IEI vs. IQDY
IEI (iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF) and IQDY (FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - IEI is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 3-7 Year Bond Index, while IQDY is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the Northern Trust International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IEI returned 1.28%/yr vs 11.61%/yr for IQDY. At a correlation of -0.06, they often move in opposite directions. IEI charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.47%/yr for IQDY.
Performance
IEI vs. IQDY - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IEI achieves a -0.42% return, which is significantly lower than IQDY's 17.95% return. Over the past 10 years, IEI has underperformed IQDY with an annualized return of 1.28%, while IQDY has yielded a comparatively higher 11.61% annualized return.
IEI
- 1D
- -0.13%
- 1M
- -0.17%
- YTD
- -0.42%
- 6M
- -0.49%
- 1Y
- 3.28%
- 3Y*
- 3.52%
- 5Y*
- 0.23%
- 10Y*
- 1.28%
IQDY
- 1D
- -0.89%
- 1M
- 6.55%
- YTD
- 17.95%
- 6M
- 20.74%
- 1Y
- 41.61%
- 3Y*
- 24.42%
- 5Y*
- 11.45%
- 10Y*
- 11.61%
IEI vs. IQDY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEI iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF | -0.42% | 6.96% | 1.81% | 4.42% | -9.51% | -2.54% | 6.95% | 5.71% | 1.36% | 1.22% |
IQDY FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund | 17.95% | 37.44% | 5.97% | 23.45% | -15.78% | 12.00% | 9.54% | 27.27% | -20.04% | 24.06% |
Correlation
The correlation between IEI and IQDY is 0.26, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.26 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.13 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 17, 2013 | -0.06 |
The correlation between IEI and IQDY shifts across timeframes, from -0.06 (all time) to 0.26 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
IEI vs. IQDY — Risk / Return Rank
IEI
IQDY
IEI vs. IQDY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI) and FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund (IQDY). 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.
| IEI | IQDY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.54 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.87 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 1.47 | -0.28 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.32 | 4.01 | -2.69 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.96 | 15.76 | -11.80 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IEI | IQDY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.09 | 2.63 | -1.54 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.05 | 0.65 | -0.60 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.33 | 0.63 | -0.31 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.70 | 0.50 | +0.20 |
Drawdowns
IEI vs. IQDY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IEI drawdown since its inception was -14.60%, smaller than the maximum IQDY drawdown of -39.60%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEI and IQDY.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IEI | IQDY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -14.60% | -39.60% | +25.00% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.50% | -10.42% | +7.92% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -3.66% | -14.76% | +11.10% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -13.88% | -33.03% | +19.15% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -14.60% | -39.60% | +25.00% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.85% | -0.89% | -0.96% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.67% | -9.10% | +6.43% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.83% | 2.65% | -1.82% |
Volatility
IEI vs. IQDY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI) is 0.91%, while FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund (IQDY) has a volatility of 5.84%. This indicates that IEI experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IQDY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IEI | IQDY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.91% | 5.84% | -4.93% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.13% | 13.40% | -11.27% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.04% | 15.93% | -12.89% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.77% | 17.81% | -13.04% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.93% | 18.43% | -14.50% |
IEI vs. IQDY - Expense Ratio Comparison
IEI has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than IQDY's 0.47% expense ratio.
Dividends
IEI vs. IQDY - Dividend Comparison
IEI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.64%, more than IQDY's 2.76% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
IQDY FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund | 2.76% | 3.26% | 6.95% | 6.45% | 5.52% | 3.89% | 2.62% | 3.85% | 5.97% | 3.57% | 3.77% | 4.08% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IEI and IQDY have a correlation of 0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IQDY has higher volatility (5.84%) compared to IEI (0.91%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IEI dropped -14.60% vs IQDY's -39.60%.
On 10-year performance, IQDY leads with 11.61% vs 1.28% for IEI. On fees, IEI is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, IEI has been the lower-risk option at 0.91%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IQDY has performed better with a 11.61% return vs 1.28%. 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 0.47% for IQDY.
IEI has the higher dividend yield at 3.64%, compared with 2.76% for IQDY.
IEI is categorized as Government Bonds, while IQDY is Foreign Large Cap Equities. IEI tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 3-7 Year Bond Index, while IQDY tracks Northern Trust International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Northern Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for IEI and 0.47% for IQDY.
IQDY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.63 vs 1.09), 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.
Find the right allocation for IEI and IQDY
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer