VLTCX vs. DFTEX
VLTCX (Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) and DFTEX (DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund) are both Corporate Bonds funds. Over the past 10 years, VLTCX returned 2.42%/yr vs 2.39%/yr for DFTEX. Their correlation of 0.92 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VLTCX charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for DFTEX.
Performance
VLTCX vs. DFTEX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VLTCX achieves a 1.22% return, which is significantly higher than DFTEX's 0.97% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VLTCX having a 2.42% annualized return and DFTEX not far behind at 2.39%.
VLTCX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- 1.99%
- YTD
- 1.22%
- 6M
- 0.35%
- 1Y
- 8.16%
- 3Y*
- 4.67%
- 5Y*
- -1.46%
- 10Y*
- 2.42%
DFTEX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- 1.00%
- YTD
- 0.97%
- 6M
- 0.78%
- 1Y
- 6.66%
- 3Y*
- 5.95%
- 5Y*
- 0.84%
- 10Y*
- 2.39%
VLTCX vs. DFTEX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VLTCX Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.22% | 7.27% | -1.47% | 11.05% | -25.77% | -1.16% | 13.68% | 23.19% | -6.85% | 12.40% |
DFTEX DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund | 0.97% | 7.70% | 2.89% | 9.61% | -16.28% | -2.05% | 10.26% | 13.38% | -2.10% | 5.20% |
Correlation
The correlation between VLTCX and DFTEX is 0.91, 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 | 0.91 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 6, 2012 | 0.92 |
The correlation between VLTCX and DFTEX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.91 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
VLTCX vs. DFTEX — Risk / Return Rank
VLTCX
DFTEX
VLTCX vs. DFTEX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLTCX) and DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund (DFTEX). 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.
| VLTCX | DFTEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.53 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.86 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 1.30 | -0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.60 | 2.14 | -0.54 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.93 | 7.07 | -3.14 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VLTCX | DFTEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.11 | 1.64 | -0.53 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.12 | 0.13 | -0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.23 | 0.41 | -0.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.45 | 0.48 | -0.03 |
Drawdowns
VLTCX vs. DFTEX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VLTCX drawdown since its inception was -34.56%, which is greater than DFTEX's maximum drawdown of -22.83%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VLTCX and DFTEX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| VLTCX | DFTEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.56% | -22.83% | -11.73% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.29% | -3.22% | -2.07% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.87% | -5.38% | -7.49% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.56% | -22.83% | -11.73% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.56% | -22.83% | -11.73% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -13.80% | -0.84% | -12.96% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.04% | -4.46% | -3.58% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.15% | 0.97% | +1.18% |
Volatility
VLTCX vs. DFTEX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLTCX) has a higher volatility of 2.46% compared to DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund (DFTEX) at 1.39%. This indicates that VLTCX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DFTEX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| VLTCX | DFTEX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.46% | 1.39% | +1.07% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.52% | 3.08% | +2.44% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.68% | 4.20% | +3.48% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.87% | 6.71% | +5.16% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.60% | 5.89% | +4.71% |
VLTCX vs. DFTEX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VLTCX has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than DFTEX's 0.20% 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%.
Dividends
VLTCX vs. DFTEX - Dividend Comparison
VLTCX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.50%, more than DFTEX's 4.93% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFTEX DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Fund | 4.93% | 4.30% | 4.27% | 3.79% | 3.25% | 4.12% | 3.31% | 3.06% | 3.24% | 2.91% | 2.88% | 3.90% |
VLTCX Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 5.50% | 5.48% | 5.58% | 4.65% | 4.41% | 3.03% | 3.15% | 3.82% | 4.56% | 4.01% | 4.37% | 4.71% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.91, VLTCX and DFTEX 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.
VLTCX has higher volatility (2.46%) compared to DFTEX (1.39%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VLTCX dropped -34.56% vs DFTEX's -22.83%.
DFTEX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.64 vs 1.11), 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.
Find the right allocation for VLTCX and DFTEX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer