Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) Performance
VDC total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +15.1% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +12.8% total return
- 5 years
- +7.8% a year
- 10 years
- +8.6% a year
- Since first price
- +9.5% a year since 2004
VDC trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VDC total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +7.2% | +7.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +6.9% | +6.3% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +5.4% | +4.2% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +15.1% | +13.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +12.8% | +10.4% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +44.8%+13.1%/yr | +34.8% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +45.3%+7.8%/yr | +29.0% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +128.1%+8.6%/yr | +77.9% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +337.7%+10.3%/yr | +197.9% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +516.7%+9.5%/yr | +278.5% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionJan 30, 2004 | +694.9%+9.5%/yr | +372.3% | — | — | — |
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: VDC vs SPY
From Jan 30, 2004: VDC grew to $79,494, SPY to $101,402.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VDC returns by calendar year
18 of 21 full years positive. Best 2013 (+28.0%), worst 2008 (−16.6%). 2026 is year to date.
VDC annual returns table
| Year | VDC | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +15.1% | −9.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +2.2% | −8.9% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +13.3% | −5.1% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +2.4% | −11.8% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −1.8% | −16.5% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +17.6% | −4.8% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +10.9% | −25.3% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +26.1% | −4.8% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −7.8% | −15.3% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +11.8% | −7.0% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +6.3% | −8.7% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +5.8% | −10.0% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +16.0% | −6.5% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +28.0% | −6.5% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +11.0% | −6.1% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | +13.6% | −11.2% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +14.6% | −9.3% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +16.6% | −20.3% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −16.6% | −26.3% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +12.7% | −5.3% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +15.9% | −3.7% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +3.8% | −4.4% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
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.
VDC largest drawdowns
Now 1.8% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 2007 | −34.2% | Mar 9, 2009 | Mar 17, 2010 | 1.2 years | 2.3 years |
| Feb 14, 2020 | −25.3% | Mar 23, 2020 | Aug 10, 2020 | 38 days | 6 months |
| Apr 20, 2022 | −16.5% | Oct 7, 2022 | Mar 5, 2024 | 6 months | 1.9 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −15.3% | May 3, 2018 | Apr 15, 2019 | 3 months | 1.2 years |
| May 19, 2011 | −11.2% | Aug 10, 2011 | Dec 20, 2011 | 3 months | 7 months |
| Aug 5, 2015 | −10.0% | Aug 25, 2015 | Oct 22, 2015 | 20 days | 3 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VDC risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +8.7% | +6.5% | +7.4% | +9.1% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.0% | 13.5% | 13.1% | 11.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.39 | 0.27 | 0.44 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 0.60 | 0.42 | 0.67 | — |
| Best month | +7.6% | +9.9% | +9.9% | +9.9% |
| Worst month | −7.5% | −8.4% | −9.0% | −11.5% |
| Best 12 months | +23.2% | +23.2% | +33.0% | +39.4% |
| Worst 12 months | −1.2% | −4.2% | −8.6% | −24.6% |
| Positive months | 58% | 53% | 57% | 60% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.38 | 0.49 | 0.57 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.39 | 0.57 | 0.67 | — |
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.
VDC rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 262 | −24.6% | +10.8% | +39.4% | 89% |
| 3-year (a year) | 238 | −2.8% | +9.0% | +22.1% | 99% |
| 5-year (a year) | 214 | +0.1% | +8.9% | +19.9% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 154 | +7.4% | +10.5% | +13.8% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2004. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VDC performance overview
Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) returned +12.8% over the past year and +8.6% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2004 it has returned +9.5% a year, turning $10,000 into about $79,494. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −34.2%, from Dec 10, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 1.0 years to get back to the old high. VDC finished 18 of its 21 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+28.0%) and the worst 2008 (−16.6%). Volatility has been 11.8% a year.
Related: VDC chart, VDC holdings, VDC dividends, VDC valuation. See the VDC overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VDC performance FAQ
What is the VDC return over the past year?
VDC returned +12.8% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 10.4%.
What is the average annual return of VDC?
VDC has returned +7.8% a year over 5 years, +8.6% a year over 10 years, +9.5% a year since January 30, 2004 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VDC be worth?
$10,000 invested in VDC at its first recorded close on January 30, 2004 would be worth about $79,494 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VDC?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −16.6%. The best was 2013 at +28.0%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VDC?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −34.2% between December 10, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on March 17, 2010, 1.0 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VDC?
Over the past 3 years VDC had an annualized volatility of 12.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.39 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).