IEF vs. LQD
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) and iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD).
IEF and LQD are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IEF is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Index. It was launched on Jul 26, 2002. LQD is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the iBoxx $ Liquid Investment Grade Index. It was launched on Jul 26, 2002. Both IEF and LQD are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: IEF or LQD.
Key characteristics
| IEF | LQD | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -4.00% | -3.67% |
| 1Y Return | -5.14% | 0.52% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | -5.02% | -3.85% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | -1.02% | 0.72% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 0.77% | 2.10% |
| Sharpe Ratio | -0.48 | 0.19 |
| Daily Std Dev | 8.21% | 8.91% |
| Max Drawdown | -23.93% | -24.95% |
| Current Drawdown | -20.19% | -15.16% |
Correlation
The correlation between IEF and LQD is 0.75, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
IEF vs. LQD - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, IEF achieves a -4.00% return, which is significantly lower than LQD's -3.67% return. Over the past 10 years, IEF has underperformed LQD with an annualized return of 0.77%, while LQD has yielded a comparatively higher 2.10% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
IEF vs. LQD - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both IEF and LQD have an expense ratio of 0.15%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
IEF vs. LQD - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) and iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD). 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.
Dividends
IEF vs. LQD - Dividend Comparison
IEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.27%, less than LQD's 4.38% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.27% | 2.91% | 1.96% | 0.83% | 1.08% | 2.08% | 2.24% | 1.82% | 1.81% | 1.90% | 2.05% | 1.77% |
LQD iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 4.38% | 3.99% | 3.30% | 2.30% | 2.66% | 3.29% | 3.67% | 3.10% | 3.34% | 3.47% | 3.39% | 3.83% |
Drawdowns
IEF vs. LQD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IEF drawdown since its inception was -23.93%, roughly equal to the maximum LQD drawdown of -24.95%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEF and LQD. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
IEF vs. LQD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) is 2.20%, while iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) has a volatility of 2.36%. This indicates that IEF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than LQD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.