VCLT vs. BSCQ
VCLT (Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF) and BSCQ (Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF) are both Corporate Bonds funds - VCLT tracks the Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Index while BSCQ tracks the NASDAQ BulletShares USD Corporate Bond 2026 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VCLT returned -1.78%/yr vs 1.47%/yr for BSCQ. A 0.65 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VCLT charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for BSCQ.
Performance
VCLT vs. BSCQ - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCLT achieves a 0.99% return, which is significantly lower than BSCQ's 1.55% 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%
BSCQ
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- 0.34%
- YTD
- 1.55%
- 6M
- 1.92%
- 1Y
- 4.41%
- 3Y*
- 5.06%
- 5Y*
- 1.47%
- 10Y*
- —
VCLT vs. BSCQ - 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% |
BSCQ Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF | 1.55% | 5.02% | 4.86% | 5.71% | -8.31% | -1.68% | 9.41% | 13.94% | -2.40% | 5.93% |
Correlation
The correlation between VCLT and BSCQ is 0.05, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.05 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.51 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 19, 2016 | 0.65 |
Over the past year, the correlation between VCLT and BSCQ has dropped to 0.05 - well below their long-term average of 0.65, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
VCLT vs. BSCQ — Risk / Return Rank
VCLT
BSCQ
VCLT vs. BSCQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) and Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCQ). 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 | BSCQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -6.08 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -13.80 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 3.45 | -2.28 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.47 | 43.24 | -41.77 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.62 | 179.65 | -176.02 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VCLT | BSCQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 | 7.06 | -6.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.14 | 0.45 | -0.59 |
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 | 0.60 | -0.21 |
Drawdowns
VCLT vs. BSCQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCLT drawdown since its inception was -34.31%, which is greater than BSCQ's maximum drawdown of -16.50%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCLT and BSCQ.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| VCLT | BSCQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.31% | -16.50% | -17.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.25% | -0.10% | -5.15% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.03% | -1.13% | -11.90% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.31% | -13.02% | -21.29% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.31% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -14.36% | 0.00% | -14.36% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.16% | -2.85% | -5.31% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.13% | 0.02% | +2.11% |
Volatility
VCLT vs. BSCQ - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) has a higher volatility of 2.31% compared to Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCQ) at 0.17%. This indicates that VCLT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BSCQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| VCLT | BSCQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.31% | 0.17% | +2.14% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.75% | 0.43% | +5.32% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.92% | 0.63% | +7.29% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.78% | 3.30% | +9.48% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 12.84% | 4.77% | +8.07% |
VCLT vs. BSCQ - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCLT has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than BSCQ's 0.10% 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
VCLT vs. BSCQ - Dividend Comparison
VCLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.55%, more than BSCQ's 4.12% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BSCQ Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF | 4.12% | 4.14% | 4.05% | 3.53% | 2.54% | 1.91% | 2.42% | 2.96% | 3.32% | 2.92% | 0.51% | 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 BSCQ have a correlation of 0.05, 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 BSCQ (0.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VCLT dropped -34.31% vs BSCQ's -16.50%.
On 5-year performance, BSCQ leads with 1.47% vs -1.78% for VCLT. On fees, VCLT is cheaper at 0.04% per year. On volatility, BSCQ has been the lower-risk option at 0.17%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, BSCQ has performed better with a 1.47% 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 0.10% for BSCQ.
VCLT has the higher dividend yield at 5.55%, compared with 4.12% for BSCQ.
VCLT tracks Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Index, while BSCQ tracks NASDAQ BulletShares USD Corporate Bond 2026 Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.04% for VCLT and 0.10% for BSCQ.
BSCQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (7.06 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.
Find the right allocation for VCLT and BSCQ
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer