VWETX vs. VLTCX
VWETX (Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund Admiral Shares) and VLTCX (Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VWETX is a Total Bond Market fund managed by Vanguard, while VLTCX is a Corporate Bonds fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VWETX returned 1.67%/yr vs 2.37%/yr for VLTCX. With a 0.98 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. VWETX charges 0.12%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for VLTCX.
Performance
VWETX vs. VLTCX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VWETX achieves a 0.46% return, which is significantly lower than VLTCX's 0.77% return. Over the past 10 years, VWETX has underperformed VLTCX with an annualized return of 1.67%, while VLTCX has yielded a comparatively higher 2.37% annualized return.
VWETX
- 1D
- -0.40%
- 1M
- 0.71%
- YTD
- 0.46%
- 6M
- -0.16%
- 1Y
- 6.09%
- 3Y*
- 3.30%
- 5Y*
- -2.37%
- 10Y*
- 1.67%
VLTCX
- 1D
- -0.45%
- 1M
- 0.82%
- YTD
- 0.77%
- 6M
- 0.15%
- 1Y
- 6.39%
- 3Y*
- 4.51%
- 5Y*
- -1.75%
- 10Y*
- 2.37%
VWETX vs. VLTCX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWETX Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund Admiral Shares | 0.46% | 7.31% | -2.70% | 8.92% | -25.54% | -2.79% | 15.50% | 20.56% | -6.17% | 12.08% |
VLTCX Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 0.77% | 7.27% | -1.47% | 11.05% | -25.77% | -1.16% | 13.68% | 23.19% | -6.85% | 12.40% |
Correlation
The correlation between VWETX and VLTCX is 0.96 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 24, 2009 | 0.98 |
The correlation between VWETX and VLTCX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.96 to 0.99 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VWETX vs. VLTCX — Risk / Return Rank
VWETX
VLTCX
VWETX vs. VLTCX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund Admiral Shares (VWETX) 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.
| VWETX | VLTCX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.08 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.17 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.45 | 1.46 | -0.01 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.69 | 3.57 | +0.11 |
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
| VWETX | VLTCX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.94 | 1.01 | -0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.20 | -0.15 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.15 | 0.22 | -0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.49 | 0.45 | +0.04 |
Drawdowns
VWETX vs. VLTCX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWETX drawdown since its inception was -36.04%, roughly equal to the maximum VLTCX drawdown of -34.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWETX and VLTCX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWETX | VLTCX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.04% | -34.56% | -1.48% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.12% | -5.29% | +0.17% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.33% | -12.87% | -0.46% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.42% | -34.56% | +0.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.04% | -34.56% | -1.48% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -18.87% | -14.18% | -4.69% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.20% | -8.04% | +0.84% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.01% | 2.15% | -0.14% |
Volatility
VWETX vs. VLTCX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund Admiral Shares (VWETX) and Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLTCX) have volatilities of 2.50% and 2.42%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VWETX | VLTCX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.50% | 2.42% | +0.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.54% | 5.46% | +0.08% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.86% | 7.67% | +0.19% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.10% | 11.87% | +0.23% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.86% | 10.60% | +0.26% |
VWETX vs. VLTCX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWETX has a 0.12% expense ratio, which is higher than VLTCX's 0.07% 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
VWETX vs. VLTCX - Dividend Comparison
VWETX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.19%, less than VLTCX's 5.53% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VLTCX Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 5.53% | 5.48% | 5.58% | 4.65% | 4.41% | 3.03% | 3.15% | 3.82% | 4.56% | 4.01% | 4.37% | 4.71% |
VWETX Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund Admiral Shares | 5.19% | 5.06% | 5.10% | 4.26% | 4.54% | 4.86% | 6.99% | 5.11% | 4.40% | 5.60% | 6.25% | 7.49% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.96, VWETX and VLTCX 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.
VWETX has higher volatility (2.50%) compared to VLTCX (2.42%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VWETX dropped -36.04% vs VLTCX's -34.56%.
VLTCX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.01 vs 0.94), 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.
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