VCSH vs BND: which was the better investment?
Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF against Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Nov 23, 2009 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VCSH beat BND?
Yes — measured from Nov 23, 2009 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, VCSH came out ahead: $16,062 versus $14,938 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 2.9% annual return against 2.4%.
What would $10,000 in VCSH be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) on Nov 23, 2009 would be worth about $16,062 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 60.6% (2.9% per year). The same $10,000 in BND would be worth $14,938.
Which was riskier — VCSH or BND?
VCSH swung with an annualized volatility of 2.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -12.9%; BND ran at 4.8% volatility with a -18.6% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.31 for VCSH vs 0.09 for BND.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Nov 23, 2009 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with VCSH vs BND. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.