Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF vs Williams Companies Inc — how do they compare? Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF trades at $78.09, while Williams Companies Inc trades at $75.31 (market cap $92.75B). The key difference: Williams Companies Inc pays a 2.77% dividend while Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF pays none, and Williams Companies Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| VCSH | WMB | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Fixed Income | Energy |
52-Week High | $80.20 | $79.40 |
52-Week Low | $78.08 | $56.51 |
Market Cap | — | $92.75B |
Enterprise Value | — | $123.38B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.77% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
VCSH, the Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF, trades at $78.14 with minimal daily movement (-0.05%). The technical picture is bearish with moving averages signaling caution, though oversold RSI readings suggest potential near-term support. The ETF maintains a competitive 4.5% dividend yield with a short 2.7-year duration, positioning it defensively against rising rates while offering higher income than treasury alternatives.
While VCSH provides quality short-term corporate bond exposure with minimal interest rate risk, current tight credit spreads limit upside potential. The ETF faces competition from broader bond funds and carries corporate credit risk. Recent analyst downgrades to 'Hold' reflect concerns about entry timing, though institutional investors continue active positioning in the fund.
Williams Companies (WMB) trades at $75.83, up 2.27% with strong analyst support (79% buy ratings) and a $88.14 consensus target. The stock shows bullish technical momentum above key support at $74, supported by recent acquisitions and stable dividend payments. Fundamentals reveal robust profitability with 63.26% gross margins and 25.18% net income margin, though valuation multiples remain elevated with P/E at 30.21.
WMB offers exposure to growing natural gas infrastructure demand with recent $5.5 billion Momentum Midstream acquisition expanding Gulf Coast presence. Risks include regulatory challenges as seen with NJ pipeline permit reversal and elevated debt levels at 52% debt-to-asset ratio. The stock presents growth potential through LNG export expansion but faces execution risks on major projects.
Trailing returns across standard periods
VCSH tracks the Bloomberg U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Bond Index, focusing on high-quality, investment-grade debt with short maturities. It is designed to offer higher income than Treasury bills with significantly lower interest rate sensitivity than intermediate or long-term bond funds.
Read more on VCSH →Williams is a midstream energy company that owns and operates the large Transco and Northwest pipeline systems and associated natural gas gathering, processing, and storage assets. In August 2018, the firm acquired the remaining 26% ownership of its limited partner, Williams Partners.
Read more on WMB →