VCIT vs. VPLS
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) and Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS).
VCIT and VPLS are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. 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. VPLS is an actively managed fund by Vanguard. It was launched on Dec 7, 2023.
Performance
VCIT vs. VPLS - Performance Comparison
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VCIT vs. VPLS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF | -0.31% | 9.34% | 3.20% | 2.83% |
VPLS Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF | 0.02% | 7.86% | 2.72% | 2.82% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCIT achieves a -0.31% return, which is significantly lower than VPLS's 0.02% 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%
VPLS
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -1.45%
- YTD
- 0.02%
- 6M
- 0.82%
- 1Y
- 4.60%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
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VCIT vs. VPLS - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCIT has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than VPLS'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. VPLS — Risk / Return Rank
VCIT
VPLS
VCIT vs. VPLS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) and Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS). 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 | VPLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.24 | 1.09 | +0.15 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.73 | 1.52 | +0.21 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.20 | +0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.08 | 1.80 | +0.28 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.27 | 5.66 | +1.61 |
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 | VPLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.24 | 1.09 | +0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.22 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.49 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.76 | 1.25 | -0.50 |
Correlation
The correlation between VCIT and VPLS is 0.95, 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. VPLS - Dividend Comparison
VCIT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.76%, which matches VPLS's 4.79% 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% |
VPLS Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF | 4.79% | 4.78% | 4.52% | 0.18% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VCIT vs. VPLS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCIT drawdown since its inception was -20.56%, which is greater than VPLS's maximum drawdown of -4.17%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCIT and VPLS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCIT | VPLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -20.56% | -4.17% | -16.39% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.99% | -2.72% | -0.27% |
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 | -1.84% | -1.81% | -0.03% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.18% | -0.98% | -2.20% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.86% | 0.87% | -0.01% |
Volatility
VCIT vs. VPLS - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) has a higher volatility of 2.08% compared to Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) at 1.74%. This indicates that VCIT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VPLS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCIT | VPLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.08% | 1.74% | +0.34% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.84% | 2.51% | +0.33% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.85% | 4.26% | +0.59% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.60% | 4.67% | +1.93% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.27% | 4.67% | +1.60% |