IBGL vs. VGSH
IBGL (iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF) and VGSH (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF) are both Government Bonds funds - IBGL tracks the ICE 2055 Maturity US Treasury Index while VGSH tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, IBGL returned 4.56% vs 3.43% for VGSH. A 0.61 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IBGL charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VGSH.
Performance
IBGL vs. VGSH - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBGL achieves a -0.23% return, which is significantly lower than VGSH's 0.48% return.
IBGL
- 1D
- -0.35%
- 1M
- 0.74%
- YTD
- -0.23%
- 6M
- -1.85%
- 1Y
- 4.56%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VGSH
- 1D
- -0.03%
- 1M
- 0.08%
- YTD
- 0.48%
- 6M
- 0.74%
- 1Y
- 3.43%
- 3Y*
- 4.15%
- 5Y*
- 1.81%
- 10Y*
- 1.74%
IBGL vs. VGSH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
IBGL iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF | -0.23% | 0.99% |
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | 0.48% | 3.72% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBGL and VGSH is 0.64, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.64 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 27, 2025 | 0.61 |
The correlation between IBGL and VGSH has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.61 to 0.64 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IBGL vs. VGSH — Risk / Return Rank
IBGL
VGSH
IBGL vs. VGSH - 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 Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH). 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.
| IBGL | VGSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.19 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -3.65 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.09 | 1.57 | -0.48 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.63 | 3.90 | -3.26 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.58 | 15.52 | -13.94 |
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
| IBGL | VGSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.49 | 2.68 | -2.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.93 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 1.11 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.06 | 1.01 | -0.95 |
Drawdowns
IBGL vs. VGSH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBGL drawdown since its inception was -9.37%, which is greater than VGSH's maximum drawdown of -5.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBGL and VGSH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBGL | VGSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.37% | -5.70% | -3.67% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.23% | -0.88% | -6.35% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | — | -0.97% | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -5.66% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -5.70% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.38% | -0.29% | -4.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.03% | -0.60% | -3.43% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.89% | 0.22% | +2.67% |
Volatility
IBGL vs. VGSH - Volatility Comparison
iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF (IBGL) has a higher volatility of 2.67% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) at 0.35%. This indicates that IBGL's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VGSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IBGL | VGSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.67% | 0.35% | +2.32% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.12% | 0.88% | +5.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 9.28% | 1.29% | +7.99% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.53% | 1.97% | +8.56% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.53% | 1.57% | +8.96% |
IBGL vs. VGSH - Expense Ratio Comparison
IBGL has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is higher than VGSH'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. VGSH - Dividend Comparison
IBGL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.70%, more than VGSH's 3.87% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBGL iShares iBonds Dec 2055 Term Treasury ETF | 4.70% | 3.52% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | 3.87% | 4.00% | 4.18% | 3.31% | 1.15% | 0.66% | 1.74% | 2.28% | 1.79% | 1.10% | 0.84% | 0.69% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IBGL and VGSH have a correlation of 0.64, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IBGL has higher volatility (2.67%) compared to VGSH (0.35%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBGL dropped -9.37% vs VGSH's -5.70%.
On 1-year performance, IBGL leads with 4.56% vs 3.43% for VGSH. On fees, VGSH is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, VGSH has been the lower-risk option at 0.35%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, IBGL has performed better with a 4.56% return vs 3.43%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VGSH is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.07% for IBGL.
IBGL has the higher dividend yield at 4.70%, compared with 3.87% for VGSH.
IBGL tracks ICE 2055 Maturity US Treasury Index, while VGSH tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for IBGL and 0.03% for VGSH.
VGSH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.68 vs 0.49), 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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