IEI vs. DLS
IEI (iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF) and DLS (WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend) are both exchange-traded funds - IEI is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 3-7 Year Bond Index, while DLS is a Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities fund tracking the WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IEI returned 1.16%/yr vs 7.86%/yr for DLS. Their -0.16 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. IEI charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.58%/yr for DLS.
Performance
IEI vs. DLS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IEI achieves a -0.62% return, which is significantly lower than DLS's 8.42% return. Over the past 10 years, IEI has underperformed DLS with an annualized return of 1.16%, while DLS has yielded a comparatively higher 7.86% annualized return.
IEI
- 1D
- -0.14%
- 1M
- -0.54%
- 6M
- -0.62%
- YTD
- -0.62%
- 1Y
- 1.16%
- 3Y*
- 3.83%
- 5Y*
- 0.05%
- 10Y*
- 1.16%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.82%
DLS
- 1D
- -0.16%
- 1M
- 1.24%
- 6M
- 3.30%
- YTD
- 8.42%
- 1Y
- 18.36%
- 3Y*
- 16.62%
- 5Y*
- 7.13%
- 10Y*
- 7.86%
- ALL TIME*
- 6.44%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.54M | $1.48M | $1.54M | |
| $154.98M | $144.96M | $146.28M |
IEI vs. DLS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEI iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF | -0.62% | 6.96% | 1.81% | 4.42% | -9.51% | -2.54% | 6.95% | 5.71% | 1.36% | 1.22% |
DLS WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend | 8.42% | 34.11% | 3.06% | 15.33% | -17.31% | 11.71% | -1.28% | 22.20% | -18.95% | 31.83% |
Correlation
The correlation between IEI and DLS is 0.37, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.37 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.30 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.22 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 11, 2007 | -0.16 |
The correlation between IEI and DLS shifts across timeframes, from -0.16 (all time) to 0.37 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IEI vs. DLS — Risk / Return Rank
IEI
DLS
IEI vs. DLS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI) and WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend (DLS). 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.
| IEI | DLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.66 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.94 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.12 | 1.25 | -0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.83 | 1.69 | -0.86 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.90 | 5.71 | -3.81 |
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Drawdowns
IEI vs. DLS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IEI drawdown since its inception was -14.60%, smaller than the maximum DLS drawdown of -63.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEI and DLS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IEI | DLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -14.60% | -63.13% | +48.53% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.50% | -11.04% | +8.54% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -3.66% | -12.69% | +9.03% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -13.88% | -32.22% | +18.34% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -14.60% | -44.77% | +30.17% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.05% | -1.58% | -0.47% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.67% | -13.56% | +10.89% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.09% | 3.26% | -2.17% |
Volatility
IEI vs. DLS - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI) is 0.77%, while WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend (DLS) has a volatility of 4.23%. This indicates that IEI experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DLS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IEI | DLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.77% | 4.23% | -3.46% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.36% | 11.84% | -9.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.02% | 13.89% | -10.87% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.78% | 15.63% | -10.85% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.93% | 16.38% | -12.45% |
IEI vs. DLS - Expense Ratio Comparison
IEI has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than DLS's 0.58% expense ratio.
Dividends
IEI vs. DLS - Dividend Comparison
IEI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.68%, more than DLS's 3.51% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DLS WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend | 3.51% | 3.87% | 4.56% | 4.29% | 4.96% | 3.29% | 2.50% | 3.37% | 3.66% | 2.79% | 3.29% | 2.72% |
IEI iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.38% | 3.48% | 3.18% | 2.36% | 1.37% | 0.73% | 1.12% | 2.01% | 1.95% | 1.51% | 1.33% | 1.39% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IEI and DLS have a correlation of 0.37, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DLS has higher volatility (4.23%) compared to IEI (0.77%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IEI dropped -14.60% vs DLS's -63.13%.
On 10-year performance, DLS leads with 7.86% vs 1.16% for IEI. On fees, IEI is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, IEI has been the lower-risk option at 0.77%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, DLS has performed better with a 7.86% return vs 1.16%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IEI is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.58% for DLS.
DLS has the higher dividend yield at 3.51%, compared with 3.38% for IEI.
IEI is categorized as Government Bonds, while DLS is Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities. IEI tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 3-7 Year Bond Index, while DLS tracks WisdomTree International SmallCap Dividend Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and WisdomTree. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for IEI and 0.58% for DLS.
DLS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.34 vs 0.69), 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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