VCLT vs. BNDC
VCLT (Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF) and BNDC (FlexShares Core Select Bond Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - VCLT is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Index, while BNDC is a Intermediate Core Bond fund actively managed by Northern Trust. VCLT is passively managed, while BNDC is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, VCLT returned -1.78%/yr vs -0.22%/yr for BNDC. A 0.78 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VCLT charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for BNDC.
Performance
VCLT vs. BNDC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCLT achieves a 0.99% return, which is significantly higher than BNDC's -0.05% return.
VCLT
- 1D
- -0.35%
- 1M
- 1.49%
- YTD
- 0.99%
- 6M
- -0.04%
- 1Y
- 7.69%
- 3Y*
- 4.34%
- 5Y*
- -1.78%
- 10Y*
- 2.31%
BNDC
- 1D
- -0.22%
- 1M
- 0.13%
- YTD
- -0.05%
- 6M
- -0.23%
- 1Y
- 4.88%
- 3Y*
- 3.69%
- 5Y*
- -0.22%
- 10Y*
- —
VCLT vs. BNDC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.99% | 7.18% | -1.90% | 11.17% | -25.50% | -1.73% | 13.27% | 23.89% | -7.04% | 11.70% |
BNDC FlexShares Core Select Bond Fund | -0.05% | 7.29% | 0.86% | 5.36% | -13.54% | -2.01% | 8.66% | 9.57% | -1.49% | 3.97% |
Correlation
The correlation between VCLT and BNDC is 0.89, 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 | 0.89 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 22, 2016 | 0.78 |
The correlation between VCLT and BNDC shifts across timeframes, from 0.78 (all time) to 0.91 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VCLT vs. BNDC — Risk / Return Rank
VCLT
BNDC
VCLT vs. BNDC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) and FlexShares Core Select Bond Fund (BNDC). 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.
| VCLT | BNDC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.25 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.42 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 1.22 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.47 | 1.71 | -0.23 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.62 | 5.06 | -1.44 |
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
| VCLT | BNDC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 | 1.23 | -0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.14 | -0.04 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.18 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.21 | +0.19 |
Drawdowns
VCLT vs. BNDC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCLT drawdown since its inception was -34.31%, which is greater than BNDC's maximum drawdown of -18.80%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCLT and BNDC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCLT | BNDC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.31% | -18.80% | -15.51% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.25% | -2.87% | -2.38% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.03% | -6.30% | -6.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.31% | -18.60% | -15.71% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.31% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -14.36% | -3.46% | -10.90% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.16% | -7.35% | -0.81% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.13% | 0.97% | +1.16% |
Volatility
VCLT vs. BNDC - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) has a higher volatility of 2.31% compared to FlexShares Core Select Bond Fund (BNDC) at 1.23%. This indicates that VCLT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BNDC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCLT | BNDC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.31% | 1.23% | +1.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.75% | 2.78% | +2.97% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.92% | 3.99% | +3.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.78% | 6.07% | +6.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 12.84% | 8.05% | +4.79% |
VCLT vs. BNDC - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCLT has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than BNDC's 0.35% expense ratio.
Dividends
VCLT vs. BNDC - Dividend Comparison
VCLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.55%, more than BNDC's 4.15% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BNDC FlexShares Core Select Bond Fund | 4.15% | 4.16% | 3.81% | 3.19% | 2.64% | 1.72% | 2.61% | 2.89% | 2.86% | 2.50% | 0.64% | 0.00% |
VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 5.55% | 5.51% | 5.19% | 4.67% | 4.44% | 3.07% | 3.16% | 3.81% | 4.55% | 4.01% | 4.33% | 4.68% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VCLT and BNDC have a correlation of 0.89, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VCLT has higher volatility (2.31%) compared to BNDC (1.23%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VCLT dropped -34.31% vs BNDC's -18.80%.
On 5-year performance, BNDC leads with -0.22% vs -1.78% for VCLT. On fees, VCLT is cheaper at 0.04% per year. On volatility, BNDC has been the lower-risk option at 1.23%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, BNDC has performed better with a -0.22% return vs -1.78%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCLT is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.35% for BNDC.
VCLT has the higher dividend yield at 5.55%, compared with 4.15% for BNDC.
VCLT is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while BNDC is Intermediate Core Bond. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and Northern Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.04% for VCLT and 0.35% for BNDC.
BNDC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.23 vs 0.97), 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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