VCLT vs. BNDC
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) and FlexShares Core Select Bond Fund (BNDC).
VCLT and BNDC are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VCLT is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Index. It was launched on Nov 19, 2009. BNDC is an actively managed fund by Northern Trust. It was launched on Nov 18, 2016.
Performance
VCLT vs. BNDC - Performance Comparison
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VCLT vs. BNDC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | -0.48% | 7.18% | -1.90% | 11.17% | -25.50% | -1.73% | 13.27% | 23.89% | -7.04% | 11.70% |
BNDC FlexShares Core Select Bond Fund | 0.06% | 7.29% | 0.86% | 5.36% | -13.54% | -2.01% | 8.66% | 9.57% | -1.49% | 3.97% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCLT achieves a -0.48% return, which is significantly lower than BNDC's 0.06% return.
VCLT
- 1D
- 0.16%
- 1M
- -2.31%
- YTD
- -0.48%
- 6M
- -1.46%
- 1Y
- 3.64%
- 3Y*
- 3.12%
- 5Y*
- -1.70%
- 10Y*
- 2.47%
BNDC
- 1D
- -0.04%
- 1M
- -1.27%
- YTD
- 0.06%
- 6M
- 0.66%
- 1Y
- 4.03%
- 3Y*
- 3.39%
- 5Y*
- -0.02%
- 10Y*
- —
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VCLT vs. BNDC - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCLT has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than BNDC's 0.35% expense ratio.
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 | 0.36 | 0.88 | -0.52 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.54 | 1.26 | -0.72 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.07 | 1.16 | -0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.78 | 1.70 | -0.92 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.80 | 4.79 | -2.98 |
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 | 0.36 | 0.88 | -0.52 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.13 | -0.00 | -0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.19 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.21 | +0.18 |
Correlation
The correlation between VCLT and BNDC is 0.78, 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
VCLT vs. BNDC - Dividend Comparison
VCLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.64%, more than BNDC's 4.27% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 5.64% | 5.51% | 5.19% | 4.67% | 4.44% | 3.07% | 3.16% | 3.81% | 4.55% | 4.01% | 4.33% | 4.68% |
BNDC FlexShares Core Select Bond Fund | 4.27% | 4.16% | 3.81% | 3.19% | 2.64% | 1.72% | 2.61% | 2.89% | 2.86% | 2.50% | 0.64% | 0.00% |
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 | -5.39% | -2.61% | -2.78% |
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 | -15.60% | -3.35% | -12.25% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.09% | -7.43% | -0.66% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.33% | 0.93% | +1.40% |
Volatility
VCLT vs. BNDC - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) has a higher volatility of 3.99% compared to FlexShares Core Select Bond Fund (BNDC) at 1.53%. 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 | 3.99% | 1.53% | +2.46% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.62% | 2.69% | +2.93% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.21% | 4.61% | +5.60% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.80% | 6.06% | +6.74% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 12.84% | 8.11% | +4.73% |