |
USVN US Treasury 7 Year Note ETF | -0.54% | 7.66% | 0.03% | 0.67% |
Correlation
The correlation between VCIT and USVN is 0.92, 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 | 0.92 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 28, 2023 | 0.93 |
The correlation between VCIT and USVN has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.92 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VCIT vs. USVN — Risk / Return Rank
VCIT
USVN
VCIT vs. USVN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) and US Treasury 7 Year Note ETF (USVN). 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.
| VCIT | USVN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.64 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.92 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.12 | +0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.88 | 0.83 | +1.06 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.07 | 2.31 | +3.77 |
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Drawdowns
VCIT vs. USVN - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCIT drawdown since its inception was -20.56%, which is greater than USVN's maximum drawdown of -8.27%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCIT and USVN.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCIT | USVN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -20.56% | -8.27% | -12.29% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.96% | -3.68% | +0.72% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.11% | -5.85% | -0.26% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.56% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -20.56% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.13% | -2.51% | +1.38% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.16% | -2.34% | -0.82% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.92% | 1.32% | -0.40% |
Volatility
VCIT vs. USVN - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) and US Treasury 7 Year Note ETF (USVN) have volatilities of 1.48% and 1.42%, 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.
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Volatility by Period
| VCIT | USVN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.48% | 1.42% | +0.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.15% | 3.04% | +0.11% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.10% | 4.20% | -0.10% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.62% | 5.78% | +0.84% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.28% | 5.78% | +0.50% |
VCIT vs. USVN - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCIT has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than USVN's 0.15% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VCIT vs. USVN - Dividend Comparison
VCIT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.79%, more than USVN's 3.74% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USVN US Treasury 7 Year Note ETF | 3.74% | 3.81% | 4.07% | 2.91% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 4.79% | 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 0.92, VCIT and USVN 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 (1.48%) compared to USVN (1.42%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VCIT dropped -20.56% vs USVN's -8.27%.
On 3-year performance, VCIT leads with 6.37% vs 3.04% for USVN. On fees, VCIT is cheaper at 0.03% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, VCIT has performed better with a 6.37% return vs 3.04%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCIT is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for USVN.
VCIT has the higher dividend yield at 4.79%, compared with 3.74% for USVN.
VCIT is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while USVN is Government Bonds. VCIT tracks Bloomberg U.S. 5-10 Year Corporate Bond Index, while USVN tracks ICE BofA Current 7-Year US Treasury Index - Benchmark TR Gross. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and US Benchmark Series. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for VCIT and 0.15% for USVN.
VCIT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.36 vs 0.73), 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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