Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF
$75.01+0.03 (+0.05%)
- 0.20%
- $2B
- +0.1%
- 4.90%
- 319K sh
- low $73.44high $79.34
The ETF.net VPLS Grade
A
Score 74 out of 100
- 22 of 116
Score 74 of 100 falls in the A band. A is 70 or higher, B 55 to under 70, C 40 to under 55, D 25 to under 40, F under 25.
Cost
The fund’s net expense ratio, ranked against its category.A73 out of 100Rank 30 of 115Mission
Whether the fund did what it promised, tested against its stated mandate.A100 out of 100Rank 1 of 100Risk
How the fund held up when markets fell: downside volatility, drawdowns and tail loss.C49 out of 100Rank 49 of 116Tradability
How easy the fund is to trade: daily volume, and how far its price strays from net asset value.B57 out of 100Rank 42 of 116Holdings
How concentrated the fund is, and how complete and current its disclosed holdings are.A89 out of 100Rank 6 of 115Durability
Whether the fund is likely to stay open, judged by its age, its assets and its issuer’s assets.B65 out of 100Rank 44 of 116
Our read on VPLS
In short
AVanguard's active bond desk in an ETF wrapper. The "plus" is permission to roam past U.S. investment grade into high yield and emerging market debt, benchmarked to the broader Universal index instead of the plain Agg, for 0.20% a year.
Stated mandate
The fund seeks total return and moderate to high current income. It invests mainly in investment-grade U.S. bonds, with selective below-investment-grade and foreign debt exposure, including emerging markets, and is actively managed.
Why people hold it
Worth knowing
VPLS Performance
Shows how $10,000 changes over the selected period, with cash distributions reinvested at the closing price on each ex-dividend date.
Not enough history yet.Not enough history yet.Not enough history yet.
VPLS$10,014
Returns run to the Oct 30, 2026 close, with cash distributions reinvested. Each period starts on the same date that many months or years earlier. Periods over one year show the average yearly return.
| Period | VPLS |
|---|---|
| Year to date | −0.3% |
| 1 month | +2.1% |
| 3 months | −0.3% |
| 1 year | +0.1% |
| 3 years | |
| 5 years | |
| 10 years |
Calendar-year total return with cash distributions hypothetically reinvested at the ex-dividend date’s closing price. The current year shows year to date.
| Year | Return bar | VPLS |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 YTD | −0.3% | |
| 2025 | +7.8% | |
| 2024 | +2.7% | |
| 2023 | +2.8% |
VPLS in the news
VPLS Dividends
- 4.90%
- $3.69
- $0.29 per share
- Monthly
VPLS Risk
- 4.5%
How it’s calculated: standard deviation
The sample standard deviation of monthly total returns, multiplied by the square root of 12.
Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Total returns include reinvested distributions.
- −0.18
How it’s calculated: Sharpe ratio
Subtract each month’s Treasury-bill return from the fund’s monthly total return.
Divide the average of those excess returns by their sample standard deviation, then multiply by the square root of 12.
Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Each month uses the Treasury yield quoted at the end of the previous month.
- −4.3%
How it’s calculated: maximum drawdown
The largest percentage decline from an earlier peak, using total returns with reinvested distributions.
Uses up to five years through the last close, with at least 12 months required.
- 0.14
How it’s calculated: beta
The beta figure is supplied by FMP. The comparison index depends on the fund’s broad asset class.
FMP measures it over up to five years of monthly returns.
VPLS Cost
Overpaying vs BKAG, cheapest in US Aggregate Bond
$4,155
On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.
VPLS 0.20%
$4,155
BKAG 0.00% Cheapest
$0
Cost over time
Year by year
| Year | VPLS | BKAG | Overpaying |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $365 | $0 | $365 |
| 20 | $1,421 | $0 | $1,421 |
| 30 | $4,155 | $0 | $4,155 |
Other funds in US Aggregate Bond
- ACGCBCapital Group Core Bond ETFExpense ratio 0.27%1 year return −0.3%
- ANUBDNuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate BondExpense ratio 0.12%1 year return −0.4%
- BUITBVictoryShares Core Intermediate Bond ETFExpense ratio 0.25%1 year return −0.3%
- AGCORGoldman Sachs Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETFExpense ratio 0.08%1 year return −0.4%
- AUNIYWisdomTree Voya Yield Enhanced USD Universal Bond FundExpense ratio 0.15%1 year return −0.4%
