- ISIN
- US46432F8595
- CUSIP
- 46432F859
- Issuer
- iShares
- Inception Date
- Oct 18, 2012
- Region
- North America (U.S.)
- Category
- Short-Term Bond
- Leveraged
- 1x (No leverage)
- Index Tracked
- BBG US Universal 1-5 Year Index (USD)
- Domicile
- United States
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Bond
- Assets Under Management
- $5B
Share Price Chart
Loading charts...
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Performance
ISTB Performance Chart
iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB) is up 0.4% since the beginning of the year. ISTB is currently trading at $48 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of ISTB shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,099.
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB) has returned 0.44% so far this year and 3.73% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, ISTB has returned 2.23% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.88% annually.
iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF
- 1D
- -0.12%
- 1M
- 0.19%
- YTD
- 0.44%
- 6M
- 0.59%
- 1Y
- 3.73%
- 3Y*
- 4.98%
- 5Y*
- 1.90%
- 10Y*
- 2.23%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- -0.37%
- 1M
- -0.01%
- YTD
- 9.16%
- 6M
- 8.64%
- 1Y
- 25.22%
- 3Y*
- 19.78%
- 5Y*
- 11.99%
- 10Y*
- 13.88%
ISTB Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Oct 24, 2012, ISTB's average daily return is +0.01%, while the average monthly return is +0.17%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 34.0 years.
Historically, 61% of months were positive and 39% were negative. The best month was Nov 2023 with a return of +2.0%, while the worst month was Sep 2022 at -2.0%. The longest winning streak lasted 10 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 8 months.
On a daily basis, ISTB closed higher 50% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 24, 2020 with a return of +1.6%, while the worst single day was Mar 12, 2020 at -1.6%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0.29% | 0.62% | -0.81% | 0.34% | 0.23% | -0.22% | 0.44% | ||||||
| 2025 | 0.54% | 0.97% | 0.37% | 0.82% | -0.03% | 0.87% | 0.06% | 1.03% | 0.35% | 0.39% | 0.52% | 0.31% | 6.36% |
| 2024 | 0.36% | -0.55% | 0.53% | -0.78% | 1.08% | 0.51% | 1.65% | 1.08% | 1.00% | -0.99% | 0.52% | -0.08% | 4.37% |
| 2023 | 1.53% | -1.23% | 1.70% | 0.41% | -0.43% | -0.38% | 0.49% | 0.23% | -0.52% | -0.06% | 1.99% | 1.76% | 5.56% |
| 2022 | -1.09% | -0.79% | -1.82% | -0.94% | 0.33% | -1.16% | 1.21% | -1.45% | -2.02% | -0.14% | 1.78% | -0.08% | -6.08% |
| 2021 | 0.04% | -0.39% | -0.03% | 0.28% | 0.26% | -0.11% | 0.24% | 0.05% | -0.34% | -0.49% | -0.21% | -0.01% | -0.71% |
Benchmark Metrics
iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF has an annualized alpha of 1.76%, beta of 0.02, and R2 of 0.02 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since October 24, 2012.
- This ETF participates in less of S&P 500 Index's moves in both directions, but captures a larger share of gains (8.05%) than losses (4.50%) - typical of diversified or defensive assets.
- Beta of 0.02 may look defensive, but with R2 of 0.02 this ETF is largely uncorrelated with S&P 500 Index - low beta reflects independence, not downside protection. See the Volatility section for a true picture of this ETF's risk.
- R2 of 0.02 means this ETF moves largely independently of S&P 500 Index - capture ratios reflect limited market correlation rather than active downside protection. Consider using a more representative benchmark.
- Alpha
- 1.76%
- Beta
- 0.02
- R²
- 0.02
- Upside Capture
- 8.05%
- Downside Capture
- 4.50%
Expense Ratio
ISTB has an expense ratio of 0.06%, which is considered low.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
ISTB ranks 67 for risk / return — better than 67% of ETFs on our site. You're getting solid returns for the risk taken. A good sign, especially for investors who want growth without excessive volatility.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ISTB | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.46 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.40 | 1.37 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.98 | 2.78 | +0.20 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.97 | 12.44 | -1.47 |
Dividends
Dividend History
iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF provided a 4.25% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $2.05 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 4 consecutive years.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $2.05 | $2.01 | $1.83 | $1.41 | $0.94 | $0.85 | $1.13 | $1.38 | $1.26 | $1.03 | $0.95 | $0.78 |
Dividend yield | 4.25% | 4.12% | 3.83% | 2.97% | 2.01% | 1.69% | 2.20% | 2.75% | 2.57% | 2.06% | 1.90% | 1.58% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.00 | $0.17 | $0.17 | $0.17 | $0.17 | $0.17 | $0.86 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.16 | $0.16 | $0.17 | $0.16 | $0.17 | $0.17 | $0.17 | $0.17 | $0.17 | $0.17 | $0.34 | $2.01 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.14 | $0.14 | $0.15 | $0.15 | $0.15 | $0.15 | $0.15 | $0.16 | $0.16 | $0.16 | $0.32 | $1.83 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.11 | $0.11 | $0.11 | $0.12 | $0.12 | $0.12 | $0.12 | $0.13 | $0.28 | $1.41 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.07 | $0.07 | $0.07 | $0.07 | $0.08 | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.09 | $0.19 | $0.94 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.08 | $0.08 | $0.07 | $0.07 | $0.07 | $0.07 | $0.07 | $0.06 | $0.07 | $0.07 | $0.15 | $0.85 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
Loading charts...
Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF was 9.34%, occurring on Oct 20, 2022. Recovery took 431 trading sessions.
The current iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF drawdown is 0.46%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bear market2022 | -9.34%Oct 2022 | 1y 2mo | 1y 8mo | 2y 11moAug 2021 - Jul 2024 |
COVID crash2020 | -6.06%Mar 2020 | 10d | 1mo 27d | 2mo 7dMar 2020 - May 2020 |
2013 pullback2013 | -2.26%Sep 2013 | 3mo 29d | 11mo 12d | 1y 3moMay 2013 - Aug 2014 |
2018 pullback2018 | -1.63%May 2018 | 8mo 9d | 7mo 3d | 1y 3moSep 2017 - Dec 2018 |
2016 pullback2016 | -1.45%Dec 2016 | 1mo 22d | 3mo 19d | 5mo 11dOct 2016 - Apr 2017 |
Drawdown Indicators
| ISTB | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.34% | -56.78% | +47.44% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.26% | -9.10% | +7.84% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.36% | -18.90% | +17.54% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.34% | -25.43% | +16.09% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.34% | -33.92% | +24.58% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.46% | -1.80% | +1.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.22% | -10.71% | +9.49% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.34% | 2.03% | -1.69% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Build a portfolio with ISTB
Add iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF to a portfolio and analyze allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Analyzer with ISTB