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HYG vs. ITB
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

HYG vs. ITB

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

HYG (iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF) and ITB (iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - HYG is a High Yield Bonds fund tracking the Markit iBoxx USD Liquid High Yield Index, while ITB is a Building & Construction fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, HYG returned 5.04%/yr vs 14.45%/yr for ITB. At a 0.50 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. HYG charges 0.49%/yr vs 0.42%/yr for ITB.

Performance

HYG vs. ITB - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) and iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, HYG achieves a 1.65% return, which is significantly higher than ITB's 0.87% return. Over the past 10 years, HYG has underperformed ITB with an annualized return of 5.04%, while ITB has yielded a comparatively higher 14.45% annualized return.

HYG

1D
0.00%
1M
0.55%
YTD
1.65%
6M
2.21%
1Y
6.49%
3Y*
8.52%
5Y*
3.75%
10Y*
5.04%

ITB

1D
-0.81%
1M
8.97%
YTD
0.87%
6M
-5.10%
1Y
5.46%
3Y*
7.35%
5Y*
8.18%
10Y*
14.45%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

HYG vs. ITB - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
HYG
iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF		1.65%8.59%7.97%11.54%-10.98%3.76%4.47%14.09%-2.02%6.07%
ITB
iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF		0.87%-5.26%2.06%68.91%-26.26%49.25%26.42%48.70%-30.92%59.65%

Correlation

The correlation between HYG and ITB is 0.54, 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

0.54

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.59

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.63

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.55

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 11, 2007

0.50

The correlation between HYG and ITB shifts across timeframes, from 0.50 (all time) to 0.63 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

HYG vs. ITB - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
HYG
ITB

Utilities

99.6%

-

Real Estate

0.4%
0.5%

Basic Materials

-

8.6%

Communication Services

-

-

Consumer Cyclical

-

71.8%

Consumer Defensive

-

-

Energy

-

-

Financial Services

-

-

Healthcare

-

-

Industrials

-

19.1%

Technology

-

-

Utilities

HYG
99.6%
ITB

-

Real Estate

HYG
0.4%
ITB
0.5%

Basic Materials

HYG

-

ITB
8.6%

Communication Services

HYG

-

ITB

-

Consumer Cyclical

HYG

-

ITB
71.8%

Consumer Defensive

HYG

-

ITB

-

Energy

HYG

-

ITB

-

Financial Services

HYG

-

ITB

-

Healthcare

HYG

-

ITB

-

Industrials

HYG

-

ITB
19.1%

Technology

HYG

-

ITB

-

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF

iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF

Often compared with HYG:
HYG vs. LQDHYG vs. JNKHYG vs. SPHYHYG vs. AGGHYG vs. USHYHYG vs. HYGHHYG vs. SHYG
Often compared with ITB:
ITB vs. XHBITB vs. NAILITB vs. SPYITB vs. PKBITB vs. XLREITB vs. FSHOXITB vs. VGT

Return for Risk

HYG vs. ITB — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
HYG
HYG Risk / Return Rank: 6464
Overall Rank
HYG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5757
Sharpe Ratio Rank
HYG Sortino Ratio Rank: 6363
Sortino Ratio Rank
HYG Omega Ratio Rank: 6060
Omega Ratio Rank
HYG Calmar Ratio Rank: 6464
Calmar Ratio Rank
HYG Martin Ratio Rank: 7575
Martin Ratio Rank
ITB
ITB Risk / Return Rank: 1212
Overall Rank
ITB Sharpe Ratio Rank: 1212
Sharpe Ratio Rank
ITB Sortino Ratio Rank: 1414
Sortino Ratio Rank
ITB Omega Ratio Rank: 1313
Omega Ratio Rank
ITB Calmar Ratio Rank: 1212
Calmar Ratio Rank
ITB Martin Ratio Rank: 1111
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

HYG vs. ITB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) and iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB). 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.

HYGITBDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.68
0.18

+1.50

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.54
0.53

+2.00

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.32

1.06

+0.26

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.79

0.21

+2.58

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

12.25

0.41

+11.84

HYG vs. ITB - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current HYG Sharpe Ratio is 1.68, which is higher than the ITB Sharpe Ratio of 0.18. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of HYG and ITB, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

HYG vs. ITB - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum HYG drawdown since its inception was -34.25%, smaller than the maximum ITB drawdown of -86.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HYG and ITB.

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Drawdown Indicators

HYGITBDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-34.25%

-86.53%

+52.28%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-2.34%

-26.04%

+23.70%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-4.56%

-33.35%

+28.79%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-15.79%

-40.55%

+24.76%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-22.03%

-52.10%

+30.07%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

0.00%

-23.53%

+23.53%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.24%

-37.08%

+33.84%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

0.53%

13.45%

-12.92%

Volatility

HYG vs. ITB - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) is 1.31%, while iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB) has a volatility of 9.26%. This indicates that HYG experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ITB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

HYGITBDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

1.31%

9.26%

-7.95%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

3.08%

20.89%

-17.81%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

3.87%

29.90%

-26.03%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

7.53%

29.29%

-21.76%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

8.29%

30.05%

-21.76%

HYG vs. ITB - Expense Ratio Comparison

HYG has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is higher than ITB's 0.42% expense ratio.

Dividends

HYG vs. ITB - Dividend Comparison

HYG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.90%, more than ITB's 1.17% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
HYG
iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF		5.90%5.71%6.01%5.74%5.30%4.02%4.88%4.99%5.54%5.12%5.27%5.90%
ITB
iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF		1.17%1.67%0.46%0.48%0.86%0.37%0.46%0.50%0.63%0.28%0.43%0.34%

Frequently Asked Questions

HYG and ITB have a correlation of 0.54, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

ITB has higher volatility (9.26%) compared to HYG (1.31%). In terms of maximum drawdown, HYG dropped -34.25% vs ITB's -86.53%.

On 10-year performance, ITB leads with 14.45% vs 5.04% for HYG. On fees, ITB is cheaper at 0.42% per year. On volatility, HYG has been the lower-risk option at 1.31%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, ITB has performed better with a 14.45% return vs 5.04%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

ITB is cheaper with a 0.42% expense ratio, compared with 0.49% for HYG.

HYG has the higher dividend yield at 5.90%, compared with 1.17% for ITB.

HYG is categorized as High Yield Bonds, while ITB is Building & Construction. HYG tracks Markit iBoxx USD Liquid High Yield Index, while ITB tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index. Their fees differ too: 0.49% for HYG and 0.42% for ITB.

HYG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.68 vs 0.18), 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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