IAK vs. GOVT
IAK (iShares U.S. Insurance ETF) and GOVT (iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IAK is a Financials Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Insurance Index, while GOVT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury Core Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IAK returned 12.09%/yr vs 0.86%/yr for GOVT. At a correlation of -0.26, they often move in opposite directions. IAK charges 0.43%/yr vs 0.05%/yr for GOVT.
Performance
IAK vs. GOVT - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IAK achieves a -0.36% return, which is significantly lower than GOVT's -0.33% return. Over the past 10 years, IAK has outperformed GOVT with an annualized return of 12.09%, while GOVT has yielded a comparatively lower 0.86% annualized return.
IAK
- 1D
- 3.19%
- 1M
- 2.61%
- YTD
- -0.36%
- 6M
- 3.38%
- 1Y
- 0.77%
- 3Y*
- 18.24%
- 5Y*
- 12.47%
- 10Y*
- 12.09%
GOVT
- 1D
- -0.35%
- 1M
- -0.59%
- YTD
- -0.33%
- 6M
- -0.22%
- 1Y
- 3.74%
- 3Y*
- 2.73%
- 5Y*
- -0.50%
- 10Y*
- 0.86%
IAK vs. GOVT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAK iShares U.S. Insurance ETF | -0.36% | 9.50% | 28.25% | 11.28% | 11.33% | 26.84% | -2.86% | 25.94% | -11.48% | 14.18% |
GOVT iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF | -0.33% | 3.77% | 2.95% | 4.17% | -13.39% | -1.11% | 7.28% | 7.36% | 0.26% | 2.19% |
Correlation
The correlation between IAK and GOVT is 0.13, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.13 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.06 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.21 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 27, 2012 | -0.26 |
The correlation between IAK and GOVT shifts across timeframes, from -0.26 (all time) to 0.13 (1 year), 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
IAK vs. GOVT — Risk / Return Rank
IAK
GOVT
IAK vs. GOVT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Insurance ETF (IAK) and iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT). 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.
| IAK | GOVT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.78 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.07 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.03 | 1.15 | -0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.22 | 1.12 | -0.90 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.46 | 3.25 | -2.80 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IAK | GOVT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.11 | 0.89 | -0.78 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.69 | -0.08 | +0.77 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.58 | 0.16 | +0.42 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.27 | 0.26 | +0.01 |
Drawdowns
IAK vs. GOVT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAK drawdown since its inception was -77.38%, which is greater than GOVT's maximum drawdown of -19.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAK and GOVT.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IAK | GOVT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -77.38% | -19.07% | -58.31% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.62% | -2.85% | -4.77% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -11.58% | -5.43% | -6.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -14.76% | -16.60% | +1.84% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.95% | -19.07% | -25.88% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.68% | -7.38% | +5.70% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.13% | -5.25% | -10.88% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.67% | 0.98% | +2.69% |
Volatility
IAK vs. GOVT - Volatility Comparison
iShares U.S. Insurance ETF (IAK) has a higher volatility of 5.13% compared to iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT) at 1.06%. This indicates that IAK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than GOVT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IAK | GOVT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.13% | 1.06% | +4.07% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.53% | 2.54% | +7.99% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.09% | 3.60% | +11.49% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.13% | 6.04% | +12.09% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.91% | 5.22% | +15.69% |
IAK vs. GOVT - Expense Ratio Comparison
IAK has a 0.43% expense ratio, which is higher than GOVT's 0.05% expense ratio.
Dividends
IAK vs. GOVT - Dividend Comparison
IAK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.64%, less than GOVT's 3.59% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GOVT iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF | 3.59% | 3.49% | 3.14% | 2.65% | 1.77% | 0.96% | 2.17% | 1.98% | 1.97% | 1.57% | 1.40% | 1.25% |
IAK iShares U.S. Insurance ETF | 2.64% | 1.69% | 1.49% | 1.44% | 1.69% | 2.26% | 2.07% | 1.84% | 2.33% | 1.62% | 1.68% | 1.62% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IAK and GOVT have a correlation of 0.13, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IAK has higher volatility (5.13%) compared to GOVT (1.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAK dropped -77.38% vs GOVT's -19.07%.
On 10-year performance, IAK leads with 12.09% vs 0.86% for GOVT. On fees, GOVT is cheaper at 0.05% per year. On volatility, GOVT has been the lower-risk option at 1.06%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IAK has performed better with a 12.09% return vs 0.86%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
GOVT is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.43% for IAK.
GOVT has the higher dividend yield at 3.59%, compared with 2.64% for IAK.
IAK is categorized as Financials Equities, while GOVT is Government Bonds. IAK tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Insurance Index, while GOVT tracks ICE U.S. Treasury Core Bond Index. Their fees differ too: 0.43% for IAK and 0.05% for GOVT.
GOVT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.89 vs 0.11), 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.
Find the right allocation for IAK and GOVT
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