A side-by-side comparison of iShares Core Total USD Bond Market ETF (IUSB) and Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (VCLT) 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 | IUSB | VCLT |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -1.78%✓ | -5.17% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.64%✓ | -1.06% |
| 1-Week Change | -0.02% | +0.23%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | +1.20%✓ | +2.02% |
| Current Price | $44.68 | $70.26 |
| AUM | $50.27B✓ | $9.21B |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.05% | 0.04%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 4.51% | 5.60%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | — | — |
| Inception Date | 2014-06-10 | 2009-11-19 |
| Holdings Count | 1 | 353 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | US Bonds | US Bonds |
| Beta | 0.96 | 1.92 |
| 52-Week High | $45.74 | $74.29 |
| 52-Week Low | $43.58 | $67.21 |
| 50-Day MA | $44.63 | $70.22 |
| 200-Day MA | $45.75 | $73.53 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | IUSB | VCLT |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -1.78%✓ | -5.17% |
| 1 Year | -0.15%✓ | -3.30% |
| 3 Year | +4.90%✓ | +4.63% |
| 5 Year | +0.14%✓ | -3.44% |
| 10 Year | +1.79% | +1.92%✓ |
| 1Y Volatility | 4.64% | 8.82% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.24 | 0.22 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | TMCXX | BlackRock Liquidity Funds - TempCash | 4.62% |
| 1 | WIT | Wipro Limited ADR | 0.21% |
| 2 | DELL | Dell Technologies Inc | 0.11% |
| 3 | FISV_old | Fiserv Inc | 0.10% |
| 4 | EQH | Equitable Holdings, Inc. | 0.09% |
| 5 | MDT | Medtronic PLC | 0.08% |
| 6 | CSCO | Cisco Systems Inc | 0.07% |
| 7 | DD | Dupont De Nemours Inc | 0.07% |
| 8 | FOXA | Fox Corp Class A | 0.07% |
| 9 | WY | Weyerhaeuser Company | 0.07% |
| 10 | FITB | Fifth Third Bancorp | 0.07% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | IUSB | VCLT |
|---|---|---|
| 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 IUSB
The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the underlying index and to-be-announced transactions ("TBAs") that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the component securities of the underlying index. The index measures the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated taxable bonds that are rated either investment-grade or high yield.
About VCLT
The fund manager employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. 10+ 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 greater than 10 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 IUSB and VCLT 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, IUSB 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 IUSB and VCLT?
IUSB (iShares Core Total USD Bond Market ETF) and VCLT (Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($50.27B vs $9.21B), dividend yield (4.51% vs 5.60%), and year-to-date performance (-1.78% vs -5.17%).
Is IUSB better than VCLT?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, IUSB has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy IUSB and VCLT on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both IUSB and VCLT should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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