IBIF vs. TLT
IBIF (iShares iBonds Oct 2029 Term TIPS ETF) and TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IBIF is a Inflation-Protected Bonds fund tracking the ICE 2029 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index, while TLT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, IBIF returned 2.58% vs -2.45% for TLT. Their 0.62 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. IBIF charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for TLT.
Performance
IBIF vs. TLT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBIF achieves a 1.50% return, which is significantly higher than TLT's -3.49% return.
IBIF
- 1D
- -0.11%
- 1M
- 0.14%
- 6M
- 0.80%
- YTD
- 1.50%
- 1Y
- 2.58%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 5.55%
TLT
- 1D
- -0.66%
- 1M
- -3.81%
- 6M
- -3.46%
- YTD
- -3.49%
- 1Y
- -2.45%
- 3Y*
- -1.80%
- 5Y*
- -8.18%
- 10Y*
- -2.38%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.47%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $539.78K | $483.63K | $471.28K | |
| $2.33B | $2.02B | $2.19B |
IBIF vs. TLT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IBIF iShares iBonds Oct 2029 Term TIPS ETF | 1.50% | 7.27% | 3.11% | 3.95% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | -3.49% | 4.25% | -8.05% | 7.61% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBIF and TLT is 0.39, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.39 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 21, 2023 | 0.62 |
Over the past year, the correlation between IBIF and TLT has dropped to 0.39 - well below their long-term average of 0.62, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
IBIF vs. TLT — Risk / Return Rank
IBIF
TLT
IBIF vs. TLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBonds Oct 2029 Term TIPS ETF (IBIF) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT). 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.
| IBIF | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.66 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.56 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 0.99 | +0.31 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.29 | -0.14 | +3.43 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.69 | -0.30 | +8.99 |
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Drawdowns
IBIF vs. TLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBIF drawdown since its inception was -2.50%, smaller than the maximum TLT drawdown of -48.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBIF and TLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBIF | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -2.50% | -48.35% | +45.85% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.95% | -7.74% | +6.79% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | — | -14.79% | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -43.70% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -48.35% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.51% | -42.36% | +41.85% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.55% | -13.99% | +13.44% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.36% | 3.57% | -3.21% |
Volatility
IBIF vs. TLT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares iBonds Oct 2029 Term TIPS ETF (IBIF) is 0.47%, while iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) has a volatility of 2.46%. This indicates that IBIF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than TLT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IBIF | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.47% | 2.46% | -1.99% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.47% | 6.85% | -5.38% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.02% | 9.32% | -7.30% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.48% | 15.74% | -12.26% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.48% | 14.83% | -11.35% |
IBIF vs. TLT - Expense Ratio Comparison
IBIF has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than TLT's 0.15% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
IBIF vs. TLT - Dividend Comparison
IBIF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.94%, more than TLT's 4.75% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBIF iShares iBonds Oct 2029 Term TIPS ETF | 4.94% | 4.51% | 4.05% | 0.96% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 4.34% | 4.43% | 4.30% | 3.38% | 2.67% | 1.50% | 1.50% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 2.43% | 2.60% | 2.61% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IBIF and TLT have a correlation of 0.39, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
TLT has higher volatility (2.46%) compared to IBIF (0.47%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBIF dropped -2.50% vs TLT's -48.35%.
On 1-year performance, IBIF leads with 2.58% vs -2.45% for TLT. On fees, IBIF is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, IBIF has been the lower-risk option at 0.47%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, IBIF has performed better with a 2.58% return vs -2.45%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IBIF is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for TLT.
IBIF has the higher dividend yield at 4.94%, compared with 4.34% for TLT.
IBIF is categorized as Inflation-Protected Bonds, while TLT is Government Bonds. IBIF tracks ICE 2029 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index, while TLT tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Their fees differ too: 0.10% for IBIF and 0.15% for TLT.
IBIF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.55 vs -0.11), 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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