IBDU vs. ISTB
IBDU (iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF) and ISTB (iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IBDU is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg December 2029 Maturity Corporate Index, while ISTB is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the BBG US Universal 1-5 Year Index (USD). Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, IBDU returned 1.41%/yr vs 1.90%/yr for ISTB. A 0.80 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IBDU charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.06%/yr for ISTB.
Performance
IBDU vs. ISTB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBDU achieves a 0.67% return, which is significantly higher than ISTB's 0.57% return.
IBDU
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.12%
- YTD
- 0.67%
- 6M
- 1.10%
- 1Y
- 4.86%
- 3Y*
- 5.78%
- 5Y*
- 1.41%
- 10Y*
- —
ISTB
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.11%
- YTD
- 0.57%
- 6M
- 0.98%
- 1Y
- 4.25%
- 3Y*
- 4.98%
- 5Y*
- 1.90%
- 10Y*
- 2.28%
IBDU vs. ISTB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBDU iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF | 0.67% | 7.59% | 3.62% | 8.67% | -13.04% | -2.05% | 10.38% | 2.22% |
ISTB iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF | 0.57% | 6.36% | 4.37% | 5.56% | -6.08% | -0.71% | 4.75% | 1.00% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBDU and ISTB is 0.91, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.88 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 20, 2019 | 0.80 |
The correlation between IBDU and ISTB shifts across timeframes, from 0.80 (all time) to 0.92 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IBDU vs. ISTB — Risk / Return Rank
IBDU
ISTB
IBDU vs. ISTB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF (IBDU) and iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB). 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.
| IBDU | ISTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.16 | 2.41 | -0.25 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 3.36 | 3.76 | -0.40 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.42 | 1.47 | -0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.04 | 3.31 | -0.27 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.47 | 12.67 | -1.20 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IBDU | ISTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.16 | 2.41 | -0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.25 | 0.68 | -0.44 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.91 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.33 | 0.84 | -0.51 |
Drawdowns
IBDU vs. ISTB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBDU drawdown since its inception was -19.44%, which is greater than ISTB's maximum drawdown of -9.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBDU and ISTB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBDU | ISTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.44% | -9.34% | -10.10% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.59% | -1.26% | -0.33% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.14% | -1.36% | -2.78% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.44% | -9.34% | -10.10% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -9.34% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.41% | -0.34% | -0.07% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.41% | -1.22% | -4.19% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.42% | 0.33% | +0.09% |
Volatility
IBDU vs. ISTB - Volatility Comparison
iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF (IBDU) has a higher volatility of 0.58% compared to iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB) at 0.55%. This indicates that IBDU's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ISTB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IBDU | ISTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.58% | 0.55% | +0.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.50% | 1.29% | +0.21% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.26% | 1.77% | +0.49% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.72% | 2.79% | +2.93% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.32% | 2.51% | +4.81% |
IBDU vs. ISTB - Expense Ratio Comparison
IBDU has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than ISTB's 0.06% 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%.
Dividends
IBDU vs. ISTB - Dividend Comparison
IBDU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.66%, more than ISTB's 4.25% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBDU iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF | 4.66% | 4.67% | 4.75% | 4.21% | 3.34% | 2.29% | 2.42% | 0.74% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
ISTB iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF | 4.25% | 4.12% | 3.83% | 2.97% | 2.01% | 1.69% | 2.20% | 2.75% | 2.57% | 2.06% | 1.90% | 1.58% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.91, IBDU and ISTB move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
IBDU has higher volatility (0.58%) compared to ISTB (0.55%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBDU dropped -19.44% vs ISTB's -9.34%.
On 5-year performance, ISTB leads with 1.90% vs 1.41% for IBDU. On fees, ISTB is cheaper at 0.06% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, ISTB has performed better with a 1.90% return vs 1.41%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ISTB is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.10% for IBDU.
IBDU has the higher dividend yield at 4.66%, compared with 4.25% for ISTB.
IBDU is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while ISTB is Short-Term Bond. IBDU tracks Bloomberg December 2029 Maturity Corporate Index, while ISTB tracks BBG US Universal 1-5 Year Index (USD). Their fees differ too: 0.10% for IBDU and 0.06% for ISTB.
ISTB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.41 vs 2.16), 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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