IBGL vs. BLV
IBGL (iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF) and BLV (Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IBGL is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE 2055 Maturity US Treasury Index, while BLV is a Long-Term Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Long Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, IBGL returned 3.85% vs 5.47% for BLV. With a 0.97 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. IBGL charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for BLV.
Performance
IBGL vs. BLV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBGL achieves a 0.74% return, which is significantly lower than BLV's 0.81% return.
IBGL
- 1D
- -0.66%
- 1M
- 2.14%
- YTD
- 0.74%
- 6M
- 0.55%
- 1Y
- 3.85%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
BLV
- 1D
- -0.55%
- 1M
- 1.61%
- YTD
- 0.81%
- 6M
- 0.84%
- 1Y
- 5.47%
- 3Y*
- 1.85%
- 5Y*
- -3.65%
- 10Y*
- 0.91%
IBGL vs. BLV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
IBGL iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF | 0.74% | 0.99% |
BLV Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF | 0.81% | 3.43% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBGL and BLV is 0.97 - 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 | 0.97 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 26, 2025 | 0.97 |
The correlation between IBGL 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
IBGL vs. BLV — Risk / Return Rank
IBGL
BLV
IBGL vs. BLV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF (IBGL) 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.
| IBGL | BLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.26 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.36 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.08 | 1.12 | -0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.53 | 0.96 | -0.42 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.28 | 2.34 | -1.06 |
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Drawdowns
IBGL vs. BLV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBGL drawdown since its inception was -9.37%, smaller than the maximum BLV drawdown of -38.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBGL and BLV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBGL | BLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.37% | -38.29% | +28.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.23% | -5.73% | -1.50% |
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 | -3.45% | -23.74% | +20.29% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.02% | -9.55% | +5.53% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.01% | 2.34% | +0.67% |
Volatility
IBGL vs. BLV - Volatility Comparison
iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF (IBGL) has a higher volatility of 2.09% compared to Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV) at 1.97%. This indicates that IBGL'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
| IBGL | BLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.09% | 1.97% | +0.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.26% | 5.76% | +0.50% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 9.01% | 7.98% | +1.03% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.45% | 12.93% | -2.48% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.45% | 11.99% | -1.54% |
IBGL vs. BLV - Expense Ratio Comparison
IBGL 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
IBGL vs. BLV - Dividend Comparison
IBGL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.66%, less than BLV's 4.78% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BLV Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF | 4.78% | 4.67% | 5.09% | 4.06% | 4.17% | 3.37% | 6.12% | 3.57% | 4.07% | 3.63% | 4.16% | 4.37% |
IBGL iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF | 4.66% | 3.52% | 0.00% | 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, IBGL 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.
IBGL has higher volatility (2.09%) compared to BLV (1.97%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBGL dropped -9.37% vs BLV's -38.29%.
On 1-year performance, BLV leads with 5.47% vs 3.85% for IBGL. On fees, BLV is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, BLV has been the lower-risk option at 1.97%. 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 5.47% return vs 3.85%. 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 IBGL.
BLV has the higher dividend yield at 4.78%, compared with 4.66% for IBGL.
IBGL is categorized as Government Bonds, while BLV is Long-Term Bond. IBGL tracks ICE 2055 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 IBGL and 0.03% for BLV.
BLV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.69 vs 0.43), 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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