ICSH vs. GSST
ICSH (iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF) and GSST (Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF) are both Ultrashort Bond funds. ICSH is passively managed, while GSST is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, ICSH returned 3.67%/yr vs 3.75%/yr for GSST. At a 0.36 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. ICSH charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.16%/yr for GSST.
Performance
ICSH vs. GSST - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ICSH achieves a 1.45% return, which is significantly lower than GSST's 1.55% return.
ICSH
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.34%
- YTD
- 1.45%
- 6M
- 1.79%
- 1Y
- 4.36%
- 3Y*
- 5.20%
- 5Y*
- 3.67%
- 10Y*
- 2.76%
GSST
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.32%
- YTD
- 1.55%
- 6M
- 1.88%
- 1Y
- 4.61%
- 3Y*
- 5.52%
- 5Y*
- 3.75%
- 10Y*
- —
ICSH vs. GSST - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICSH iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF | 1.45% | 4.96% | 5.52% | 5.58% | 0.97% | 0.16% | 1.61% | 2.09% |
GSST Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF | 1.55% | 5.20% | 6.01% | 6.08% | 0.13% | 0.05% | 1.74% | 2.65% |
Correlation
The correlation between ICSH and GSST is 0.31, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.42 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 18, 2019 | 0.36 |
The correlation between ICSH and GSST shifts across timeframes, from 0.31 (1 year) to 0.42 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
ICSH vs. GSST — Risk / Return Rank
ICSH
GSST
ICSH vs. GSST - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH) and Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF (GSST). 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.
| ICSH | GSST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +3.25 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +11.88 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 6.79 | 3.94 | +2.85 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 44.30 | 29.99 | +14.31 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 297.17 | 185.54 | +111.63 |
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
| ICSH | GSST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.22 | 7.98 | +3.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 7.64 | 5.99 | +1.65 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 2.62 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.93 | 3.78 | -1.85 |
Drawdowns
ICSH vs. GSST - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ICSH drawdown since its inception was -3.94%, which is greater than GSST's maximum drawdown of -3.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ICSH and GSST.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ICSH | GSST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -3.94% | -3.51% | -0.43% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.10% | -0.15% | +0.05% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.10% | -0.25% | +0.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -0.73% | -1.19% | +0.46% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -3.94% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.08% | -0.16% | +0.08% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.01% | 0.02% | -0.01% |
Volatility
ICSH vs. GSST - Volatility Comparison
iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH) has a higher volatility of 0.15% compared to Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF (GSST) at 0.13%. This indicates that ICSH's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than GSST based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ICSH | GSST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.15% | 0.13% | +0.02% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.30% | 0.41% | -0.11% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.39% | 0.58% | -0.19% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.48% | 0.63% | -0.15% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.06% | 0.86% | +0.20% |
ICSH vs. GSST - Expense Ratio Comparison
ICSH has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than GSST's 0.16% 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
ICSH vs. GSST - Dividend Comparison
ICSH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.34%, which matches GSST's 4.32% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GSST Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF | 4.32% | 4.56% | 5.45% | 4.98% | 1.97% | 0.71% | 1.12% | 1.66% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
ICSH iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF | 4.34% | 4.55% | 5.24% | 4.78% | 1.66% | 0.42% | 1.21% | 2.61% | 2.20% | 1.36% | 0.88% | 0.54% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ICSH and GSST have a correlation of 0.31, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ICSH has higher volatility (0.15%) compared to GSST (0.13%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ICSH dropped -3.94% vs GSST's -3.51%.
On 5-year performance, GSST leads with 3.75% vs 3.67% for ICSH. On fees, ICSH is cheaper at 0.08% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, GSST has performed better with a 3.75% return vs 3.67%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ICSH is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.16% for GSST.
ICSH has the higher dividend yield at 4.34%, compared with 4.32% for GSST.
They also come from different issuers: iShares and Goldman Sachs. Their fees differ too: 0.08% for ICSH and 0.16% for GSST.
ICSH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (11.22 vs 7.98), 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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