IBHF vs. VCSH
IBHF (iShares iBonds 2026 Term High Yield and Income ETF) and VCSH (Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF) are both Corporate Bonds funds. IBHF is actively managed, while VCSH is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, IBHF returned 4.05%/yr vs 2.32%/yr for VCSH. At a 0.47 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IBHF charges 0.35%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VCSH.
Performance
IBHF vs. VCSH - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBHF achieves a 0.41% return, which is significantly lower than VCSH's 0.64% return.
IBHF
- 1D
- -0.04%
- 1M
- -0.05%
- YTD
- 0.41%
- 6M
- 0.86%
- 1Y
- 4.76%
- 3Y*
- 7.23%
- 5Y*
- 4.05%
- 10Y*
- —
VCSH
- 1D
- -0.08%
- 1M
- 0.20%
- YTD
- 0.64%
- 6M
- 0.95%
- 1Y
- 4.59%
- 3Y*
- 5.52%
- 5Y*
- 2.32%
- 10Y*
- 2.70%
IBHF vs. VCSH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBHF iShares iBonds 2026 Term High Yield and Income ETF | 0.41% | 6.60% | 8.55% | 10.40% | -6.66% | 4.43% | 2.97% |
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 0.64% | 6.77% | 4.91% | 6.20% | -5.62% | -0.63% | 0.81% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBHF and VCSH is 0.38, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.49 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 13, 2020 | 0.47 |
The correlation between IBHF and VCSH shifts across timeframes, from 0.38 (1 year) to 0.49 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IBHF vs. VCSH — Risk / Return Rank
IBHF
VCSH
IBHF vs. VCSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBonds 2026 Term High Yield and Income ETF (IBHF) and Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH). 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.
| IBHF | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.09 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.29 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.51 | 1.48 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 7.48 | 3.29 | +4.19 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 23.36 | 13.55 | +9.81 |
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
| IBHF | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.36 | 2.45 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.70 | 0.81 | -0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.81 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.83 | 1.02 | -0.19 |
Drawdowns
IBHF vs. VCSH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBHF drawdown since its inception was -11.19%, smaller than the maximum VCSH drawdown of -12.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBHF and VCSH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBHF | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -11.19% | -12.86% | +1.67% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.64% | -1.40% | +0.76% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -2.53% | -1.40% | -1.13% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -11.19% | -9.48% | -1.71% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -12.86% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.58% | -0.32% | -0.26% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.80% | -0.97% | -0.83% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.20% | 0.34% | -0.14% |
Volatility
IBHF vs. VCSH - Volatility Comparison
iShares iBonds 2026 Term High Yield and Income ETF (IBHF) has a higher volatility of 0.76% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) at 0.57%. This indicates that IBHF's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VCSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IBHF | VCSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.76% | 0.57% | +0.19% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.22% | 1.38% | -0.16% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.03% | 1.88% | +0.15% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.80% | 2.88% | +2.92% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.66% | 3.35% | +2.31% |
IBHF vs. VCSH - Expense Ratio Comparison
IBHF has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is higher than VCSH's 0.04% expense ratio.
Dividends
IBHF vs. VCSH - Dividend Comparison
IBHF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.54%, more than VCSH's 4.45% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBHF iShares iBonds 2026 Term High Yield and Income ETF | 6.54% | 6.73% | 7.17% | 7.33% | 6.01% | 4.55% | 0.61% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 4.45% | 4.35% | 3.96% | 3.09% | 2.01% | 1.81% | 2.27% | 2.87% | 2.65% | 2.26% | 2.10% | 2.08% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IBHF and VCSH have a correlation of 0.38, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IBHF has higher volatility (0.76%) compared to VCSH (0.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBHF dropped -11.19% vs VCSH's -12.86%.
On 5-year performance, IBHF leads with 4.05% vs 2.32% for VCSH. On fees, VCSH is cheaper at 0.04% per year. On volatility, VCSH has been the lower-risk option at 0.57%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, IBHF has performed better with a 4.05% return vs 2.32%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VCSH is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.35% for IBHF.
IBHF has the higher dividend yield at 6.54%, compared with 4.45% for VCSH.
They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.35% for IBHF and 0.04% for VCSH.
VCSH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.45 vs 2.36), 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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