IEF vs. VTG
IEF (iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF) and VTG (Vanguard Total Treasury ETF) are both Government Bonds funds - IEF tracks the ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index while VTG tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Total Return Unhedged USD Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, IEF returned 0.82% vs 1.22% for VTG. Their 0.98 correlation means they have historically moved very closely together. IEF charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VTG.
Performance
IEF vs. VTG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IEF achieves a -1.24% return, which is significantly lower than VTG's -0.62% return.
IEF
- 1D
- 0.20%
- 1M
- -1.04%
- 6M
- -0.82%
- YTD
- -1.24%
- 1Y
- 0.82%
- 3Y*
- 2.91%
- 5Y*
- -1.85%
- 10Y*
- 0.46%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.35%
VTG
- 1D
- 0.16%
- 1M
- -0.95%
- 6M
- -0.49%
- YTD
- -0.62%
- 1Y
- 1.22%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 2.28%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $439.71M | $475.54M | $612.94M | |
| $3.06M | $3.29M | $2.98M |
IEF vs. VTG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | -1.24% | 3.90% |
VTG Vanguard Total Treasury ETF | -0.62% | 3.07% |
Correlation
The correlation between IEF and VTG is 0.98 - they have historically moved very closely together. At this level, their price movements offset little of one another.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.98 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 9, 2025 | 0.98 |
The correlation between IEF and VTG has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.98 to 0.98 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IEF vs. VTG — Risk / Return Rank
IEF
VTG
IEF vs. VTG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) and Vanguard Total Treasury ETF (VTG). 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.
| IEF | VTG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.18 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.25 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.03 | 1.06 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.20 | 0.42 | -0.22 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.47 | 1.00 | -0.53 |
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Drawdowns
IEF vs. VTG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IEF drawdown since its inception was -23.93%, which is greater than VTG's maximum drawdown of -2.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEF and VTG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IEF | VTG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -23.93% | -2.89% | -21.04% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.07% | -2.89% | -1.18% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.89% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.09% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -23.93% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.87% | -2.40% | -9.47% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.38% | -0.90% | -4.48% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.77% | 1.23% | +0.54% |
Volatility
IEF vs. VTG - Volatility Comparison
iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) has a higher volatility of 1.20% compared to Vanguard Total Treasury ETF (VTG) at 0.89%. This indicates that IEF's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VTG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IEF | VTG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.20% | 0.89% | +0.31% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.65% | 2.69% | +0.96% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.54% | 3.38% | +1.16% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.70% | 3.51% | +4.19% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.61% | 3.51% | +3.10% |
IEF vs. VTG - Expense Ratio Comparison
IEF has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than VTG's 0.03% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
IEF vs. VTG - Dividend Comparison
IEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.97%, more than VTG's 3.63% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.97% | 3.77% | 3.62% | 2.91% | 1.96% | 0.83% | 1.08% | 2.08% | 2.24% | 1.82% | 1.81% | 1.90% |
VTG Vanguard Total Treasury ETF | 3.63% | 1.65% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.98, IEF and VTG move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
IEF has higher volatility (1.20%) compared to VTG (0.89%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IEF dropped -23.93% vs VTG's -2.89%.
On 1-year performance, VTG leads with 1.22% vs 0.82% for IEF. On fees, VTG is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, VTG has been the lower-risk option at 0.89%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, VTG has performed better with a 1.22% return vs 0.82%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VTG is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for IEF.
IEF has the higher dividend yield at 3.97%, compared with 3.63% for VTG.
IEF tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index, while VTG tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Total Return Unhedged USD Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for IEF and 0.03% for VTG.
VTG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.36 vs 0.18), 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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