GFA.L vs. IHYE.L
GFA.L (VanEck Global Fallen Angel High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc)) and IHYE.L (iShares $ High Yield Corp Bond UCITS ETF EUR Hedged (Dist)) are both exchange-traded funds - GFA.L is a Global High Yield Bonds fund tracking the ICE Global Fallen Angel High Yield 10% Constrained Index, while IHYE.L is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the iBoxx USD Liquid High Yield Capped (USD). Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, GFA.L returned 2.98%/yr vs 1.03%/yr for IHYE.L. A 0.65 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. GFA.L charges 0.40%/yr vs 0.55%/yr for IHYE.L.
Performance
GFA.L vs. IHYE.L - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Different Trading Currencies
GFA.L is traded in USD, while IHYE.L is traded in EUR. To make them comparable, the IHYE.L values have been converted to USD using the latest available exchange rates.
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GFA.L achieves a 3.55% return, which is significantly higher than IHYE.L's -1.67% return.
GFA.L
- 1D
- -0.14%
- 1M
- -0.18%
- 6M
- 3.30%
- YTD
- 3.55%
- 1Y
- 6.91%
- 3Y*
- 8.15%
- 5Y*
- 2.98%
- 10Y*
- —
IHYE.L
- 1D
- -0.04%
- 1M
- -0.30%
- 6M
- -0.92%
- YTD
- -1.67%
- 1Y
- 2.44%
- 3Y*
- 6.43%
- 5Y*
- 1.03%
- 10Y*
- —
GFA.L vs. IHYE.L - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GFA.L VanEck Global Fallen Angel High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc) | 3.55% | 9.97% | 6.02% | 10.29% | -12.56% | 1.93% | 16.95% | 13.34% | -3.62% |
IHYE.L iShares $ High Yield Corp Bond UCITS ETF EUR Hedged (Dist) | -1.67% | 21.11% | -1.39% | 11.47% | -16.91% | -4.15% | 12.17% | 6.98% | -9.87% |
Correlation
The correlation between GFA.L and IHYE.L is 0.50, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.50 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.59 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.70 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 19, 2018 | 0.65 |
The correlation between GFA.L and IHYE.L shifts across timeframes, from 0.50 (1 year) to 0.70 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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
GFA.L vs. IHYE.L — Risk / Return Rank
GFA.L
IHYE.L
GFA.L vs. IHYE.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VanEck Global Fallen Angel High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (GFA.L) and iShares $ High Yield Corp Bond UCITS ETF EUR Hedged (Dist) (IHYE.L). 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.
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.
| GFA.L | IHYE.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.75 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.99 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.06 | +0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.76 | 0.36 | +1.41 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.76 | 0.83 | +3.93 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
GFA.L vs. IHYE.L - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GFA.L drawdown since its inception was -22.98%, smaller than the maximum IHYE.L drawdown of -32.48%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GFA.L and IHYE.L.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| GFA.L | IHYE.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.98% | -32.48% | +9.50% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.90% | -6.84% | +2.94% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.03% | -9.59% | +4.56% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.54% | -31.79% | +9.25% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.80% | -4.55% | +3.75% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.38% | -9.53% | +5.15% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.45% | 2.93% | -1.48% |
Volatility
GFA.L vs. IHYE.L - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for VanEck Global Fallen Angel High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (GFA.L) is 1.33%, while iShares $ High Yield Corp Bond UCITS ETF EUR Hedged (Dist) (IHYE.L) has a volatility of 1.75%. This indicates that GFA.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IHYE.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| GFA.L | IHYE.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.33% | 1.75% | -0.42% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.65% | 5.83% | -0.18% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.49% | 7.84% | -1.35% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 8.25% | 11.69% | -3.44% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.42% | 12.03% | -3.61% |
GFA.L vs. IHYE.L - Expense Ratio Comparison
GFA.L has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is lower than IHYE.L's 0.55% expense ratio.
Dividends
GFA.L vs. IHYE.L - Dividend Comparison
GFA.L has not paid dividends to shareholders, while IHYE.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.19%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GFA.L VanEck Global Fallen Angel High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IHYE.L iShares $ High Yield Corp Bond UCITS ETF EUR Hedged (Dist) | 6.19% | 6.07% | 6.32% | 5.59% | 5.13% | 4.35% | 4.82% | 5.59% | 3.88% |
Frequently Asked Questions
GFA.L and IHYE.L have a correlation of 0.50, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, GFA.L is cheaper at 0.40% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
GFA.L is cheaper with a 0.40% expense ratio, compared with 0.55% for IHYE.L.
GFA.L is categorized as Global High Yield Bonds, while IHYE.L is Corporate Bonds. GFA.L tracks ICE Global Fallen Angel High Yield 10% Constrained Index, while IHYE.L tracks iBoxx USD Liquid High Yield Capped (USD). They also come from different issuers: VanEck and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.40% for GFA.L and 0.55% for IHYE.L.
Find the right allocation for GFA.L and IHYE.L
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