IGB.AX vs. IEM.AX
IGB.AX (iShares Treasury ETF) and IEM.AX (iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (AU)) are both exchange-traded funds - IGB.AX is a Government Bonds fund tracking the iShares Treasury Index, while IEM.AX is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IGB.AX returned 0.94%/yr vs 8.49%/yr for IEM.AX. At a correlation of -0.02, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
IGB.AX vs. IEM.AX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IGB.AX achieves a 1.29% return, which is significantly lower than IEM.AX's 10.38% return. Over the past 10 years, IGB.AX has underperformed IEM.AX with an annualized return of 0.94%, while IEM.AX has yielded a comparatively higher 8.49% annualized return.
IGB.AX
- 1D
- -0.21%
- 1M
- -0.34%
- 6M
- 0.91%
- YTD
- 1.29%
- 1Y
- 0.77%
- 3Y*
- 2.77%
- 5Y*
- -0.75%
- 10Y*
- 0.94%
IEM.AX
- 1D
- -4.00%
- 1M
- -9.12%
- 6M
- 3.79%
- YTD
- 10.38%
- 1Y
- 20.26%
- 3Y*
- 15.74%
- 5Y*
- 6.08%
- 10Y*
- 8.49%
IGB.AX vs. IEM.AX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IGB.AX iShares Treasury ETF | 1.29% | 2.62% | 1.90% | 3.88% | -10.24% | -3.27% | 3.68% | 7.38% | 4.73% | 2.37% |
IEM.AX iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (AU) | 10.38% | 22.71% | 14.85% | 6.42% | -13.41% | 1.75% | 7.24% | 17.26% | -5.17% | 26.57% |
Correlation
The correlation between IGB.AX and IEM.AX 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 | 0.12 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 13, 2012 | -0.02 |
The correlation between IGB.AX and IEM.AX shifts across timeframes, from -0.02 (all time) to 0.26 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IGB.AX vs. IEM.AX — Risk / Return Rank
IGB.AX
IEM.AX
IGB.AX vs. IEM.AX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Treasury ETF (IGB.AX) and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (AU) (IEM.AX). 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.
| IGB.AX | IEM.AX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.87 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.20 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.03 | 1.21 | -0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.19 | 1.74 | -1.55 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.37 | 5.52 | -5.15 |
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Drawdowns
IGB.AX vs. IEM.AX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IGB.AX drawdown since its inception was -16.94%, smaller than the maximum IEM.AX drawdown of -43.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IGB.AX and IEM.AX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IGB.AX | IEM.AX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -16.94% | -43.82% | +26.88% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.87% | -11.25% | +7.38% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -3.92% | -11.25% | +7.33% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.01% | -25.26% | +9.25% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -16.94% | -27.57% | +10.63% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.91% | -11.15% | +5.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.45% | -12.22% | +7.77% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.05% | 3.60% | -1.55% |
Volatility
IGB.AX vs. IEM.AX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Treasury ETF (IGB.AX) is 0.87%, while iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (AU) (IEM.AX) has a volatility of 8.99%. This indicates that IGB.AX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IEM.AX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IGB.AX | IEM.AX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.87% | 8.99% | -8.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.89% | 17.22% | -14.33% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.01% | 18.47% | -14.46% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.40% | 15.60% | -10.20% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.02% | 15.53% | -10.51% |
Dividends
IGB.AX vs. IEM.AX - Dividend Comparison
IGB.AX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.60%, more than IEM.AX's 0.84% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEM.AX iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (AU) | 0.84% | 0.89% | 0.66% | 1.16% | 3.38% | 2.36% | 1.28% | 3.45% | 1.06% | 2.28% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IGB.AX iShares Treasury ETF | 2.60% | 3.10% | 2.47% | 1.63% | 0.80% | 1.20% | 2.47% | 1.54% | 1.56% | 2.11% | 2.09% | 5.81% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IGB.AX and IEM.AX 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.
IGB.AX is categorized as Government Bonds, while IEM.AX is Emerging Markets Equities. IGB.AX tracks iShares Treasury Index, while IEM.AX tracks iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index.
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