IVV vs VCLT
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Vanguard Long Term Corporate Bond ETF
Which is better, IVV or VCLT?
Large Cap Blend against Long Term Bond.
IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | IVV | VCLT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Tie | 0.03%Tie |
| AUM | $876.4B | $9.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 5.66% |
| Holdings | 508 | 2,856 |
| YTD Return | +13.85%Best | -4.65% |
| 1Y Return | +18.57%Best | -4.77% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.50%Best | +5.19% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.34%Best | -3.34% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4% | 10.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,703Best | $8,438 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Long Term Bond |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Nov 19, 2009 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 23, 2009 to Sep 25, 2026 (16.8 years).
IVV vs VCLT growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
IVV vs VCLT Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Long Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IVV returned +18.57% while VCLT returned -4.77%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.85% versus a loss of 4.65% for VCLT.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +23.50% per year against +5.19% for VCLT; over five years the annualized figures are +13.34% and -3.34% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +12.75% annualized vs +1.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.4% compared with 10.7% for VCLT. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -33.9% for IVV and -35.1% for VCLT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.41. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while VCLT charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $3 annually. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 5.66% for VCLT.
Holdings Overlap
At least 13.9% of IVV's money is in holdings VCLT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VCLT, our book for it covers 71.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
IVV and VCLT share little of their money.
18 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 1,645 in VCLT, against full books of 508 and 2,856.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in VCLT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.02% | 0.06% | 6.96% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.84% | 0.06% | 3.78% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 0.57% | 0.00% | 0.57% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 0.38% | 0.06% | 0.32% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.36% | 0.02% | 0.34% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 0.27% | 0.09% | 0.18% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.29% | 0.05% | 0.24% |
| DEDeere & Co Sedol 2261203 | 0.25% | 0.08% | 0.17% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 0.17% | 0.07% | 0.10% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 0.11% | 0.11% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and VCLT you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IVV or VCLT?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VCLT charges 0.03%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, IVV or VCLT?
Over the past year IVV returned +18.57% vs -4.77% for VCLT, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), IVV annualized +12.75% vs +1.26% for VCLT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or VCLT?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 14.4% annualized versus 10.7% for VCLT. Worst drawdown: IVV -33.9% vs VCLT -35.1%.
Should I hold both IVV and VCLT?
IVV and VCLT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.41, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IVV and VCLT?
At least 13.9% of IVV's money is in holdings VCLT also owns. Our book for VCLT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 1,645 in VCLT.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or VCLT?
IVV yields 1.06% while VCLT yields 5.66%, so VCLT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VCLT better than IVV?
IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.