IBTJ vs. MGOV
IBTJ (iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Treasury ETF) and MGOV (First Trust Intermediate Government Opportunities ETF) are both Government Bonds funds. IBTJ is passively managed, while MGOV is actively managed. Over the past year, IBTJ returned 3.49% vs 6.73% for MGOV. Their correlation of 0.86 suggests significant overlap in exposure. IBTJ charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.65%/yr for MGOV.
Performance
IBTJ vs. MGOV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBTJ achieves a -0.10% return, which is significantly lower than MGOV's 0.19% return.
IBTJ
- 1D
- -0.14%
- 1M
- -0.10%
- YTD
- -0.10%
- 6M
- 0.01%
- 1Y
- 3.49%
- 3Y*
- 3.51%
- 5Y*
- 0.06%
- 10Y*
- —
MGOV
- 1D
- -0.20%
- 1M
- -0.19%
- YTD
- 0.19%
- 6M
- -0.01%
- 1Y
- 6.73%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IBTJ vs. MGOV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IBTJ iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Treasury ETF | -0.10% | 6.89% | 1.82% | 3.83% |
MGOV First Trust Intermediate Government Opportunities ETF | 0.19% | 8.54% | 1.55% | 4.56% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBTJ and MGOV is 0.77, 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 | 0.77 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 4, 2023 | 0.86 |
The correlation between IBTJ and MGOV has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.77 to 0.86 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IBTJ vs. MGOV — Risk / Return Rank
IBTJ
MGOV
IBTJ vs. MGOV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Treasury ETF (IBTJ) and First Trust Intermediate Government Opportunities ETF (MGOV). 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.
| IBTJ | MGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.01 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.08 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.26 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.17 | 1.92 | +0.25 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.23 | 5.87 | +0.37 |
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
| IBTJ | MGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.44 | 1.46 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.01 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | -0.02 | 0.88 | -0.90 |
Drawdowns
IBTJ vs. MGOV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBTJ drawdown since its inception was -20.19%, which is greater than MGOV's maximum drawdown of -6.11%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBTJ and MGOV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IBTJ | MGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -20.19% | -6.11% | -14.08% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.62% | -3.53% | +1.91% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.47% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.21% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.30% | -2.38% | -3.92% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.73% | -1.62% | -8.11% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.56% | 1.15% | -0.59% |
Volatility
IBTJ vs. MGOV - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Treasury ETF (IBTJ) is 0.64%, while First Trust Intermediate Government Opportunities ETF (MGOV) has a volatility of 1.70%. This indicates that IBTJ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MGOV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IBTJ | MGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.64% | 1.70% | -1.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.56% | 3.22% | -1.66% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.43% | 4.64% | -2.21% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.74% | 5.95% | -0.21% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.99% | 5.95% | +0.04% |
IBTJ vs. MGOV - Expense Ratio Comparison
IBTJ has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than MGOV's 0.65% expense ratio.
Dividends
IBTJ vs. MGOV - Dividend Comparison
IBTJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.81%, less than MGOV's 4.98% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBTJ iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Treasury ETF | 3.81% | 3.78% | 3.95% | 3.48% | 1.86% | 0.74% | 0.61% |
MGOV First Trust Intermediate Government Opportunities ETF | 4.98% | 4.95% | 5.05% | 1.47% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IBTJ and MGOV have a correlation of 0.77, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MGOV has higher volatility (1.70%) compared to IBTJ (0.64%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBTJ dropped -20.19% vs MGOV's -6.11%.
On 1-year performance, MGOV leads with 6.73% vs 3.49% for IBTJ. On fees, IBTJ is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, IBTJ has been the lower-risk option at 0.64%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, MGOV has performed better with a 6.73% return vs 3.49%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IBTJ is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for MGOV.
MGOV has the higher dividend yield at 4.98%, compared with 3.81% for IBTJ.
They also come from different issuers: iShares and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for IBTJ and 0.65% for MGOV.
MGOV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.46 vs 1.44), 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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