A side-by-side comparison of Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (VCIT) and iShares ESG USD Corporate Bond ETF (SUSC) 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 | VCIT | SUSC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -3.78%✓ | -3.92% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.23% | -0.11%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | -0.72%✓ | -0.84% |
| 1-Month Change | -2.81% | -2.60%✓ |
| Current Price | $78.13 | $21.92 |
| AUM | $67.32B✓ | $1.28B |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.04%✓ | 0.18% |
| Dividend Yield | 4.89%✓ | 4.60% |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | — |
| Inception Date | 2009-11-19 | 2017-07-11 |
| Holdings Count | 511 | 1 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★★ | ★★ |
| Category | Corporate Bond | Corporate Bond |
| Beta | 1.07 | 1.11 |
| 52-Week High | $82.48 | $22.96 |
| 52-Week Low | $78.16 | $21.76 |
| 50-Day MA | $80.64 | $22.55 |
| 200-Day MA | $82.49 | $23.06 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | VCIT | SUSC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -3.78%✓ | -3.92% |
| 1 Year | -1.37%✓ | -1.43% |
| 3 Year | +5.78%✓ | +4.86% |
| 5 Year | +0.34%✓ | -0.70% |
| 10 Year | +2.39% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 3.36% | 3.60% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.22 | 0.06 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | DT | Dynatrace Holdings LLC | 0.28% |
| 2 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 0.23% |
| 3 | WIT | Wipro Limited ADR | 0.15% |
| 4 | ABBV | AbbVie Inc | 0.13% |
| 5 | AXP | American Express Company | 0.11% |
| 6 | DD | Dupont De Nemours Inc | 0.10% |
| 7 | TMUS | T-Mobile US Inc | 0.09% |
| 8 | AMZN | Amazon.com Inc | 0.09% |
| 9 | BABA | Alibaba Group Holding Ltd | 0.07% |
| 10 | COST | Costco Wholesale Corp | 0.07% |
| 1 | XTSLA | BlackRock Cash Funds Treasury SL Agency | 0.41% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | VCIT | SUSC |
|---|---|---|
| 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 VCIT
The fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. 5-10 Year Corporate Bond Index. This index includes U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade, fixed-rate, taxable securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. industrial, utility, and financial companies, with maturities between 5 and 10 years. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the fund's assets will be invested in bonds included in the index.
About SUSC
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.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both VCIT and SUSC 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, VCIT 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 VCIT and SUSC?
VCIT (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares) and SUSC (iShares ESG USD Corporate Bond ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($67.32B vs $1.28B), dividend yield (4.89% vs 4.60%), and year-to-date performance (-3.78% vs -3.92%).
Is VCIT better than SUSC?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, VCIT has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy VCIT and SUSC on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both VCIT and SUSC should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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