VCLT vs. VIG

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG).

VCLT and VIG 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. VIG is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ US Dividend Achievers Select Index. It was launched on Dec 19, 2013. Both VCLT and VIG are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

VCLT vs. VIG - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VCLT vs. VIG - 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%
VIG Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF	-1.48%	14.17%	16.99%	14.51%	-9.80%	23.76%	15.43%	29.62%	-2.08%	22.22%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VCLT achieves a -0.48% return, which is significantly higher than VIG's -1.48% return. Over the past 10 years, VCLT has underperformed VIG with an annualized return of 2.47%, while VIG has yielded a comparatively higher 12.29% annualized 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%

VIG

• 1D: 0.29%
• 1M: -4.68%
• YTD: -1.48%
• 6M: 0.22%
• 1Y: 13.20%
• 3Y*: 13.91%
• 5Y*: 9.83%
• 10Y*: 12.29%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VCLT vs. VIG - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both VCLT and VIG have an expense ratio of 0.04%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

VCLT

Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF

VIG

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF

Return for Risk

VCLT vs. VIG — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VCLT

VCLT Risk / Return Rank: 23
VCLT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 21
VCLT Sortino Ratio Rank: 19
VCLT Omega Ratio Rank: 19
VCLT Calmar Ratio Rank: 31
VCLT Martin Ratio Rank: 24

VIG

VIG Risk / Return Rank: 47
VIG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 45
VIG Sortino Ratio Rank: 46
VIG Omega Ratio Rank: 48
VIG Calmar Ratio Rank: 44
VIG Martin Ratio Rank: 52

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VCLT vs. VIG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG). 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	VIG	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.36	0.87	-0.51
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.54	1.33	-0.78
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.07	1.19	-0.12
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.78	1.20	-0.42
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	1.80	5.31	-3.51
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VCLT vs. VIG - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VCLT Sharpe Ratio is 0.36, which is lower than the VIG Sharpe Ratio of 0.87. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VCLT and VIG, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VCLT	VIG	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.36	0.87	-0.51
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.13	0.69	-0.83
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.19	0.77	-0.57
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.39	0.57	-0.19

Correlation

The correlation between VCLT and VIG is 0.03, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.

Dividends

VCLT vs. VIG - Dividend Comparison

VCLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.64%, more than VIG's 1.60% 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%
VIG Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF	1.60%	1.62%	1.73%	1.88%	1.96%	1.55%	1.63%	1.71%	2.08%	1.88%	2.14%	2.34%

Drawdowns

VCLT vs. VIG - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VCLT drawdown since its inception was -34.31%, smaller than the maximum VIG drawdown of -46.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCLT and VIG.

Drawdown Indicators

	VCLT	VIG	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-34.31%	-46.81%	+12.50%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-5.39%	-10.83%	+5.44%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-34.31%	-20.39%	-13.92%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-34.31%	-31.72%	-2.59%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-15.60%	-5.73%	-9.87%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.09%	-5.55%	-2.54%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.33%	2.45%	-0.12%

Volatility

VCLT vs. VIG - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) have volatilities of 3.99% and 4.05%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VCLT	VIG	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.99%	4.05%	-0.06%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	5.62%	7.82%	-2.20%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	10.21%	15.28%	-5.07%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	12.80%	14.26%	-1.46%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	12.84%	16.04%	-3.20%