ILTB vs. IMTB
ILTB (iShares Core 10+ Year USD Bond ETF) and IMTB (iShares Core 5-10 Year USD 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 IMTB is a Intermediate Core-Plus Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Universal 5-10 Years Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, ILTB returned -3.11%/yr vs 0.68%/yr for IMTB. A 0.75 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.06% expense ratio.
Performance
ILTB vs. IMTB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ILTB achieves a 1.14% return, which is significantly higher than IMTB's 0.71% 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%
IMTB
- 1D
- 0.18%
- 1M
- 1.47%
- YTD
- 0.71%
- 6M
- 0.97%
- 1Y
- 6.38%
- 3Y*
- 4.98%
- 5Y*
- 0.68%
- 10Y*
- —
ILTB vs. IMTB - 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% |
IMTB iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF | 0.71% | 8.88% | 1.94% | 6.10% | -12.75% | -1.41% | 6.25% | 8.62% | -0.45% | 4.88% |
Correlation
The correlation between ILTB and IMTB is 0.87, 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 | 0.87 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.89 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.87 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 7, 2016 | 0.75 |
The correlation between ILTB and IMTB shifts across timeframes, from 0.75 (all time) to 0.89 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
ILTB vs. IMTB — Risk / Return Rank
ILTB
IMTB
ILTB vs. IMTB - 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 Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF (IMTB). 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 | IMTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.64 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.29 | -0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.36 | 2.24 | -0.89 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.37 | 6.64 | -3.27 |
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Drawdowns
ILTB vs. IMTB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ILTB drawdown since its inception was -36.88%, which is greater than IMTB's maximum drawdown of -18.15%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ILTB and IMTB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ILTB | IMTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.88% | -18.15% | -18.73% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.42% | -2.86% | -2.56% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.60% | -6.80% | -7.80% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.22% | -18.11% | -17.11% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.88% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -20.62% | -1.02% | -19.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.94% | -4.12% | -5.82% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.18% | 0.96% | +1.22% |
Volatility
ILTB vs. IMTB - Volatility Comparison
iShares Core 10+ Year USD Bond ETF (ILTB) has a higher volatility of 2.16% compared to iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF (IMTB) at 1.35%. This indicates that ILTB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IMTB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ILTB | IMTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.16% | 1.35% | +0.81% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.66% | 3.08% | +2.58% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.75% | 4.03% | +3.72% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.64% | 6.29% | +6.35% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.57% | 5.18% | +6.39% |
ILTB vs. IMTB - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both ILTB and IMTB have an expense ratio of 0.06%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
ILTB vs. IMTB - Dividend Comparison
ILTB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.92%, more than IMTB's 4.49% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
IMTB iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF | 4.49% | 4.40% | 4.42% | 4.13% | 2.90% | 2.49% | 2.63% | 2.91% | 3.04% | 2.75% | 0.40% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ILTB and IMTB have a correlation of 0.87, 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 IMTB (1.35%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ILTB dropped -36.88% vs IMTB's -18.15%.
On 5-year performance, IMTB leads with 0.68% vs -3.11% for ILTB. Both ETFs have the same 0.06% expense ratio. On volatility, IMTB has been the lower-risk option at 1.35%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, IMTB has performed better with a 0.68% return vs -3.11%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ILTB and IMTB have the same expense ratio: 0.06% per year.
ILTB has the higher dividend yield at 4.92%, compared with 4.49% for IMTB.
ILTB is categorized as Long-Term Bond, while IMTB is Intermediate Core-Plus Bond. ILTB tracks Bloomberg U.S. Universal 10+ Year Index (USD), while IMTB tracks Bloomberg U.S. Universal 5-10 Years Index.
IMTB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.59 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.
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