Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
LQD vs VCLT: how they differ
LQD and VCLT are both bond index funds, and over the year LQD returned more, −2.7% against −4.8%.
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF and Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund.
| LQD iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Core index fund |
| Issuer | iShares | Vanguard |
| What it is | US investment grade bonds | Long-Term Corporate Bond |
| Total return, 1 year | −2.7% | −4.8% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | −20.2 pts | −22.3 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.14% | 0.03% |
| Holdings | not filed | 2775 |
LQD in plain words
LQD is a bond fund tracking the US investment grade bonds. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned −2.7% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.14% a year. It sat 6.4% below its high of Sep 22, 2021 on Sep 11, 2026.
VCLT in plain words
VCLT is a bond fund tracking the Long-Term Corporate Bond. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned −4.8% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.03% a year. It sat 18.1% below its high of Sep 22, 2021 on Sep 11, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, LQD or VCLT?
- In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, LQD returned −2.7% and VCLT returned −4.8%, so LQD returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, LQD or VCLT?
- LQD charges 0.14% a year and VCLT charges 0.03%, so VCLT is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
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Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, LQD against VCLT, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/LQD-VCLT Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources