VSC.TO vs. VAB.TO
VSC.TO (Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF) and VAB.TO (Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VSC.TO is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Canadian 1-5 Year Corporate Float Adjusted Index, while VAB.TO is a Canadian Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Canadian Float Adjusted Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VSC.TO returned 2.74%/yr vs 1.51%/yr for VAB.TO. A 0.61 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VSC.TO charges 0.11%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for VAB.TO.
Performance
VSC.TO vs. VAB.TO - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSC.TO achieves a 1.14% return, which is significantly lower than VAB.TO's 1.62% return. Over the past 10 years, VSC.TO has outperformed VAB.TO with an annualized return of 2.74%, while VAB.TO has yielded a comparatively lower 1.51% annualized return.
VSC.TO
- 1D
- -0.08%
- 1M
- 0.93%
- YTD
- 1.14%
- 6M
- 1.15%
- 1Y
- 3.74%
- 3Y*
- 5.79%
- 5Y*
- 2.76%
- 10Y*
- 2.74%
VAB.TO
- 1D
- -0.07%
- 1M
- 1.70%
- YTD
- 1.62%
- 6M
- 0.78%
- 1Y
- 3.12%
- 3Y*
- 4.12%
- 5Y*
- 0.66%
- 10Y*
- 1.51%
VSC.TO vs. VAB.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSC.TO Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF | 1.14% | 4.63% | 6.69% | 6.75% | -4.23% | -0.97% | 6.27% | 4.72% | 1.19% | 0.92% |
VAB.TO Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF | 1.62% | 2.28% | 3.98% | 6.90% | -11.86% | -2.88% | 8.26% | 6.77% | 1.13% | 2.30% |
Correlation
The correlation between VSC.TO and VAB.TO is 0.82, 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 | 0.82 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.84 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.69 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 9, 2012 | 0.61 |
Over the past year, VSC.TO and VAB.TO have become more correlated (0.82) than their long-term average of 0.61, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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
VSC.TO vs. VAB.TO — Risk / Return Rank
VSC.TO
VAB.TO
VSC.TO vs. VAB.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF (VSC.TO) and Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO). 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.
| VSC.TO | VAB.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.20 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.72 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.12 | +0.26 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.46 | 1.10 | +1.35 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.75 | 2.61 | +7.14 |
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
| VSC.TO | VAB.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.91 | 0.72 | +1.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.02 | 0.10 | +0.92 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.54 | 0.23 | +0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.60 | 0.39 | +0.21 |
Drawdowns
VSC.TO vs. VAB.TO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSC.TO drawdown since its inception was -15.87%, smaller than the maximum VAB.TO drawdown of -18.39%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSC.TO and VAB.TO.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| VSC.TO | VAB.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -15.87% | -18.39% | +2.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.53% | -2.83% | +1.30% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.53% | -5.31% | +3.78% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -7.68% | -15.82% | +8.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -15.87% | -18.39% | +2.52% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.11% | -1.92% | +1.81% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.97% | -4.11% | +3.14% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.38% | 1.20% | -0.82% |
Volatility
VSC.TO vs. VAB.TO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF (VSC.TO) is 0.75%, while Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO) has a volatility of 1.59%. This indicates that VSC.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VAB.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| VSC.TO | VAB.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.75% | 1.59% | -0.84% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.64% | 3.45% | -1.81% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.97% | 4.38% | -2.41% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.73% | 6.58% | -3.85% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.15% | 6.48% | -1.33% |
VSC.TO vs. VAB.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSC.TO has a 0.11% expense ratio, which is higher than VAB.TO's 0.09% 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
VSC.TO vs. VAB.TO - Dividend Comparison
VSC.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.69%, more than VAB.TO's 3.32% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VAB.TO Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF | 3.32% | 3.33% | 3.19% | 2.95% | 2.87% | 2.48% | 2.50% | 2.65% | 2.79% | 2.77% | 2.75% | 2.78% |
VSC.TO Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF | 3.69% | 3.61% | 3.54% | 3.14% | 2.85% | 2.59% | 2.64% | 2.71% | 2.77% | 2.75% | 2.89% | 3.05% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VSC.TO and VAB.TO have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, VAB.TO is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
VAB.TO is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.11% for VSC.TO.
VSC.TO is categorized as Short-Term Bond, while VAB.TO is Canadian Government Bonds. VSC.TO tracks Bloomberg Global Aggregate Canadian 1-5 Year Corporate Float Adjusted Index, while VAB.TO tracks Bloomberg Global Aggregate Canadian Float Adjusted Bond Index. Their fees differ too: 0.11% for VSC.TO and 0.09% for VAB.TO.
Find the right allocation for VSC.TO and VAB.TO
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