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 4.74% vs 6.59% for BLV. With a 0.98 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. 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 -0.36% return, which is significantly lower than BLV's 0.28% return.
IBGK
- 1D
- -0.34%
- 1M
- 0.75%
- YTD
- -0.36%
- 6M
- -1.89%
- 1Y
- 4.74%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
BLV
- 1D
- -0.31%
- 1M
- 1.09%
- YTD
- 0.28%
- 6M
- -0.86%
- 1Y
- 6.59%
- 3Y*
- 2.02%
- 5Y*
- -3.33%
- 10Y*
- 0.99%
IBGK vs. BLV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
IBGK iShares iBonds Dec 2054 Term Treasury ETF | -0.36% | 3.66% | -2.73% |
BLV Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF | 0.28% | 6.44% | -1.06% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBGK and BLV is 0.98 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 13, 2024 | 0.98 |
The correlation between IBGK and BLV has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.98 to 0.98 - 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.
| IBGK | BLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.30 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.41 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.09 | 1.14 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.65 | 1.15 | -0.50 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.63 | 2.92 | -1.29 |
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
| IBGK | BLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.51 | 0.81 | -0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | -0.26 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.08 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.02 | 0.37 | -0.35 |
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 | -7.29% | -5.73% | -1.56% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | — | -15.16% | — |
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 | -9.19% | -24.14% | +14.95% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.06% | -9.51% | +1.45% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.92% | 2.26% | +0.66% |
Volatility
IBGK vs. BLV - Volatility Comparison
iShares iBonds Dec 2054 Term Treasury ETF (IBGK) has a higher volatility of 2.70% compared to Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV) at 2.50%. 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 | 2.70% | 2.50% | +0.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.20% | 5.62% | +0.58% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 9.36% | 8.15% | +1.21% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.81% | 12.97% | -1.16% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.81% | 11.98% | -0.17% |
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 4.72%, less than BLV's 4.80% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BLV Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF | 4.80% | 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 | 4.72% | 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 0.98, 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 (2.70%) compared to BLV (2.50%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBGK dropped -14.62% vs BLV's -38.29%.
On 1-year performance, BLV leads with 6.59% vs 4.74% for IBGK. On fees, BLV is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, BLV has been the lower-risk option at 2.50%. 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 6.59% return vs 4.74%. 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 4.80%, compared with 4.72% 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 (0.81 vs 0.51), 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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