CNYA vs. TLT
CNYA (iShares MSCI China A ETF) and TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - CNYA is a China Equities fund tracking the MSCI China A Inclusion Index, while TLT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, CNYA returned -1.06%/yr vs -6.31%/yr for TLT. At a correlation of -0.06, they often move in opposite directions. CNYA charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for TLT.
Performance
CNYA vs. TLT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CNYA achieves a 9.30% return, which is significantly higher than TLT's -0.27% return.
CNYA
- 1D
- 0.04%
- 1M
- 2.34%
- YTD
- 9.30%
- 6M
- 13.79%
- 1Y
- 37.95%
- 3Y*
- 11.00%
- 5Y*
- -1.06%
- 10Y*
- —
TLT
- 1D
- -0.40%
- 1M
- 0.81%
- YTD
- -0.27%
- 6M
- -2.02%
- 1Y
- 4.93%
- 3Y*
- -1.80%
- 5Y*
- -6.31%
- 10Y*
- -1.66%
CNYA vs. TLT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CNYA iShares MSCI China A ETF | 9.30% | 26.48% | 10.78% | -13.76% | -26.51% | 3.53% | 41.54% | 35.95% | -26.56% | 30.99% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | -0.27% | 4.25% | -8.05% | 2.77% | -31.23% | -4.60% | 18.15% | 14.12% | -1.61% | 9.18% |
Correlation
The correlation between CNYA and TLT is 0.15, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 16, 2016 | -0.06 |
The correlation between CNYA and TLT shifts across timeframes, from -0.06 (all time) to 0.15 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
CNYA vs. TLT — Risk / Return Rank
CNYA
TLT
CNYA vs. TLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI China A ETF (CNYA) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT). 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.
| CNYA | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.70 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.22 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.40 | 1.09 | +0.31 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 5.02 | 0.65 | +4.37 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.84 | 1.63 | +13.21 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| CNYA | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.20 | 0.51 | +1.70 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.04 | -0.40 | +0.36 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | -0.11 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.28 | 0.26 | +0.02 |
Drawdowns
CNYA vs. TLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CNYA drawdown since its inception was -49.49%, roughly equal to the maximum TLT drawdown of -48.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CNYA and TLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CNYA | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -49.49% | -48.35% | -1.14% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.59% | -7.58% | -0.01% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -33.35% | -19.18% | -14.17% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -44.70% | -43.70% | -1.00% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -48.35% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -13.42% | -40.44% | +27.02% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -20.69% | -13.82% | -6.87% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.56% | 3.04% | -0.48% |
Volatility
CNYA vs. TLT - Volatility Comparison
iShares MSCI China A ETF (CNYA) has a higher volatility of 6.42% compared to iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) at 2.76%. This indicates that CNYA's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than TLT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CNYA | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.42% | 2.76% | +3.66% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.30% | 6.50% | +5.80% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.32% | 9.77% | +7.55% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.81% | 15.87% | +7.94% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.56% | 14.91% | +8.65% |
CNYA vs. TLT - Expense Ratio Comparison
CNYA has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than TLT's 0.15% expense ratio.
Dividends
CNYA vs. TLT - Dividend Comparison
CNYA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.75%, less than TLT's 4.59% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CNYA iShares MSCI China A ETF | 1.75% | 1.92% | 2.51% | 4.23% | 2.69% | 1.11% | 1.06% | 1.21% | 3.92% | 0.97% | 1.38% | 0.00% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 4.59% | 4.43% | 4.30% | 3.38% | 2.67% | 1.50% | 1.50% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 2.43% | 2.60% | 2.61% |
Frequently Asked Questions
CNYA and TLT have a correlation of 0.15, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CNYA has higher volatility (6.42%) compared to TLT (2.76%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CNYA dropped -49.49% vs TLT's -48.35%.
On 5-year performance, CNYA leads with -1.06% vs -6.31% for TLT. On fees, TLT is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, TLT has been the lower-risk option at 2.76%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, CNYA has performed better with a -1.06% return vs -6.31%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
TLT is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for CNYA.
TLT has the higher dividend yield at 4.59%, compared with 1.75% for CNYA.
CNYA is categorized as China Equities, while TLT is Government Bonds. CNYA tracks MSCI China A Inclusion Index, while TLT tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for CNYA and 0.15% for TLT.
CNYA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.20 vs 0.51), 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.
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