VICBX vs. VLTCX

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VICBX) and Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLTCX).

VICBX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 19, 2009. VLTCX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jan 19, 2010.

Performance

VICBX vs. VLTCX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VICBX) and Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLTCX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VICBX vs. VLTCX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VICBX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares	-0.51%	9.37%	3.67%	8.87%	-14.06%	-1.50%	9.57%	15.96%	-1.72%	5.50%
VLTCX Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares	-0.92%	7.27%	-1.47%	11.05%	-25.77%	-1.16%	13.68%	23.19%	-6.85%	12.40%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VICBX achieves a -0.51% return, which is significantly higher than VLTCX's -0.92% return. Over the past 10 years, VICBX has outperformed VLTCX with an annualized return of 3.32%, while VLTCX has yielded a comparatively lower 2.57% annualized return.

VICBX

• 1D: 0.40%
• 1M: -1.61%
• YTD: -0.51%
• 6M: 0.38%
• 1Y: 5.77%
• 3Y*: 5.75%
• 5Y*: 1.52%
• 10Y*: 3.32%

VLTCX

• 1D: 0.55%
• 1M: -2.53%
• YTD: -0.92%
• 6M: -1.67%
• 1Y: 3.25%
• 3Y*: 3.20%
• 5Y*: -1.61%
• 10Y*: 2.57%

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

VICBX vs. VLTCX - Expense Ratio Comparison

VICBX has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than VLTCX's 0.07% 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%.

VLTCX

Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares

VICBX

Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares

Return for Risk

VICBX vs. VLTCX — Risk / Return Rank

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

VICBX

VICBX Risk / Return Rank: 71
VICBX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 73
VICBX Sortino Ratio Rank: 73
VICBX Omega Ratio Rank: 60
VICBX Calmar Ratio Rank: 78
VICBX Martin Ratio Rank: 71

VLTCX

VLTCX Risk / Return Rank: 16
VLTCX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 14
VLTCX Sortino Ratio Rank: 12
VLTCX Omega Ratio Rank: 11
VLTCX Calmar Ratio Rank: 25
VLTCX Martin Ratio Rank: 17

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.

VICBX vs. VLTCX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VICBX) and Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLTCX). 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.

	VICBX	VLTCX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.38	0.42	+0.95
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.95	0.62	+1.32
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.25	1.08	+0.17
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.01	0.80	+1.21
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	7.38	1.87	+5.51
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VICBX vs. VLTCX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VICBX Sharpe Ratio is 1.38, which is higher than the VLTCX Sharpe Ratio of 0.42. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VICBX and VLTCX, 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

	VICBX	VLTCX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.38	0.42	+0.95
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.25	-0.14	+0.39
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.62	0.24	+0.38
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.87	0.44	+0.43

Correlation

The correlation between VICBX and VLTCX is 0.92, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

VICBX vs. VLTCX - Dividend Comparison

VICBX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.32%, less than VLTCX's 5.13% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VICBX Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares	4.32%	4.61%	4.79%	3.72%	3.02%	2.82%	2.79%	5.01%	3.64%	3.23%	3.32%	3.39%
VLTCX Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares	5.13%	5.48%	5.58%	4.65%	4.41%	3.03%	3.15%	3.82%	4.56%	4.01%	4.37%	4.71%

Drawdowns

VICBX vs. VLTCX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VICBX drawdown since its inception was -20.55%, smaller than the maximum VLTCX drawdown of -34.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VICBX and VLTCX.

Drawdown Indicators

	VICBX	VLTCX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-20.55%	-34.56%	+14.01%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-3.07%	-5.29%	+2.22%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-20.55%	-34.56%	+14.01%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-20.55%	-34.56%	+14.01%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.02%	-15.61%	+13.59%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.16%	-7.97%	+4.81%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.84%	2.28%	-1.44%

Volatility

VICBX vs. VLTCX - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (VICBX) is 1.82%, while Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLTCX) has a volatility of 3.50%. This indicates that VICBX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VLTCX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VICBX	VLTCX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.82%	3.50%	-1.68%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.66%	5.27%	-2.61%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.39%	8.94%	-4.55%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	6.14%	11.87%	-5.73%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	5.33%	10.60%	-5.27%