IBTG vs. VGUS
IBTG (iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Treasury ETF) and VGUS (Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IBTG is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE 2026 Maturity US Treasury Index, while VGUS is a Ultrashort Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg Short Treasury Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, IBTG returned 3.85% vs 3.78% for VGUS. Their 0.29 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. Both charge a 0.07% expense ratio.
Performance
IBTG vs. VGUS - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with IBTG having a 2.08% return and VGUS slightly lower at 2.04%.
IBTG
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- 0.34%
- 6M
- 1.80%
- YTD
- 2.08%
- 1Y
- 3.85%
- 3Y*
- 4.40%
- 5Y*
- 0.76%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 1.10%
VGUS
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- 0.29%
- 6M
- 1.73%
- YTD
- 2.04%
- 1Y
- 3.78%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 3.97%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $8.66M | $9.15M | $9.76M | |
| $6.38M | $7.76M | $10.61M |
IBTG vs. VGUS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
IBTG iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Treasury ETF | 2.08% | 4.14% |
VGUS Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF | 2.04% | 3.78% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBTG and VGUS is 0.32, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.32 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 11, 2025 | 0.29 |
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
IBTG vs. VGUS — Risk / Return Rank
IBTG
VGUS
IBTG vs. VGUS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Treasury ETF (IBTG) and Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF (VGUS). 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.
| IBTG | VGUS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -4.62 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -16.45 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 4.38 | 11.37 | -6.99 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 59.17 | 52.18 | +6.99 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 264.06 | 414.28 | -150.22 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
IBTG vs. VGUS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBTG drawdown since its inception was -13.62%, which is greater than VGUS's maximum drawdown of -0.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBTG and VGUS.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IBTG | VGUS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -13.62% | -0.07% | -13.55% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.07% | -0.07% | 0.00% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.11% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -12.07% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.77% | 0.00% | -4.77% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
Volatility
IBTG vs. VGUS - Volatility Comparison
iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Treasury ETF (IBTG) has a higher volatility of 0.11% compared to Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF (VGUS) at 0.05%. This indicates that IBTG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VGUS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IBTG | VGUS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.11% | 0.05% | +0.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.29% | 0.18% | +0.11% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.46% | 0.29% | +0.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.23% | 0.33% | +2.90% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.41% | 0.33% | +3.08% |
IBTG vs. VGUS - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both IBTG and VGUS have an expense ratio of 0.07%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
IBTG vs. VGUS - Dividend Comparison
IBTG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.90%, more than VGUS's 3.60% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBTG iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Treasury ETF | 3.90% | 4.03% | 4.08% | 3.61% | 2.06% | 0.66% | 0.53% |
VGUS Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF | 3.60% | 3.12% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IBTG and VGUS have a correlation of 0.32, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IBTG has higher volatility (0.11%) compared to VGUS (0.05%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBTG dropped -13.62% vs VGUS's -0.07%.
On 1-year performance, IBTG leads with 3.85% vs 3.78% for VGUS. Both ETFs have the same 0.07% expense ratio. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, IBTG has performed better with a 3.85% return vs 3.78%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IBTG and VGUS have the same expense ratio: 0.07% per year.
IBTG has the higher dividend yield at 3.90%, compared with 3.60% for VGUS.
IBTG is categorized as Government Bonds, while VGUS is Ultrashort Bond. IBTG tracks ICE 2026 Maturity US Treasury Index, while VGUS tracks Bloomberg Short Treasury Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard.
VGUS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (13.08 vs 8.46), 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.
Find the right allocation for IBTG and VGUS
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer