VCLT vs VYM
Vanguard Long Term Corporate Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, VCLT or VYM?
Long Term Bond against Large Cap Value.
VCLT has a lower expense ratio. VYM 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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.04% |
| AUM | $9.7B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.66% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 2,856 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -5.54% | +9.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.40% | +13.66%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.13% | +17.87%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.17% | +11.51%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 13.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,512 | $17,241Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 19, 2009 | Nov 10, 2006 |
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 28, 2026 (16.8 years).
VCLT vs VYM 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 covers the 16.8 years both funds cover.
VCLT vs VYM Performance
Vanguard Long Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VCLT returned -6.40% while VYM returned +13.66%. Year to date, VCLT is down 5.54% versus a gain of 9.59% for VYM.
Over three years, VCLT compounded at +5.13% per year against +17.87% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -3.17% and +11.51% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.78% annualized vs +1.20%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.2% 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 -35.1% for VCLT and -35.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.37. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VCLT charges 0.03% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $4 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VCLT currently yields 5.66% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 5.7% of VYM'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.
VYM and VCLT share little of their money.
17 positions in common, counted across the 1,645 positions we hold weights for in VCLT and 557 in VYM, against full books of 2,856 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VCLT | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.02% | 1.02% | 1.00% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 0.06% | 0.90% | 0.84% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.05% | 0.77% | 0.72% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 0.09% | 0.70% | 0.61% |
| CURVVanguard Market Liquidity Fund | 0.51% | 0.15% | 0.36% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 0.07% | 0.46% | 0.39% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 0.06% | 0.40% | 0.34% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 0.11% | 0.29% | 0.18% |
| JCIJohnson Controls International Plc | 0.00% | 0.36% | 0.36% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 0.02% | 0.23% | 0.21% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VCLT and VYM 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 VYM?
VCLT has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VYM charges 0.04%. VCLT is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VCLT or VYM?
Over the past year VCLT returned -6.40% vs +13.66% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), VCLT annualized +1.20% vs +9.78% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VCLT or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 10.7% for VCLT. Worst drawdown: VCLT -35.1% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both VCLT and VYM?
VCLT and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.37, 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 VYM?
At least 5.7% of VYM's money is in holdings VCLT also owns. Our book for VCLT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 17 positions in common, counted across the 1,645 positions we hold weights for in VCLT and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, VCLT or VYM?
VCLT yields 5.66% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VCLT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than VCLT?
VCLT has a lower expense ratio. VYM 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.