IGSB vs. SMLV
IGSB (iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF) and SMLV (SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IGSB is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the ICE BofA 1-5 Year US Corporate Index, while SMLV is a Volatility Hedged Equity fund tracking the SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IGSB returned 2.72%/yr vs 10.42%/yr for SMLV. At a 0.11 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IGSB charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.12%/yr for SMLV.
Performance
IGSB vs. SMLV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IGSB achieves a 0.93% return, which is significantly lower than SMLV's 22.24% return. Over the past 10 years, IGSB has underperformed SMLV with an annualized return of 2.72%, while SMLV has yielded a comparatively higher 10.42% annualized return.
IGSB
- 1D
- -0.07%
- 1M
- 0.14%
- 6M
- 0.85%
- YTD
- 0.93%
- 1Y
- 3.86%
- 3Y*
- 5.59%
- 5Y*
- 2.44%
- 10Y*
- 2.72%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.82%
SMLV
- 1D
- -0.67%
- 1M
- 4.61%
- 6M
- 15.91%
- YTD
- 22.24%
- 1Y
- 28.48%
- 3Y*
- 17.10%
- 5Y*
- 10.21%
- 10Y*
- 10.42%
- ALL TIME*
- 11.06%
IGSB vs. SMLV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IGSB iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 0.93% | 6.96% | 4.97% | 6.40% | -5.63% | -0.56% | 5.37% | 7.11% | 1.25% | 1.27% |
SMLV SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF | 22.24% | 5.66% | 16.77% | 7.52% | -7.69% | 27.67% | -1.55% | 24.10% | -6.62% | 5.68% |
Correlation
The correlation between IGSB and SMLV is 0.35, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.35 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.26 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 21, 2013 | 0.11 |
Over the past year, IGSB and SMLV have become more correlated (0.35) than their long-term average of 0.11, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
IGSB vs. SMLV — Risk / Return Rank
IGSB
SMLV
IGSB vs. SMLV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (IGSB) and SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF (SMLV). 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.
| IGSB | SMLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.12 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.32 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.38 | 1.34 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.66 | 3.90 | -1.24 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.60 | 10.99 | -0.39 |
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Drawdowns
IGSB vs. SMLV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IGSB drawdown since its inception was -13.38%, smaller than the maximum SMLV drawdown of -42.45%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IGSB and SMLV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IGSB | SMLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -13.38% | -42.45% | +29.07% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.46% | -7.34% | +5.88% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.46% | -20.40% | +18.94% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.46% | -20.40% | +10.94% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -13.38% | -42.45% | +29.07% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.21% | -1.59% | +1.38% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.85% | -5.41% | +4.56% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.36% | 2.60% | -2.24% |
Volatility
IGSB vs. SMLV - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (IGSB) is 0.57%, while SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF (SMLV) has a volatility of 3.75%. This indicates that IGSB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SMLV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IGSB | SMLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.57% | 3.75% | -3.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.56% | 10.09% | -8.53% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.96% | 15.46% | -13.50% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.95% | 18.23% | -15.28% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.47% | 20.91% | -17.44% |
IGSB vs. SMLV - Expense Ratio Comparison
IGSB has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than SMLV's 0.12% 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
IGSB vs. SMLV - Dividend Comparison
IGSB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.60%, more than SMLV's 2.23% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IGSB iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 4.60% | 4.44% | 4.02% | 3.26% | 2.07% | 1.82% | 2.36% | 3.06% | 2.46% | 1.65% | 1.45% | 1.18% |
SMLV SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF | 2.23% | 2.74% | 2.68% | 2.68% | 2.40% | 2.12% | 2.47% | 2.62% | 3.15% | 7.92% | 3.04% | 2.63% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IGSB and SMLV have a correlation of 0.35, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SMLV has higher volatility (3.75%) compared to IGSB (0.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IGSB dropped -13.38% vs SMLV's -42.45%.
On 10-year performance, SMLV leads with 10.42% vs 2.72% for IGSB. On fees, IGSB is cheaper at 0.04% per year. On volatility, IGSB has been the lower-risk option at 0.57%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, SMLV has performed better with a 10.42% return vs 2.72%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IGSB is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.12% for SMLV.
IGSB has the higher dividend yield at 4.60%, compared with 2.23% for SMLV.
IGSB is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while SMLV is Volatility Hedged Equity. IGSB tracks ICE BofA 1-5 Year US Corporate Index, while SMLV tracks SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.04% for IGSB and 0.12% for SMLV.
IGSB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.98 vs 1.85), 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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