# Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS): ETF Facts & Distributions > Markdown mirror of https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vpls for AI agents. Same live data as the HTML page, regenerated on the same refresh cycle. Not investment advice. - Issuer: Vanguard · Asset class: Core Investment Grade Bond - Strategy: Actively Managed · Inception: 2023-12-06 The Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) is an actively managed investment vehicle aiming for broad diversification, primarily targeting the U.S. bond market comprised of investment-grade securities. It also strategically incorporates a portion of higher-risk, below-investment-grade bonds and international debt, notably from developing economies. As a cost-efficient option, the fund allocates capital across a spectrum of fixed-income assets, including U.S. government (Treasury) bonds, mortgage-backed instruments, corporate debt, and emerging market sovereign or corporate debt. These holdings... ## Key Facts | Metric | Value | |---|---| | Price | $74.87 | | Expense Ratio | 0.20% | | Assets Under Management | $2.00B | | NAV | $74.88 | | Holdings Count | 1434 | | Distribution Yield (TTM) | 4.92% | | Annual Distribution (TTM) | $3.69 /share | | Distribution Frequency | Monthly | | 52-Week Range | $73.44 – $79.36 | | Beta | 0.14 | ## Latest Distribution - Amount: $0.2931 /share - Ex-date: 2026-10-01 - Pay date: 2026-10-05 ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does VPLS invest in? The Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) is an actively managed investment vehicle aiming for broad diversification, primarily targeting the U.S. bond market comprised of investment-grade securities. It also strategically incorporates a portion of higher-risk, below-investment-grade bonds and international debt, notably from developing economies. As a cost-efficient option, the fund allocates capital across a spectrum of fixed-income assets, including U.S. government (Treasury) bonds, mortgage-backed instruments, corporate debt, and emerging market sovereign or corporate debt. These holdings span a range of yields, durations, and credit ratings. Its strategy employs a rigorous, risk-managed methodology to surpass its designated benchmark. This is achieved through careful selection of individual securities, strategic allocation across different market sectors, and skilled management of interest rate sensitivity (duration). As is typical for fixed-income portfolios, this ETF is susceptible to interest rate fluctuations. A rise in prevailing interest rates can lead to a decline in the value of the underlying bonds, consequently diminishing the fund's net asset value. Given its anticipated moderate exposure to debt with lower credit ratings, the fund also carries credit risk. Should an issuer's financial health or ability to meet timely interest and principal obligations be perceived negatively, the value of those bonds may fall. Because this fund strategically invests across the full spectrum of the fixed-income market – encompassing various sectors, maturities, and credit qualities – it can serve as a foundational bond allocation for investors who are comfortable with an elevated level of risk within their fixed-income portfolio. It's important to note that the Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF operates independently and should not be confused with the Vanguard Core-Plus Bond Index ETF (BNDP) or the Vanguard Core-Plus Bond Fund (VCPIX and VCPAX). Variations in their respective sizes, investment methodologies, and specific portfolio assets are likely to result in divergent performance outcomes among these offerings. ### What is the expense ratio of VPLS? Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) charges an expense ratio of 0.20%. This is the annual fee deducted from fund assets to cover management and operations. ### What is VPLS's dividend yield? VPLS's trailing-twelve-month yield is 4.92%, calculated from the sum of dividends over the past year divided by the current price. ### What is the duration of VPLS? Effective duration measures VPLS's sensitivity to interest-rate changes: a duration of 6 means a 1% rate move shifts NAV by roughly 6% in the opposite direction. VPLS's current duration is published on the fund's factsheet on the issuer's website. ### What is the credit quality of VPLS? VPLS's credit quality breakdown (the share of holdings rated AAA through CCC and below) is published on the fund's factsheet. Higher-quality (investment-grade) funds yield less but carry less default risk than high-yield / junk bond funds. ### What is the yield to maturity of VPLS? Yield to maturity (YTM) is the total return you'd earn from VPLS if every bond in the portfolio is held to maturity at the current price. VPLS's YTM is published on the fund's factsheet on the issuer's website. It differs from the trailing-12-month yield because YTM reflects current bond prices rather than historical income paid. ### Does VPLS pay a dividend? Yes, Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) distributes dividends to shareholders. The trailing-twelve-month yield is 4.92%. Full dividend history is on this page. ### How often does VPLS pay dividends? Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF pays dividends Monthly. Each ex-dividend date, record date, and payment date is listed in the dividend history table on this page. ### When is VPLS's next ex-dividend date? The most recently announced ex-dividend date for VPLS was 2026-10-01. The next ex-date typically follows Monthly; once announced it appears at the top of the dividend history table on this page. ### How much will VPLS's expense ratio cost me over 30 years? On a $10,000 investment compounding at 7% gross return, a 0.20% expense ratio quietly compounds against your balance every year. The Fee Compounding Forecast card above projects the dollar drag for any holding period and assumption you pick. The typical result for a 1.0% expense ratio on a 30-year hold is roughly 25% of the final balance lost to fees. ### How does VPLS charge its expense ratio? The expense ratio is deducted in tiny daily slices from VPLS's net asset value (NAV). You never see a bill. The price quoted on every exchange is already net of fees. There's no "fee day" to avoid; the cost is continuous and built into the trading price. ### Why does VPLS cost more than a fund like VOO? VPLS is actively managed (current expense ratio 0.20%). Active funds charge more than passive index trackers in exchange for the manager's discretion to over- or under-weight positions. The Cost Verdict card above tells you whether VPLS's fee is competitive for the active-management cohort. ### Are there cheaper alternatives to VPLS? The Lower-Fee Alternatives card above lists ETFs following the same investment strategy as VPLS (0.20%) but at a lower expense ratio. Each row shows the fee gap, the peer's AUM as a liquidity sanity-check, and a direct link to that fund's analysis page. Cheaper price doesn't automatically mean better. Verify the peer holds what you actually want. ## More on Dividend Data - Overview (HTML): https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vpls - Distribution history: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vpls/dividend - Holdings & diversification: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vpls/diversification - Fees & cheaper alternatives: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vpls/expenses - Peer comparison: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vpls/peers Data sourced from primary filings and market data providers; see https://www.dividenddata.com/methodology.