GBF vs. GVI
GBF (iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF) and GVI (iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - GBF is a Intermediate Core Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index, while GVI is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Bond. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, GBF returned 1.45%/yr vs 1.77%/yr for GVI. A 0.75 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.20% expense ratio.
Performance
GBF vs. GVI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GBF achieves a -0.06% return, which is significantly higher than GVI's -0.23% return. Over the past 10 years, GBF has underperformed GVI with an annualized return of 1.45%, while GVI has yielded a comparatively higher 1.77% annualized return.
GBF
- 1D
- -0.41%
- 1M
- -0.34%
- YTD
- -0.06%
- 6M
- -0.10%
- 1Y
- 4.32%
- 3Y*
- 3.47%
- 5Y*
- -0.27%
- 10Y*
- 1.45%
GVI
- 1D
- -0.32%
- 1M
- -0.42%
- YTD
- -0.23%
- 6M
- 0.08%
- 1Y
- 3.84%
- 3Y*
- 4.10%
- 5Y*
- 0.94%
- 10Y*
- 1.77%
GBF vs. GVI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GBF iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF | -0.06% | 6.41% | 0.99% | 5.79% | -13.85% | -2.30% | 8.76% | 9.47% | -0.52% | 4.10% |
GVI iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF | -0.23% | 6.66% | 2.92% | 5.15% | -8.28% | -1.90% | 6.38% | 6.54% | 0.77% | 1.83% |
Correlation
The correlation between GBF and GVI is 0.94, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.86 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 12, 2007 | 0.75 |
The correlation between GBF and GVI shifts across timeframes, from 0.75 (all time) to 0.94 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
GBF vs. GVI — Risk / Return Rank
GBF
GVI
GBF vs. GVI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF (GBF) and iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF (GVI). 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.
| GBF | GVI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.40 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.62 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.25 | -0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.39 | 1.95 | -0.56 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.07 | 5.84 | -1.77 |
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
| GBF | GVI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.02 | 1.42 | -0.40 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.05 | 0.24 | -0.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.28 | 0.50 | -0.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.58 | 0.76 | -0.18 |
Drawdowns
GBF vs. GVI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GBF drawdown since its inception was -19.67%, which is greater than GVI's maximum drawdown of -12.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GBF and GVI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| GBF | GVI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.67% | -12.93% | -6.74% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.73% | -1.79% | -0.94% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.78% | -2.65% | -3.13% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.45% | -12.93% | -5.52% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -19.67% | -12.93% | -6.74% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.10% | -1.39% | -3.71% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.67% | -1.86% | -1.81% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.93% | 0.60% | +0.33% |
Volatility
GBF vs. GVI - Volatility Comparison
iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF (GBF) has a higher volatility of 1.20% compared to iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF (GVI) at 0.78%. This indicates that GBF's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than GVI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| GBF | GVI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.20% | 0.78% | +0.42% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.66% | 1.80% | +0.86% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.73% | 2.49% | +1.24% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.93% | 3.97% | +1.96% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.28% | 3.53% | +1.75% |
GBF vs. GVI - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both GBF and GVI have an expense ratio of 0.20%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
GBF vs. GVI - Dividend Comparison
GBF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.80%, more than GVI's 3.63% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GBF iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF | 3.80% | 3.81% | 3.94% | 3.03% | 2.13% | 1.22% | 1.64% | 2.64% | 2.59% | 2.31% | 2.09% | 2.04% |
GVI iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF | 3.63% | 3.48% | 3.40% | 2.75% | 1.86% | 1.46% | 1.84% | 2.29% | 2.16% | 1.91% | 1.77% | 1.75% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.94, GBF and GVI move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
GBF has higher volatility (1.20%) compared to GVI (0.78%). In terms of maximum drawdown, GBF dropped -19.67% vs GVI's -12.93%.
On 10-year performance, GVI leads with 1.77% vs 1.45% for GBF. Both ETFs have the same 0.20% expense ratio. On volatility, GVI has been the lower-risk option at 0.78%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, GVI has performed better with a 1.77% return vs 1.45%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
GBF and GVI have the same expense ratio: 0.20% per year.
GBF has the higher dividend yield at 3.80%, compared with 3.63% for GVI.
GBF is categorized as Intermediate Core Bond, while GVI is Short-Term Bond. GBF tracks Bloomberg U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index, while GVI tracks Bloomberg U.S. Intermediate Government/Credit Bond.
GVI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.42 vs 1.02), 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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