BSV vs. DBC
BSV (Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares) and DBC (Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - BSV is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 1–5 Year Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index, while DBC is a Commodities fund tracking the DBIQ Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Index Excess Return. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, BSV returned 1.91%/yr vs 8.54%/yr for DBC. At a correlation of -0.09, they often move in opposite directions. BSV charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.85%/yr for DBC.
Performance
BSV vs. DBC - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BSV achieves a 0.10% return, which is significantly lower than DBC's 31.80% return. Over the past 10 years, BSV has underperformed DBC with an annualized return of 1.91%, while DBC has yielded a comparatively higher 8.54% annualized return.
BSV
- 1D
- -0.01%
- 1M
- -0.38%
- YTD
- 0.10%
- 6M
- 0.53%
- 1Y
- 3.66%
- 3Y*
- 4.42%
- 5Y*
- 1.57%
- 10Y*
- 1.91%
DBC
- 1D
- 0.82%
- 1M
- -2.74%
- YTD
- 31.80%
- 6M
- 32.21%
- 1Y
- 40.70%
- 3Y*
- 14.11%
- 5Y*
- 12.01%
- 10Y*
- 8.54%
BSV vs. DBC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BSV Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares | 0.10% | 6.00% | 3.78% | 4.90% | -5.49% | -1.09% | 4.70% | 4.98% | 1.34% | 1.20% |
DBC Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund | 31.80% | 8.10% | 2.18% | -6.19% | 19.34% | 41.36% | -7.84% | 11.84% | -11.63% | 4.86% |
Correlation
The correlation between BSV and DBC is -0.30, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.30 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.15 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.07 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.09 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 10, 2007 | -0.09 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between BSV and DBC has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.09 to -0.30, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
BSV vs. DBC — Risk / Return Rank
BSV
DBC
BSV vs. DBC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (BSV) and Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| BSV | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.11 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.49 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.38 | +0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.85 | 5.27 | -2.42 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.83 | 12.03 | -2.20 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| BSV | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.06 | 2.17 | -0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.63 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.81 | 0.48 | +0.33 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.85 | 0.11 | +0.74 |
Drawdowns
BSV vs. DBC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BSV drawdown since its inception was -8.54%, smaller than the maximum DBC drawdown of -76.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BSV and DBC.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| BSV | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -8.54% | -76.36% | +67.82% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.29% | -7.76% | +6.47% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.53% | -13.82% | +12.29% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -8.54% | -27.34% | +18.80% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -8.54% | -41.71% | +33.17% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.82% | -23.76% | +22.94% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.97% | -46.21% | +45.24% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.37% | 3.39% | -3.02% |
Volatility
BSV vs. DBC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (BSV) is 0.54%, while Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC) has a volatility of 6.20%. This indicates that BSV experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DBC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| BSV | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.54% | 6.20% | -5.66% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.28% | 16.02% | -14.74% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.79% | 18.91% | -17.12% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.73% | 19.20% | -16.47% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.38% | 17.82% | -15.44% |
BSV vs. DBC - Expense Ratio Comparison
BSV has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than DBC's 0.85% expense ratio.
Dividends
BSV vs. DBC - Dividend Comparison
BSV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.00%, more than DBC's 2.53% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BSV Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares | 4.00% | 3.83% | 3.38% | 2.46% | 1.50% | 1.45% | 1.79% | 2.29% | 1.99% | 1.65% | 1.48% | 1.40% |
DBC Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund | 2.53% | 3.33% | 5.22% | 4.94% | 0.59% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.59% | 1.30% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BSV and DBC have a correlation of -0.30, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DBC has higher volatility (6.20%) compared to BSV (0.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BSV dropped -8.54% vs DBC's -76.36%.
On 10-year performance, DBC leads with 8.54% vs 1.91% for BSV. On fees, BSV is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, BSV has been the lower-risk option at 0.54%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, DBC has performed better with a 8.54% return vs 1.91%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BSV is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for DBC.
BSV has the higher dividend yield at 4.00%, compared with 2.53% for DBC.
BSV is categorized as Short-Term Bond, while DBC is Commodities. BSV tracks Bloomberg U.S. 1–5 Year Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index, while DBC tracks DBIQ Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Index Excess Return. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for BSV and 0.85% for DBC.
DBC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.17 vs 2.06), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for BSV and DBC
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer