HYG vs. ^GSPC
HYG (iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF) is High Yield Bonds fund tracking the Markit iBoxx USD Liquid High Yield Index, while ^GSPC (S&P 500 Index) is an index. Over the past 10 years, HYG returned 5.03%/yr vs 13.81%/yr for ^GSPC. A 0.65 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
HYG vs. ^GSPC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, HYG achieves a 1.78% return, which is significantly lower than ^GSPC's 10.35% return. Over the past 10 years, HYG has underperformed ^GSPC with an annualized return of 5.03%, while ^GSPC has yielded a comparatively higher 13.81% annualized return.
HYG
- 1D
- 0.13%
- 1M
- 1.25%
- YTD
- 1.78%
- 6M
- 2.29%
- 1Y
- 6.95%
- 3Y*
- 8.47%
- 5Y*
- 3.83%
- 10Y*
- 5.03%
^GSPC
- 1D
- 1.65%
- 1M
- 1.97%
- YTD
- 10.35%
- 6M
- 10.82%
- 1Y
- 26.39%
- 3Y*
- 19.66%
- 5Y*
- 12.33%
- 10Y*
- 13.81%
HYG vs. ^GSPC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HYG iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | 1.78% | 8.59% | 7.97% | 11.54% | -10.98% | 3.76% | 4.47% | 14.09% | -2.02% | 6.07% |
^GSPC S&P 500 Index | 10.35% | 16.39% | 23.31% | 24.23% | -19.44% | 26.89% | 16.26% | 28.88% | -6.24% | 19.42% |
Correlation
The correlation between HYG and ^GSPC is 0.76, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 11, 2007 | 0.65 |
The correlation between HYG and ^GSPC shifts across timeframes, from 0.65 (all time) to 0.76 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
HYG vs. ^GSPC — Risk / Return Rank
HYG
^GSPC
HYG vs. ^GSPC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) and S&P 500 Index (^GSPC). 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.
| HYG | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.33 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.16 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.39 | -0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.98 | 2.91 | +0.07 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.11 | 13.08 | +0.02 |
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Drawdowns
HYG vs. ^GSPC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum HYG drawdown since its inception was -34.25%, smaller than the maximum ^GSPC drawdown of -56.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HYG and ^GSPC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| HYG | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.25% | -56.78% | +22.53% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.34% | -9.10% | +6.76% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.56% | -18.90% | +14.34% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.79% | -25.43% | +9.64% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -22.03% | -33.92% | +11.89% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -0.73% | +0.73% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.24% | -10.72% | +7.48% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.53% | 2.02% | -1.49% |
Volatility
HYG vs. ^GSPC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) is 1.31%, while S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) has a volatility of 4.67%. This indicates that HYG experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ^GSPC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| HYG | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.31% | 4.67% | -3.36% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.08% | 9.83% | -6.75% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.87% | 12.44% | -8.57% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.53% | 16.99% | -9.46% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.29% | 18.11% | -9.82% |
Frequently Asked Questions
HYG and ^GSPC have a correlation of 0.76, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
^GSPC has higher volatility (4.67%) compared to HYG (1.31%). In terms of maximum drawdown, HYG dropped -34.25% vs ^GSPC's -56.78%.
^GSPC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.14 vs 1.81), 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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