Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) Performance
VCLT total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −3.2% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −5.6% total return
- 5 years
- −3.1% a year
- 10 years
- +1.4% a year
- Since first price
- +4.2% a year since 2009
VCLT trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | VCLT total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.3% | −0.2% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | −1.1% | −2.6% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −3.9% | −6.6% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | −3.2% | −7.2% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | −5.6% | −10.7% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +20.3%+6.3%/yr | +2.4% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | −14.7%−3.1%/yr | −33.2% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | +14.7%+1.4%/yr | −26.0% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +61.7%+3.3%/yr | −16.7% | +32.2%+1.9%/yr | +9.9%+0.6%/yr | +696.0%+14.8%/yr |
| Since inceptionNov 23, 2009 | +100.9%+4.2%/yr | −6.5% | — | — | — |
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: VCLT vs AGG
From Nov 23, 2009: VCLT grew to $20,091, AGG to $14,721.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VCLT returns by calendar year
10 of 16 full years positive. Best 2019 (+23.9%), worst 2022 (−25.5%). 2026 is year to date.
VCLT annual returns table
| Year | VCLT | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −3.2% | −8.7% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +7.2% | −6.4% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | −1.9% | −7.6% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +11.2% | −15.3% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −25.5% | −31.5% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | −1.7% | −10.0% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +13.3% | −28.2% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +23.9% | −5.3% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −7.0% | −9.4% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +11.7% | −3.5% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +10.8% | −9.1% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | −4.8% | −11.7% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +16.4% | −4.5% | +6.0% | +27.3% | +13.5% |
| 2013 | −5.2% | −13.7% | −2.0% | −13.4% | +32.3% |
| 2012 | +10.8% | −5.4% | +3.8% | +2.6% | +16.0% |
| 2011 | +17.5% | −5.2% | +7.7% | +34.0% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | +10.6% | −8.0% | +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.
VCLT largest drawdowns
Now 17.9% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2021 | −34.3% | Oct 24, 2022 | not yet | 1.1 years | 5.1 years so far |
| Mar 6, 2020 | −28.2% | Mar 19, 2020 | Jul 8, 2020 | 13 days | 4 months |
| May 2, 2013 | −13.7% | Aug 21, 2013 | May 1, 2014 | 4 months | 12 months |
| Jan 30, 2015 | −11.7% | Jun 26, 2015 | Jun 3, 2016 | 5 months | 1.3 years |
| Aug 6, 2020 | −10.9% | Mar 18, 2021 | Aug 4, 2021 | 7 months | 12 months |
| Dec 15, 2017 | −9.9% | Nov 30, 2018 | Mar 29, 2019 | 11 months | 1.3 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VCLT risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +3.9% | −3.7% | +1.0% | +4.0% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.6% | 14.0% | 12.0% | 10.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.01 | -0.46 | -0.04 | 0.29 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.02 | -0.61 | -0.06 | 0.43 |
| Best month | +11.2% | +11.2% | +11.2% | +11.2% |
| Worst month | −4.9% | −10.0% | −10.0% | −10.0% |
| Best 12 months | +19.3% | +19.3% | +27.2% | +27.2% |
| Worst 12 months | −6.8% | −30.8% | −30.8% | −30.8% |
| Positive months | 61% | 52% | 57% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.56 | 0.64 | 0.46 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.60 | 0.72 | 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.
VCLT rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 192 | −30.8% | +5.0% | +27.2% | 74% |
| 3-year (a year) | 168 | −10.1% | +5.4% | +12.9% | 80% |
| 5-year (a year) | 144 | −3.7% | +5.0% | +10.8% | 75% |
| 10-year (a year) | 84 | +1.0% | +3.2% | +8.3% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2009. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VCLT performance overview
Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) returned −5.6% over the past year and +1.4% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2009 it has returned +4.2% a year, turning $10,000 into about $20,091. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −34.3%, from Sep 22, 2021 to Oct 24, 2022; the fund has not yet regained that high. VCLT finished 10 of its 16 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2019 (+23.9%) and the worst 2022 (−25.5%). Volatility has been 10.8% a year.
Related: VCLT chart, VCLT dividends, VCLT bond profile. See the VCLT overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VCLT performance FAQ
What is the VCLT return over the past year?
VCLT returned −5.6% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 10.7%.
What is the average annual return of VCLT?
VCLT has returned −3.1% a year over 5 years, +1.4% a year over 10 years, +4.2% a year since November 23, 2009 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VCLT be worth?
$10,000 invested in VCLT at its first recorded close on November 23, 2009 would be worth about $20,091 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VCLT?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −25.5%. The best was 2019 at +23.9%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VCLT?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −34.3% between September 22, 2021 and October 24, 2022. It has not yet recovered to that high; it is 17.9% below its peak.
How volatile is VCLT?
Over the past 3 years VCLT had an annualized volatility of 11.6% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.01 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).