A side-by-side comparison of Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF ETF Shares (VTC) 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 | VTC | SUSC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -3.97% | -3.92%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | -0.21% | -0.11%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | -0.94% | -0.84%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | -2.63% | -2.60%✓ |
| Current Price | $72.63 | $21.92 |
| AUM | $1.67B✓ | $1.28B |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.04%✓ | 0.18% |
| Dividend Yield | 5.03%✓ | 4.60% |
| Distribution Frequency | — | — |
| Inception Date | 2017-11-07 | 2017-07-11 |
| Holdings Count | 3 | 1 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★ | ★★ |
| Category | Corporate Bond | Corporate Bond |
| Beta | 1.12 | 1.11 |
| 52-Week High | $76.08 | $22.96 |
| 52-Week Low | $72.11 | $21.76 |
| 50-Day MA | $74.77 | $22.55 |
| 200-Day MA | $76.55 | $23.06 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | VTC | SUSC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -3.97% | -3.92%✓ |
| 1 Year | -1.37%✓ | -1.43% |
| 3 Year | +5.02%✓ | +4.86% |
| 5 Year | -0.54%✓ | -0.70% |
| 10 Year | — | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 3.61% | 3.60% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.08 | 0.06 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 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% |
| 1 | XTSLA | BlackRock Cash Funds Treasury SL Agency | 0.41% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | VTC | 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 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.
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 VTC 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, VTC 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 VTC and SUSC?
VTC (Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF ETF Shares) and SUSC (iShares ESG USD Corporate Bond ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($1.67B vs $1.28B), dividend yield (5.03% vs 4.60%), and year-to-date performance (-3.97% vs -3.92%).
Is VTC better than SUSC?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise dividends, compare both yields and choose based on your income needs. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy VTC and SUSC on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both VTC and SUSC should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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