VCIT vs IEI: Which Bond Strategy Is Better for Income Investors?
Vanguard's corporate bond fund charges just 0.03% in fees while delivering higher income and stronger five-year performance, though with greater credit risk than Treasury alternatives.
Overview
The iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:IEI) offers a conservative U.S. government focus, while the Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (NASDAQ:VCIT) provides higher yields through diversified corporate credit exposure.
Investors often weigh the safety of government-backed debt against the higher income potential of corporate bonds. While both funds target the intermediate segment of the yield curve, they differ significantly in credit quality, expense structures, and historical price volatility. This analysis compares a Treasury-focused bond fund with an investment-grade corporate alternative to help clarify which might better serve a portfolio allocation during different interest rate environments.
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.
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Source
Originally published at www.fool.com.