IEI vs. ETHA

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

IEI (iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF) and ETHA (iShares Ethereum Trust ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IEI is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 3-7 Year Bond Index, while ETHA is a Cryptocurrency fund tracking the CME CF Ether Dollar Reference Rate - New York Variant. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, IEI returned 3.16% vs -34.33% for ETHA. At a 0.05 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IEI charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for ETHA.

Performance

IEI vs. ETHA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI) and iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IEI achieves a -0.30% return, which is significantly higher than ETHA's -43.96% return.

IEI

• 1D: -0.12%
• 1M: 0.10%
• YTD: -0.30%
• 6M: -0.00%
• 1Y: 3.16%
• 3Y*: 3.77%
• 5Y*: 0.21%
• 10Y*: 1.24%

ETHA

• 1D: -1.02%
• 1M: -27.59%
• YTD: -43.96%
• 6M: -45.98%
• 1Y: -34.33%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IEI vs. ETHA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
IEI iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF	-0.30%	6.96%	0.96%
ETHA iShares Ethereum Trust ETF	-43.96%	-11.31%	-4.89%

Correlation

The correlation between IEI and ETHA is 0.10, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.10
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 23, 2024	0.05

Return for Risk

IEI vs. ETHA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

IEI

IEI Risk / Return Rank: 29
IEI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 31
IEI Sortino Ratio Rank: 32
IEI Omega Ratio Rank: 29
IEI Calmar Ratio Rank: 28
IEI Martin Ratio Rank: 27

ETHA

ETHA Risk / Return Rank: 5
ETHA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5
ETHA Sortino Ratio Rank: 5
ETHA Omega Ratio Rank: 6
ETHA Calmar Ratio Rank: 5
ETHA Martin Ratio Rank: 5

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

IEI vs. ETHA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI) and iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA). 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	ETHA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.00	-0.56	+1.55
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.52	-0.51	+2.03
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.17	0.94	+0.23
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.19	-0.57	+1.76
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	3.35	-0.98	+4.33

IEI vs. ETHA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IEI Sharpe Ratio is 1.00, which is higher than the ETHA Sharpe Ratio of -0.56. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IEI and ETHA, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

IEI vs. ETHA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IEI drawdown since its inception was -14.60%, smaller than the maximum ETHA drawdown of -67.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEI and ETHA.

Drawdown Indicators

	IEI	ETHA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-14.60%	-67.56%	+52.96%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.50%	-67.56%	+65.06%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-3.66%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-13.88%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-14.60%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.74%	-65.65%	+63.91%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.67%	-33.25%	+30.58%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.89%	39.22%	-38.33%

Volatility

IEI vs. ETHA - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI) is 0.98%, while iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) has a volatility of 17.30%. This indicates that IEI experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ETHA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	IEI	ETHA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.98%	17.30%	-16.32%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.18%	46.58%	-44.40%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.00%	69.29%	-66.29%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	4.78%	72.65%	-67.87%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	3.93%	72.65%	-68.72%

IEI vs. ETHA - Expense Ratio Comparison

IEI has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than ETHA's 0.25% 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

IEI vs. ETHA - Dividend Comparison

IEI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.64%, while ETHA has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ETHA iShares Ethereum Trust ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
IEI iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF	3.64%	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

Can I hold both IEI and ETHA in my portfolio?

IEI and ETHA have a correlation of 0.10, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, IEI or ETHA?

ETHA has higher volatility (17.30%) compared to IEI (0.98%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IEI dropped -14.60% vs ETHA's -67.56%.

Which ETF is better, IEI or ETHA?

On 1-year performance, IEI leads with 3.16% vs -34.33% for ETHA. On fees, IEI is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, IEI has been the lower-risk option at 0.98%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, IEI or ETHA?

Over the 1-year period, IEI has performed better with a 3.16% return vs -34.33%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, IEI or ETHA?

IEI is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for ETHA.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, IEI or ETHA?

IEI has the higher dividend yield at 3.64%, compared with 0.00% for ETHA.

What is the main difference between IEI and ETHA?

IEI is categorized as Government Bonds, while ETHA is Cryptocurrency. IEI tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 3-7 Year Bond Index, while ETHA tracks CME CF Ether Dollar Reference Rate - New York Variant. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for IEI and 0.25% for ETHA.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

IEI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.00 vs -0.56), 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.