Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) Performance
VCIT total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −1.9% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −1.7% total return
- 5 years
- +0.8% a year
- 10 years
- +2.5% a year
- Since first price
- +4.1% a year since 2009
VCIT trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | VCIT total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.6% | +0.1% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | −1.0% | −2.3% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −2.3% | −4.7% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | −1.9% | −5.4% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | −1.7% | −6.3% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +22.0%+6.8%/yr | +6.3% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | +4.3%+0.8%/yr | −15.2% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | +27.6%+2.5%/yr | −11.2% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +66.6%+3.5%/yr | −3.0% | +32.2%+1.9%/yr | +9.9%+0.6%/yr | +696.0%+14.8%/yr |
| Since inceptionNov 23, 2009 | +96.2%+4.1%/yr | +5.4% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: VCIT vs AGG
From Nov 23, 2009: VCIT grew to $19,621, AGG to $14,721.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VCIT returns by calendar year
12 of 16 full years positive. Best 2019 (+14.1%), worst 2022 (−14.0%). 2026 is year to date.
VCIT annual returns table
| Year | VCIT | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −1.9% | −4.9% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +9.3% | −3.0% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +3.2% | −3.4% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +9.0% | −7.0% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −14.0% | −18.5% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | −1.8% | −4.2% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +9.5% | −16.9% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +14.1% | −2.2% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −1.7% | −4.0% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +5.3% | −2.0% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +5.3% | −4.9% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | +0.9% | −3.6% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +7.7% | −1.8% | +6.0% | +27.3% | +13.5% |
| 2013 | −1.9% | −7.4% | −2.0% | −13.4% | +32.3% |
| 2012 | +10.5% | −1.8% | +3.8% | +2.6% | +16.0% |
| 2011 | +9.0% | −4.0% | +7.7% | +34.0% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | +10.0% | −5.8% | +6.4% | +9.0% | +15.1% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
VCIT largest drawdowns
Now 3.4% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 3, 2021 | −20.6% | Oct 20, 2022 | Jul 29, 2025 | 1.2 years | 4.0 years |
| Mar 4, 2020 | −16.9% | Mar 20, 2020 | Jun 9, 2020 | 16 days | 3 months |
| May 1, 2013 | −7.4% | Jul 5, 2013 | May 1, 2014 | 2 months | 1.0 years |
| Nov 4, 2010 | −5.8% | Dec 15, 2010 | May 5, 2011 | 41 days | 6 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VCIT risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +5.7% | +0.3% | +2.3% | +3.9% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.2% | 7.8% | 6.8% | 6.0% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.23 | -0.39 | 0.03 | 0.45 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.35 | -0.51 | 0.05 | 0.66 |
| Best month | +6.0% | +6.0% | +6.0% | +6.0% |
| Worst month | −3.0% | −5.0% | −7.3% | −7.3% |
| Best 12 months | +15.1% | +15.1% | +15.3% | +15.3% |
| Worst 12 months | −2.3% | −17.3% | −17.3% | −17.3% |
| Positive months | 72% | 58% | 60% | 63% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.28 | 0.34 | 0.26 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.56 | 0.68 | 0.59 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
VCIT rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 192 | −17.3% | +5.0% | +15.3% | 80% |
| 3-year (a year) | 168 | −5.0% | +4.2% | +9.8% | 82% |
| 5-year (a year) | 144 | −0.0% | +3.6% | +7.2% | 99% |
| 10-year (a year) | 84 | +1.7% | +3.1% | +5.9% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2009. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VCIT performance overview
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) returned −1.7% over the past year and +2.5% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2009 it has returned +4.1% a year, turning $10,000 into about $19,621. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −20.6%, from Aug 3, 2021 to Oct 20, 2022, and it took 2.8 years to get back to the old high. VCIT finished 12 of its 16 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2019 (+14.1%) and the worst 2022 (−14.0%). Volatility has been 6.0% a year.
Related: VCIT chart, VCIT dividends, VCIT bond profile. See the VCIT overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VCIT performance FAQ
What is the VCIT return over the past year?
VCIT returned −1.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 6.3%.
What is the average annual return of VCIT?
VCIT has returned +0.8% a year over 5 years, +2.5% a year over 10 years, +4.1% a year since November 23, 2009 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VCIT be worth?
$10,000 invested in VCIT at its first recorded close on November 23, 2009 would be worth about $19,621 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VCIT?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −14.0%. The best was 2019 at +14.1%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VCIT?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −20.6% between August 3, 2021 and October 20, 2022. It recovered to the old high on July 29, 2025, 2.8 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VCIT?
Over the past 3 years VCIT had an annualized volatility of 6.2% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.23 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).