Which returned more over the last year, TLT or VCLT?

In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, TLT returned −6.4% and VCLT returned −4.8%, so VCLT returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.

Which is cheaper, TLT or VCLT?

TLT charges 0.15% a year and VCLT charges 0.03%, so VCLT is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.

ETFIQetfiq.com · independent ETF data

TLT vs VCLT: how they differ

TLT and VCLT are both bond index funds, and over the year VCLT returned more, −4.8% against −6.4%.

iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF and Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund.

TLT and VCLT on the fields both publish, as of Sep 12, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
	TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury 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	20+ year Treasuries	Long-Term Corporate Bond
Total return, 1 year	−6.4%	−4.8%
S&P 500 over the same days	+17.5%	+17.5%
Gap to the S&P 500	−23.9 pts	−22.3 pts
Expense ratio	0.15%	0.03%
Holdings	not filed	2775

TLT in plain words

TLT is a bond fund tracking the 20+ year Treasuries. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned −6.4% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.15% a year. It sat 42.9% below its high of Aug 4, 2020 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, TLT or VCLT?: In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, TLT returned −6.4% and VCLT returned −4.8%, so VCLT returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
Which is cheaper, TLT or VCLT?: TLT charges 0.15% 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.

TLT against VCLT, ETFIQ, data as of Sep 12, 2026. Every figure is arithmetic on a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page. ETFIQ, TLT against VCLT, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/TLT-VCLT Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.

A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources