VCIT vs LQD: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF SharesiShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF
Data as of the close · refreshed automatically every trading day
VCIT vs LQD at a glance
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (VCIT) and iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) are compared below using data through the September 25, 2026 close, refreshed after every trading day.
Over the past year, VCIT returned -1.37% with dividends reinvested, compared with -2.70% for LQD. VCIT currently yields 5.04% (trailing 12-month) against 4.86% for LQD. Across five years the total-return gap is +1.73% for VCIT vs -6.58% for LQD.
VCIT leads on both current yield and 1-year total return. Yields and returns move with markets, so check the longer periods below before drawing conclusions.
| Metric | VCIT | LQD |
|---|---|---|
| Last close | $78.84 | $103.21 |
| Dividend yield | 5.04% (TTM) | 4.86% (TTM) |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| Pays | monthly | monthly |
| Dividends, last 12 months | $3.98 (12 payments) | $5.02 (12 payments) |
| Issuer | Vanguard | iShares |
| Inception | — | — |
Performance: VCIT vs LQD
Total return assumes every distribution is reinvested. Switch to price return to see the change in share price alone.
Total Return (%) · dividends reinvested · Sep 25, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026
Overview
Key fund stats as of the latest close.
Total returns
Price change plus dividends paid, by holding period. Best in each period is outlined.
Dividends
Latest payout, trailing 12-month total and the last 12 distributions.
Recent dividend payments
The latest 12 distributions per share for each fund, newest first.
| VCIT | LQD | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | $0.340 | Sep 1, 2026 | $0.444 |
| Aug 3, 2026 | $0.342 | Aug 3, 2026 | $0.458 |
| Jul 1, 2026 | $0.332 | Jul 1, 2026 | $0.382 |
| Jun 1, 2026 | $0.341 | Jun 1, 2026 | $0.413 |
| May 1, 2026 | $0.326 | May 1, 2026 | $0.425 |
| Apr 1, 2026 | $0.344 | Apr 1, 2026 | $0.446 |
| Mar 2, 2026 | $0.303 | Mar 2, 2026 | $0.383 |
| Feb 2, 2026 | $0.330 | Feb 2, 2026 | $0.408 |
| Dec 18, 2025 | $0.336 | Dec 19, 2025 | $0.436 |
| Dec 1, 2025 | $0.322 | Dec 1, 2025 | $0.413 |
| Nov 3, 2025 | $0.334 | Nov 3, 2025 | $0.402 |
| Oct 1, 2025 | $0.326 | Oct 1, 2025 | $0.406 |
VCIT vs LQD: common questions
Which pays a higher dividend, VCIT or LQD?
As of September 25, 2026, VCIT yields 5.04% (trailing 12-month) and LQD yields 4.86% (trailing 12-month), so VCIT currently pays the higher yield. A higher yield does not guarantee a higher total return.
Which has performed better, VCIT or LQD?
Over the past year with dividends reinvested, VCIT returned -1.37% and LQD returned -2.70%. Over five years, VCIT returned +1.73% and LQD returned -6.58%. Past performance does not predict future results.
What would $10,000 in VCIT vs LQD be worth after one year?
With dividends reinvested, $10,000 invested one year before September 25, 2026 would have grown to about $9,863 in VCIT and $9,730 in LQD.
How often do VCIT and LQD pay dividends?
VCIT pays monthly (12 payments in the last 12 months) and LQD pays monthly (12 payments).
Is VCIT or LQD the better investment?
It depends on your goals, time horizon and tax situation. Income-focused investors often weigh yield and payment frequency, while long-term investors usually compare total return and fees. Dividend Duel is an educational tool and does not provide investment advice.
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Figures come from end-of-day prices and distributions and are recalculated after every trading session; see our methodology. This page is for education only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read the full disclosure.