VCLT vs. VOO
VCLT (Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF) and VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VCLT is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Index, while VOO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VCLT returned 2.31%/yr vs 15.56%/yr for VOO. At a 0.04 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VCLT charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VOO.
Performance
VCLT vs. VOO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCLT achieves a 0.99% return, which is significantly lower than VOO's 10.91% return. Over the past 10 years, VCLT has underperformed VOO with an annualized return of 2.31%, while VOO has yielded a comparatively higher 15.56% 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%
VOO
- 1D
- -0.70%
- 1M
- 5.04%
- YTD
- 10.91%
- 6M
- 10.93%
- 1Y
- 28.04%
- 3Y*
- 22.44%
- 5Y*
- 13.90%
- 10Y*
- 15.56%
VCLT vs. VOO - 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% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 10.91% | 17.82% | 24.98% | 26.32% | -18.17% | 28.79% | 18.32% | 31.37% | -4.50% | 21.77% |
Correlation
The correlation between VCLT and VOO is 0.39, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 10, 2010 | 0.04 |
Over the past year, VCLT and VOO have become more correlated (0.39) than their long-term average of 0.04, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
VCLT vs. VOO — Risk / Return Rank
VCLT
VOO
VCLT vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). 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 | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.41 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.83 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.17 | 1.43 | -0.26 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.47 | 3.16 | -1.69 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.62 | 14.73 | -11.10 |
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 | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 | 2.39 | -1.41 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.14 | 0.83 | -0.97 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.18 | 0.87 | -0.69 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.89 | -0.49 |
Drawdowns
VCLT vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCLT drawdown since its inception was -34.31%, roughly equal to the maximum VOO drawdown of -33.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCLT and VOO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCLT | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.31% | -33.99% | -0.32% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.25% | -8.90% | +3.65% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.03% | -18.69% | +5.66% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.31% | -24.52% | -9.79% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.31% | -33.99% | -0.32% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -14.36% | -0.70% | -13.66% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.16% | -3.69% | -4.47% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.13% | 1.91% | +0.22% |
Volatility
VCLT vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) is 2.31%, while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a volatility of 2.84%. This indicates that VCLT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCLT | VOO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.31% | 2.84% | -0.53% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.75% | 8.90% | -3.15% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.92% | 11.80% | -3.88% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.78% | 16.81% | -4.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 12.84% | 18.01% | -5.17% |
VCLT vs. VOO - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCLT has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is higher than VOO'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. VOO - Dividend Comparison
VCLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.55%, more than VOO's 1.03% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.03% | 1.13% | 1.24% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VCLT and VOO have a correlation of 0.39, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VOO has higher volatility (2.84%) compared to VCLT (2.31%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VCLT dropped -34.31% vs VOO's -33.99%.
On 10-year performance, VOO leads with 15.56% vs 2.31% for VCLT. On fees, VOO is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, VCLT has been the lower-risk option at 2.31%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VOO has performed better with a 15.56% return vs 2.31%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VOO 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 1.03% for VOO.
VCLT is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while VOO is S&P 500. VCLT tracks Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Index, while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index. Their fees differ too: 0.04% for VCLT and 0.03% for VOO.
VOO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.39 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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