IBGK vs. BLV
IBGK (iShares iBonds Dec 2054 Term Treasury ETF) and BLV (Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF) are both Long-Term Bond funds - IBGK tracks the ICE 2054 Maturity US Treasury Index while BLV tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Long Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, IBGK returned -2.38% vs -0.73% for BLV. Their 0.97 correlation means they have historically moved very closely together. IBGK charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for BLV.
Performance
IBGK vs. BLV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBGK achieves a -3.58% return, which is significantly lower than BLV's -2.81% return.
IBGK
- 1D
- -0.75%
- 1M
- -3.84%
- 6M
- -3.50%
- YTD
- -3.58%
- 1Y
- -2.38%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- -1.65%
BLV
- 1D
- -0.47%
- 1M
- -3.57%
- 6M
- -2.98%
- YTD
- -2.81%
- 1Y
- -0.73%
- 3Y*
- 1.49%
- 5Y*
- -5.04%
- 10Y*
- 0.27%
- ALL TIME*
- 4.03%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $48.82M | $52.31M | $45.06M | |
| $10.21K | $15.17K | $32.94K |
IBGK vs. BLV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
IBGK iShares iBonds Dec 2054 Term Treasury ETF | -3.58% | 3.66% | -3.44% |
BLV Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF | -2.81% | 6.44% | -0.32% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBGK and BLV is 0.97 - they have historically moved very closely together. At this level, their price movements offset little of one another.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.97 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 12, 2024 | 0.97 |
The correlation between IBGK and BLV has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.97 to 0.97 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IBGK vs. BLV — Risk / Return Rank
IBGK
BLV
IBGK vs. BLV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBonds Dec 2054 Term Treasury ETF (IBGK) and Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV). 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.
| IBGK | BLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.18 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.24 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.99 | 1.02 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.15 | 0.07 | -0.22 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.33 | 0.16 | -0.49 |
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Drawdowns
IBGK vs. BLV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBGK drawdown since its inception was -14.62%, smaller than the maximum BLV drawdown of -38.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBGK and BLV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBGK | BLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -14.62% | -38.29% | +23.67% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.48% | -5.92% | -1.56% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | — | -11.70% | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -36.27% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -38.29% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.13% | -26.48% | +14.35% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.15% | -9.63% | +1.48% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.41% | 2.63% | +0.78% |
Volatility
IBGK vs. BLV - Volatility Comparison
iShares iBonds Dec 2054 Term Treasury ETF (IBGK) has a higher volatility of 2.38% compared to Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV) at 2.12%. This indicates that IBGK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BLV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IBGK | BLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.38% | 2.12% | +0.26% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.58% | 5.96% | +0.62% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 8.93% | 7.83% | +1.10% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.63% | 12.90% | -1.27% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.63% | 11.95% | -0.32% |
IBGK vs. BLV - Expense Ratio Comparison
IBGK has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is higher than BLV's 0.03% 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
IBGK vs. BLV - Dividend Comparison
IBGK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.83%, less than BLV's 4.97% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BLV Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF | 4.54% | 4.67% | 5.09% | 4.06% | 4.17% | 3.37% | 6.12% | 3.57% | 4.07% | 3.63% | 4.16% | 4.37% |
IBGK iShares iBonds Dec 2054 Term Treasury ETF | 4.41% | 4.59% | 3.15% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.97, IBGK and BLV 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.
IBGK has higher volatility (2.38%) compared to BLV (2.12%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBGK dropped -14.62% vs BLV's -38.29%.
On 1-year performance, BLV leads with -0.73% vs -2.38% for IBGK. On fees, BLV is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, BLV has been the lower-risk option at 2.12%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, BLV has performed better with a -0.73% return vs -2.38%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BLV is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.07% for IBGK.
BLV has the higher dividend yield at 4.54%, compared with 4.41% for IBGK.
IBGK tracks ICE 2054 Maturity US Treasury Index, while BLV tracks Bloomberg U.S. Long Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for IBGK and 0.03% for BLV.
BLV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.05 vs -0.12), 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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