VDC vs. IYZ
VDC (Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF) and IYZ (iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VDC is a Consumer Staples Equities fund tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Consumer Staples 25/50 Index, while IYZ is a Communications Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Telecommunications Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VDC returned 8.03%/yr vs 5.94%/yr for IYZ. A 0.57 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VDC charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.42%/yr for IYZ.
Performance
VDC vs. IYZ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VDC achieves a 10.55% return, which is significantly lower than IYZ's 29.57% return. Over the past 10 years, VDC has outperformed IYZ with an annualized return of 8.03%, while IYZ has yielded a comparatively lower 5.94% annualized return.
VDC
- 1D
- 0.65%
- 1M
- 0.44%
- YTD
- 10.55%
- 6M
- 8.59%
- 1Y
- 7.31%
- 3Y*
- 9.05%
- 5Y*
- 7.16%
- 10Y*
- 8.03%
IYZ
- 1D
- 1.27%
- 1M
- 4.54%
- YTD
- 29.57%
- 6M
- 32.60%
- 1Y
- 56.05%
- 3Y*
- 28.37%
- 5Y*
- 7.57%
- 10Y*
- 5.94%
VDC vs. IYZ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VDC Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF | 10.55% | 2.17% | 13.30% | 2.38% | -1.79% | 17.64% | 10.86% | 26.11% | -7.79% | 11.85% |
IYZ iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF | 29.57% | 29.28% | 20.53% | 3.90% | -30.29% | 11.69% | 4.13% | 16.14% | -8.59% | -11.86% |
Correlation
The correlation between VDC and IYZ is 0.12, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.32 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.50 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 30, 2004 | 0.57 |
Over the past year, the correlation between VDC and IYZ has dropped to 0.12 - well below their long-term average of 0.57, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
VDC vs. IYZ — Risk / Return Rank
VDC
IYZ
VDC vs. IYZ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF (IYZ). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VDC | IYZ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.44 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -3.02 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.11 | 1.52 | -0.42 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.79 | 6.54 | -5.75 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.60 | 25.99 | -24.39 |
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Drawdowns
VDC vs. IYZ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VDC drawdown since its inception was -34.24%, smaller than the maximum IYZ drawdown of -77.11%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VDC and IYZ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VDC | IYZ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.24% | -77.11% | +42.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.28% | -8.62% | -0.66% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -11.78% | -13.85% | +2.07% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.55% | -39.74% | +23.19% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -25.31% | -39.74% | +14.43% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.37% | -4.77% | +0.40% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.73% | -40.10% | +36.37% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.57% | 2.17% | +2.40% |
Volatility
VDC vs. IYZ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) is 4.62%, while iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF (IYZ) has a volatility of 8.76%. This indicates that VDC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IYZ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VDC | IYZ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.62% | 8.76% | -4.14% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.02% | 15.61% | -5.59% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.57% | 18.65% | -6.08% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 13.17% | 18.88% | -5.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.66% | 19.30% | -4.64% |
VDC vs. IYZ - Expense Ratio Comparison
VDC has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than IYZ's 0.42% expense ratio.
Dividends
VDC vs. IYZ - Dividend Comparison
VDC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.08%, more than IYZ's 1.53% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IYZ iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF | 1.53% | 2.04% | 1.94% | 2.27% | 2.55% | 2.51% | 2.60% | 2.36% | 2.15% | 3.54% | 2.27% | 1.98% |
VDC Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF | 2.08% | 2.26% | 2.33% | 2.65% | 2.37% | 2.14% | 2.50% | 2.44% | 2.78% | 2.52% | 2.39% | 2.55% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VDC and IYZ have a correlation of 0.12, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IYZ has higher volatility (8.76%) compared to VDC (4.62%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VDC dropped -34.24% vs IYZ's -77.11%.
On 10-year performance, VDC leads with 8.03% vs 5.94% for IYZ. On fees, VDC is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, VDC has been the lower-risk option at 4.62%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, VDC has performed better with a 8.03% return vs 5.94%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VDC is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.42% for IYZ.
VDC has the higher dividend yield at 2.08%, compared with 1.53% for IYZ.
VDC is categorized as Consumer Staples Equities, while IYZ is Communications Equities. VDC tracks MSCI US Investable Market Consumer Staples 25/50 Index, while IYZ tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Telecommunications Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for VDC and 0.42% for IYZ.
IYZ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.02 vs 0.58), 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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