VCIT vs. VFSTX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX).
VCIT is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Barclays U.S. 5-10 Year Corp Index. It was launched on Nov 19, 2009. VFSTX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Oct 29, 1982.
Performance
VCIT vs. VFSTX - Performance Comparison
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VCIT vs. VFSTX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | -0.31% | 9.34% | 3.20% | 8.98% | -13.98% | -1.77% | 9.46% | 14.10% | -1.74% | 5.31% |
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | -0.21% | 6.75% | 4.98% | 6.06% | -5.84% | -0.70% | 5.16% | 5.75% | 0.87% | 2.02% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCIT achieves a -0.31% return, which is significantly lower than VFSTX's -0.21% return. Over the past 10 years, VCIT has outperformed VFSTX with an annualized return of 3.08%, while VFSTX has yielded a comparatively lower 2.51% annualized return.
VCIT
- 1D
- 0.14%
- 1M
- -1.52%
- YTD
- -0.31%
- 6M
- 0.49%
- 1Y
- 5.98%
- 3Y*
- 5.60%
- 5Y*
- 1.45%
- 10Y*
- 3.08%
VFSTX
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -1.04%
- YTD
- -0.21%
- 6M
- 0.82%
- 1Y
- 4.46%
- 3Y*
- 5.21%
- 5Y*
- 2.23%
- 10Y*
- 2.51%
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VCIT vs. VFSTX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCIT has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than VFSTX's 0.20% 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%.
Return for Risk
VCIT vs. VFSTX — Risk / Return Rank
VCIT
VFSTX
VCIT vs. VFSTX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX). 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.
| VCIT | VFSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.24 | 1.81 | -0.57 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.73 | 2.93 | -1.20 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.40 | -0.16 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.08 | 2.90 | -0.81 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.27 | 11.58 | -4.30 |
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
| VCIT | VFSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.24 | 1.81 | -0.57 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.22 | 0.76 | -0.54 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.49 | 1.02 | -0.53 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.76 | 1.51 | -0.75 |
Correlation
The correlation between VCIT and VFSTX is 0.72, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
VCIT vs. VFSTX - Dividend Comparison
VCIT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.76%, more than VFSTX's 4.19% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 4.76% | 4.62% | 4.43% | 3.72% | 3.03% | 2.87% | 2.78% | 3.37% | 3.61% | 3.21% | 3.29% | 3.34% |
VFSTX Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares | 4.19% | 4.48% | 4.06% | 3.05% | 1.93% | 1.70% | 2.24% | 2.83% | 2.68% | 2.00% | 2.04% | 1.99% |
Drawdowns
VCIT vs. VFSTX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCIT drawdown since its inception was -20.56%, which is greater than VFSTX's maximum drawdown of -9.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCIT and VFSTX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCIT | VFSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -20.56% | -9.35% | -11.21% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.99% | -1.71% | -1.28% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.56% | -9.35% | -11.21% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -20.56% | -9.35% | -11.21% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.84% | -1.23% | -0.61% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.18% | -1.12% | -2.06% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.86% | 0.43% | +0.43% |
Volatility
VCIT vs. VFSTX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) has a higher volatility of 2.08% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund Investor Shares (VFSTX) at 0.78%. This indicates that VCIT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VFSTX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCIT | VFSTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.08% | 0.78% | +1.30% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.84% | 1.50% | +1.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.85% | 2.51% | +2.34% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.60% | 2.94% | +3.66% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.27% | 2.46% | +3.81% |