VPU vs. BLV
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV).
VPU and BLV are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VPU is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Utilities 25/50 Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. BLV is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Barclays U.S. Long Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index. It was launched on Apr 3, 2007. Both VPU and BLV are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: VPU or BLV.
Correlation
The correlation between VPU and BLV is -0.17. This indicates that the assets' prices tend to move in opposite directions. Negative correlation can be particularly beneficial for diversification and risk management, as one asset may offset the losses of the other during market fluctuations.
Performance
VPU vs. BLV - Performance Comparison
Key characteristics
VPU:
1.05
BLV:
0.17
VPU:
1.64
BLV:
0.30
VPU:
1.22
BLV:
1.03
VPU:
1.91
BLV:
0.06
VPU:
4.83
BLV:
0.33
VPU:
4.06%
BLV:
5.74%
VPU:
16.73%
BLV:
11.75%
VPU:
-46.31%
BLV:
-38.29%
VPU:
-1.74%
BLV:
-28.73%
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VPU achieves a 6.87% return, which is significantly higher than BLV's 0.66% return. Over the past 10 years, VPU has outperformed BLV with an annualized return of 9.67%, while BLV has yielded a comparatively lower 1.33% annualized return.
VPU
6.87%
9.49%
4.96%
17.35%
10.49%
9.67%
BLV
0.66%
0.32%
-2.34%
2.00%
-4.66%
1.33%
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VPU vs. BLV - Expense Ratio Comparison
VPU has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than BLV's 0.04% 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%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
VPU vs. BLV — Risk-Adjusted Performance Rank
VPU
BLV
VPU vs. BLV - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV). 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.
Dividends
VPU vs. BLV - Dividend Comparison
VPU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.92%, less than BLV's 4.71% yield.
| TTM | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF | 2.92% | 3.02% | 3.49% | 2.98% | 2.70% | 3.17% | 2.83% | 3.23% | 3.18% | 3.19% | 3.63% | 3.02% |
BLV Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF | 4.71% | 4.68% | 4.06% | 4.17% | 3.37% | 5.84% | 3.57% | 4.07% | 3.63% | 4.16% | 4.37% | 3.90% |
Drawdowns
VPU vs. BLV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VPU drawdown since its inception was -46.31%, which is greater than BLV's maximum drawdown of -38.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VPU and BLV. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
VPU vs. BLV - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) has a higher volatility of 6.00% compared to Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV) at 4.29%. This indicates that VPU's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BLV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.