VTC vs. VPLS
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF (VTC) and Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS).
VTC and VPLS are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VTC is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate Bond Index. It was launched on Nov 7, 2017. VPLS is an actively managed fund by Vanguard. It was launched on Dec 7, 2023.
Performance
VTC vs. VPLS - Performance Comparison
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VTC vs. VPLS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
VTC Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF | -0.26% | 7.58% | 2.15% | 2.59% |
VPLS Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF | 0.02% | 7.86% | 2.72% | 2.82% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VTC achieves a -0.26% return, which is significantly lower than VPLS's 0.02% return.
VTC
- 1D
- 0.55%
- 1M
- -1.83%
- YTD
- -0.26%
- 6M
- 0.39%
- 1Y
- 4.99%
- 3Y*
- 4.65%
- 5Y*
- 0.63%
- 10Y*
- —
VPLS
- 1D
- 0.43%
- 1M
- -1.81%
- YTD
- 0.02%
- 6M
- 1.10%
- 1Y
- 4.90%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
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VTC vs. VPLS - Expense Ratio Comparison
VTC has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than VPLS'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%.
Return for Risk
VTC vs. VPLS — Risk / Return Rank
VTC
VPLS
VTC vs. VPLS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF (VTC) and Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS). 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.
| VTC | VPLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.92 | 1.16 | -0.24 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.28 | 1.61 | -0.33 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.21 | -0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.79 | 1.89 | -0.10 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.39 | 5.99 | -0.60 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VTC | VPLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.92 | 1.16 | -0.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.09 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.31 | 1.25 | -0.95 |
Correlation
The correlation between VTC and VPLS is 0.95, 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
VTC vs. VPLS - Dividend Comparison
VTC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.86%, more than VPLS's 4.77% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VTC Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF | 4.86% | 4.76% | 4.50% | 3.80% | 3.13% | 2.36% | 2.69% | 3.34% | 3.53% | 0.55% |
VPLS Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF | 4.77% | 4.78% | 4.52% | 0.18% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VTC vs. VPLS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VTC drawdown since its inception was -22.05%, which is greater than VPLS's maximum drawdown of -4.17%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTC and VPLS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VTC | VPLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.05% | -4.17% | -17.88% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.89% | -2.72% | -0.17% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.05% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.83% | -1.81% | -0.02% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.94% | -0.98% | -4.96% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.96% | 0.86% | +0.10% |
Volatility
VTC vs. VPLS - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF (VTC) has a higher volatility of 2.19% compared to Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) at 1.74%. This indicates that VTC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VPLS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VTC | VPLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.19% | 1.74% | +0.45% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.02% | 2.51% | +0.51% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.44% | 4.26% | +1.18% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.08% | 4.67% | +2.41% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.74% | 4.67% | +3.07% |