ILTB vs. IEF
ILTB (iShares Core 10+ Year USD Bond ETF) and IEF (iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ILTB is a Long-Term Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Universal 10+ Year Index (USD), while IEF is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, ILTB returned 1.30%/yr vs 0.61%/yr for IEF. Their correlation of 0.81 suggests significant overlap in exposure. ILTB charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for IEF.
Performance
ILTB vs. IEF - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ILTB achieves a 1.14% return, which is significantly higher than IEF's -0.11% return. Over the past 10 years, ILTB has outperformed IEF with an annualized return of 1.30%, while IEF has yielded a comparatively lower 0.61% annualized return.
ILTB
- 1D
- 0.34%
- 1M
- 2.86%
- YTD
- 1.14%
- 6M
- 1.09%
- 1Y
- 7.33%
- 3Y*
- 2.83%
- 5Y*
- -3.11%
- 10Y*
- 1.30%
IEF
- 1D
- 0.25%
- 1M
- 1.42%
- YTD
- -0.11%
- 6M
- -0.18%
- 1Y
- 4.45%
- 3Y*
- 2.82%
- 5Y*
- -1.05%
- 10Y*
- 0.61%
ILTB vs. IEF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ILTB iShares Core 10+ Year USD Bond ETF | 1.14% | 7.22% | -3.00% | 8.04% | -26.62% | -2.67% | 16.10% | 19.61% | -5.10% | 11.24% |
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | -0.11% | 8.03% | -0.63% | 3.64% | -15.15% | -3.33% | 10.01% | 8.03% | 0.99% | 2.55% |
Correlation
The correlation between ILTB and IEF is 0.90, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.87 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 9, 2009 | 0.81 |
The correlation between ILTB and IEF shifts across timeframes, from 0.81 (all time) to 0.92 (3 years), 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
ILTB vs. IEF — Risk / Return Rank
ILTB
IEF
ILTB vs. IEF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core 10+ Year USD Bond ETF (ILTB) and iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF). 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.
| ILTB | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.00 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.16 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.36 | 1.10 | +0.26 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.37 | 3.04 | +0.32 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
ILTB vs. IEF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ILTB drawdown since its inception was -36.88%, which is greater than IEF's maximum drawdown of -23.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ILTB and IEF.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| ILTB | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.88% | -23.93% | -12.95% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.42% | -4.07% | -1.35% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.60% | -7.74% | -6.86% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.22% | -21.40% | -13.82% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.88% | -23.93% | -12.95% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -20.62% | -10.85% | -9.77% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.94% | -5.35% | -4.59% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.18% | 1.46% | +0.72% |
Volatility
ILTB vs. IEF - Volatility Comparison
iShares Core 10+ Year USD Bond ETF (ILTB) has a higher volatility of 2.16% compared to iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) at 1.40%. This indicates that ILTB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IEF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| ILTB | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.16% | 1.40% | +0.76% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.66% | 3.42% | +2.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.75% | 4.69% | +3.06% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.64% | 7.71% | +4.93% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.57% | 6.63% | +4.94% |
ILTB vs. IEF - Expense Ratio Comparison
ILTB has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than IEF's 0.15% 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
ILTB vs. IEF - Dividend Comparison
ILTB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.92%, more than IEF's 3.88% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.88% | 3.77% | 3.62% | 2.91% | 1.96% | 0.83% | 1.08% | 2.08% | 2.24% | 1.82% | 1.81% | 1.90% |
ILTB iShares Core 10+ Year USD Bond ETF | 4.92% | 4.83% | 4.91% | 4.38% | 4.31% | 3.04% | 3.32% | 3.45% | 4.13% | 3.97% | 3.99% | 4.20% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ILTB and IEF have a correlation of 0.90, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ILTB has higher volatility (2.16%) compared to IEF (1.40%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ILTB dropped -36.88% vs IEF's -23.93%.
On 10-year performance, ILTB leads with 1.30% vs 0.61% for IEF. On fees, ILTB is cheaper at 0.06% per year. On volatility, IEF has been the lower-risk option at 1.40%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, ILTB has performed better with a 1.30% return vs 0.61%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ILTB is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for IEF.
ILTB has the higher dividend yield at 4.92%, compared with 3.88% for IEF.
ILTB is categorized as Long-Term Bond, while IEF is Government Bonds. ILTB tracks Bloomberg U.S. Universal 10+ Year Index (USD), while IEF tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index. Their fees differ too: 0.06% for ILTB and 0.15% for IEF.
IEF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.95 vs 0.95), 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 ILTB and IEF
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