VCLT vs VOO
Vanguard Long Term Corporate Bond ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, VCLT or VOO?
Long Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VOO 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 | VCLT | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Tie | 0.03%Tie |
| AUM | $9.7B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.66% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 2,856 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -5.54% | +12.67%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.40% | +16.35%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.13% | +22.92%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.17% | +13.55%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.8%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,512 | $18,877Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 19, 2009 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 28, 2026 (16.1 years).
VCLT vs VOO 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.
VCLT vs VOO Performance
Vanguard Long Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VCLT returned -6.40% while VOO returned +16.35%. Year to date, VCLT is down 5.54% versus a gain of 12.67% for VOO.
Over three years, VCLT compounded at +5.13% per year against +22.92% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -3.17% and +13.55% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.38% annualized vs +0.88%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 10.8% 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 -35.1% for VCLT and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VCLT charges 0.03% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $3 annually. On income, VCLT currently yields 5.66% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 14.2% of VOO'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.
VOO and VCLT share little of their money.
19 positions in common, counted across the 1,645 positions we hold weights for in VCLT and 494 in VOO, against full books of 2,856 and 509.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VCLT | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.06% | 7.05% | 6.99% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.06% | 4.13% | 4.07% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 0.00% | 0.57% | 0.57% |
| CURVVanguard Market Liquidity Fund | 0.51% | 0.05% | 0.46% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.02% | 0.39% | 0.37% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 0.06% | 0.34% | 0.28% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 0.09% | 0.27% | 0.18% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.05% | 0.30% | 0.25% |
| DEDeere & Co Sedol 2261203 | 0.08% | 0.23% | 0.15% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 0.07% | 0.18% | 0.11% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VCLT and VOO 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, VCLT or VOO?
VCLT has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VOO charges 0.03%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, VCLT or VOO?
Over the past year VCLT returned -6.40% vs +16.35% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VCLT annualized +0.88% vs +13.38% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VCLT or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 10.8% for VCLT. Worst drawdown: VCLT -35.1% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both VCLT and VOO?
VCLT and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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 VCLT and VOO?
At least 14.2% of VOO's money is in holdings VCLT also owns. Our book for VCLT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 1,645 positions we hold weights for in VCLT and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, VCLT or VOO?
VCLT yields 5.66% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VCLT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than VCLT?
VOO 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.