VCLT vs. SPAB
VCLT (Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF) and SPAB (SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VCLT is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Index, while SPAB is a Total Bond Market fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VCLT returned 2.31%/yr vs 1.54%/yr for SPAB. Their correlation of 0.81 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VCLT charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for SPAB.
Performance
VCLT vs. SPAB - 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 SPAB's 0.29% return. Over the past 10 years, VCLT has outperformed SPAB with an annualized return of 2.31%, while SPAB has yielded a comparatively lower 1.54% annualized 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%
SPAB
- 1D
- -0.12%
- 1M
- 0.31%
- YTD
- 0.29%
- 6M
- 0.14%
- 1Y
- 5.24%
- 3Y*
- 3.93%
- 5Y*
- 0.07%
- 10Y*
- 1.54%
VCLT vs. SPAB - 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% |
SPAB SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.29% | 7.25% | 1.25% | 5.56% | -13.04% | -1.77% | 7.39% | 8.67% | -0.18% | 3.71% |
Correlation
The correlation between VCLT and SPAB is 0.92, 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 | 0.92 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.86 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 24, 2009 | 0.81 |
The correlation between VCLT and SPAB shifts across timeframes, from 0.81 (all time) to 0.93 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VCLT vs. SPAB — Risk / Return Rank
VCLT
SPAB
VCLT vs. SPAB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) and SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF (SPAB). 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 | SPAB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.42 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.68 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 1.25 | -0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.47 | 1.92 | -0.45 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.62 | 5.72 | -2.10 |
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 | SPAB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 | 1.40 | -0.42 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.14 | 0.01 | -0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.18 | 0.28 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.50 | -0.11 |
Drawdowns
VCLT vs. SPAB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCLT drawdown since its inception was -34.31%, which is greater than SPAB's maximum drawdown of -18.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCLT and SPAB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCLT | SPAB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.31% | -18.56% | -15.75% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.25% | -2.74% | -2.51% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.03% | -6.08% | -6.95% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.31% | -17.96% | -16.35% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.31% | -18.56% | -15.75% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -14.36% | -2.27% | -12.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.16% | -3.08% | -5.08% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.13% | 0.92% | +1.21% |
Volatility
VCLT vs. SPAB - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) has a higher volatility of 2.31% compared to SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF (SPAB) at 1.15%. This indicates that VCLT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPAB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCLT | SPAB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.31% | 1.15% | +1.16% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.75% | 2.57% | +3.18% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.92% | 3.77% | +4.15% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.78% | 5.92% | +6.86% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 12.84% | 5.54% | +7.30% |
VCLT vs. SPAB - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCLT has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is higher than SPAB's 0.03% expense ratio. However, 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. SPAB - Dividend Comparison
VCLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.55%, more than SPAB's 4.05% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPAB SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | 4.05% | 3.97% | 3.86% | 3.34% | 2.59% | 2.11% | 2.43% | 2.92% | 2.96% | 2.67% | 2.63% | 2.59% |
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
With a correlation of 0.92, VCLT and SPAB move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VCLT has higher volatility (2.31%) compared to SPAB (1.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VCLT dropped -34.31% vs SPAB's -18.56%.
On 10-year performance, VCLT leads with 2.31% vs 1.54% for SPAB. On fees, SPAB is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, SPAB has been the lower-risk option at 1.15%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VCLT has performed better with a 2.31% return vs 1.54%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPAB is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.04% for VCLT.
VCLT has the higher dividend yield at 5.55%, compared with 4.05% for SPAB.
VCLT is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while SPAB is Total Bond Market. VCLT tracks Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Index, while SPAB tracks Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.04% for VCLT and 0.03% for SPAB.
SPAB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.40 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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