GBF vs. VOO
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF (GBF) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).
GBF and VOO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GBF is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index. It was launched on Jan 11, 2007. VOO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Sep 7, 2010. Both GBF and VOO are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: GBF or VOO.
Key characteristics
| GBF | VOO | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -2.79% | 6.76% |
| 1Y Return | -0.64% | 24.48% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | -3.59% | 8.34% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 0.01% | 13.51% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 1.24% | 12.61% |
| Sharpe Ratio | -0.07 | 2.08 |
| Daily Std Dev | 6.47% | 11.83% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.67% | -33.99% |
| Current Drawdown | -14.10% | -3.43% |
Correlation
The correlation between GBF and VOO is -0.15. This indicates that the assets' prices tend to move in opposite directions. Negative correlation can be particularly beneficial for diversification and risk management, as one asset may offset the losses of the other during market fluctuations.
Performance
GBF vs. VOO - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, GBF achieves a -2.79% return, which is significantly lower than VOO's 6.76% return. Over the past 10 years, GBF has underperformed VOO with an annualized return of 1.24%, while VOO has yielded a comparatively higher 12.61% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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GBF vs. VOO - Expense Ratio Comparison
GBF has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than VOO's 0.03% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
GBF vs. VOO - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF (GBF) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). 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.
Dividends
GBF vs. VOO - Dividend Comparison
GBF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.55%, more than VOO's 1.38% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GBF iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF | 3.55% | 3.03% | 2.13% | 1.22% | 1.64% | 2.64% | 2.59% | 2.31% | 2.09% | 2.04% | 2.08% | 2.37% |
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.38% | 1.46% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.88% | 2.06% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% | 1.85% | 1.84% |
Drawdowns
GBF vs. VOO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GBF drawdown since its inception was -19.67%, smaller than the maximum VOO drawdown of -33.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GBF and VOO. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
GBF vs. VOO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF (GBF) is 1.64%, while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a volatility of 3.56%. This indicates that GBF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VOO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.