A side-by-side comparison of iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (USIG) and Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF ETF Shares (VTC) 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 | USIG | VTC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -3.69%✓ | -3.97% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.18%✓ | -0.21% |
| 1-Week Change | -0.82%✓ | -0.94% |
| 1-Month Change | -2.55% | -2.63%✓ |
| Current Price | $48.62 | $72.63 |
| AUM | $17.49B✓ | $1.67B |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Dividend Yield | 4.84% | 5.03%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | — | — |
| Inception Date | 2007-01-05 | 2017-11-07 |
| Holdings Count | 1 | 3 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★ | ★★ |
| Category | Corporate Bond | Corporate Bond |
| Beta | 1.05 | 1.12 |
| 52-Week High | $50.80 | $76.41 |
| 52-Week Low | $48.30 | $72.68 |
| 50-Day MA | $49.95 | $74.83 |
| 200-Day MA | $51.07 | $76.57 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | USIG | VTC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -3.69%✓ | -3.97% |
| 1 Year | -1.11%✓ | -1.37% |
| 3 Year | +5.24%✓ | +5.02% |
| 5 Year | -0.25%✓ | -0.54% |
| 10 Year | +2.10% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 3.51% | 3.61% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.12 | 0.08 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | XTSLA | BlackRock Cash Funds Treasury SL Agency | 0.55% |
| 1 | VCSH | Vanguard Scottsdale Funds - Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 38.02% |
| 2 | VCLT | Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares | 33.22% |
| 3 | VCIT | Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares | 28.74% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | USIG | VTC |
|---|---|---|
| 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 USIG
The underlying index consists of investment-grade corporate bonds that have $250 million or more of outstanding face value. The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the underlying index, and the fund will invest at least 90% of its assets in fixed income securities of the types included in the underlying index that BFA believes will help the fund track the underlying index.
About VTC
The fund is a fund of funds and employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate Bond Index, which measures the investment-grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bond market. The index includes U.S. dollar-denominated securities that are publicly issued by industrial, utility, and financial issuers.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both USIG and VTC 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, USIG 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 USIG and VTC?
USIG (iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF) and VTC (Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF ETF Shares) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($17.49B vs $1.67B), dividend yield (4.84% vs 5.03%), and year-to-date performance (-3.69% vs -3.97%).
Is USIG better than VTC?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, USIG has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy USIG and VTC on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both USIG and VTC should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
7 stocks to buy and hold forever
Complement your ETF portfolio with these proven long-term individual stocks.
Get the FREE Report