A side-by-side comparison of iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond (ISTB) and Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (VCSH) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | ISTB | VCSH |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -0.88%✓ | -0.89% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.19% | -0.16%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | -0.15%✓ | -0.21% |
| 1-Month Change | -1.21% | -1.22%✓ |
| Current Price | $47.16 | $77.13 |
| AUM | $5.15B | $44.38B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.06% | 0.04%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 4.28% | 4.47%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | NA |
| Inception Date | 2012-10-18 | 2009-11-19 |
| Holdings Count | 1 | 466 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Category | Short-Term Bond | Short-Term Bond |
| Beta | 0.39 | 0.41 |
| 52-Week High | $47.79 | $78.18 |
| 52-Week Low | $46.66 | $76.21 |
| 50-Day MA | $47.82 | $78.25 |
| 200-Day MA | $48.32 | $79.07 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | ISTB | VCSH |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -0.88%✓ | -0.89% |
| 1 Year | +1.22% | +1.43%✓ |
| 3 Year | +4.80% | +5.26%✓ |
| 5 Year | +1.75% | +2.19%✓ |
| 10 Year | +2.11% | +2.53%✓ |
| 1Y Volatility | 1.33% | 1.38% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.14 | 0.34 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | BISXX | BlackRock Cash Funds Instl SL Agency | 1.06% |
| 1 | V | Visa Inc. Class A | 0.13% |
| 2 | TAP | Molson Coors Brewing Co Class B | 0.10% |
| 3 | CARR | Carrier Global Corp | 0.09% |
| 4 | DD | Dupont De Nemours Inc | 0.08% |
| 5 | BIIB | Biogen Inc | 0.08% |
| 6 | MDT | Medtronic PLC | 0.08% |
| 7 | CHTR | Charter Communications Inc | 0.07% |
| 8 | ETN | Eaton Corporation PLC | 0.07% |
| 9 | OTIS | Otis Worldwide Corp | 0.07% |
| 10 | STLA | Stellantis NV | 0.07% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | ISTB | VCSH |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Financial Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 0.00% |
About ISTB
The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the index and TBA transactions that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the component securities of the index and it will invest at least 90% of its assets in fixed income securities of the types included in the index.
About VCSH
The fund manager employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Bond Index, which includes U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade, fixed-rate, taxable debt securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. industrial, utility, and financial companies, all with maturities between 1 and 5 years. Under normal circumstances, it invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in the bonds th…
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both ISTB and VCSH are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, VCSH scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ISTB and VCSH?
ISTB (iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond) and VCSH (Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($5.15B vs $44.38B), dividend yield (4.28% vs 4.47%), and year-to-date performance (-0.88% vs -0.89%).
Is ISTB better than VCSH?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, ISTB has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy ISTB and VCSH on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both ISTB and VCSH should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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