IMTB vs. ISTB
IMTB (iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF) and ISTB (iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IMTB is a Intermediate Core-Plus Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Universal 5-10 Years Index, while ISTB is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the BBG US Universal 1-5 Year Index (USD). Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, IMTB returned 0.18%/yr vs 1.87%/yr for ISTB. Their 0.76 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. Both charge a 0.06% expense ratio.
Performance
IMTB vs. ISTB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IMTB achieves a -0.49% return, which is significantly lower than ISTB's 0.75% return.
IMTB
- 1D
- 0.20%
- 1M
- -0.94%
- 6M
- -0.66%
- YTD
- -0.49%
- 1Y
- 3.02%
- 3Y*
- 4.82%
- 5Y*
- 0.18%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 1.77%
ISTB
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- -0.07%
- 6M
- 0.52%
- YTD
- 0.75%
- 1Y
- 2.86%
- 3Y*
- 4.94%
- 5Y*
- 1.87%
- 10Y*
- 2.22%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.01%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.97M | $1.47M | $1.46M | |
| $21.44M | $20.13M | $25.36M |
IMTB vs. ISTB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IMTB iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF | -0.49% | 8.88% | 1.94% | 6.10% | -12.75% | -1.41% | 6.25% | 8.62% | -0.45% | 4.88% |
ISTB iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF | 0.75% | 6.36% | 4.37% | 5.56% | -6.08% | -0.71% | 4.75% | 5.61% | 1.02% | 1.72% |
Correlation
The correlation between IMTB and ISTB is 0.85, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.85 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.88 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.90 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 7, 2016 | 0.76 |
The correlation between IMTB and ISTB shifts across timeframes, from 0.76 (all time) to 0.90 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IMTB vs. ISTB — Risk / Return Rank
IMTB
ISTB
IMTB vs. ISTB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF (IMTB) and iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB). 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.
| IMTB | ISTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.91 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.33 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.13 | 1.30 | -0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.06 | 2.28 | -1.22 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.70 | 8.19 | -5.49 |
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Drawdowns
IMTB vs. ISTB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IMTB drawdown since its inception was -18.15%, which is greater than ISTB's maximum drawdown of -9.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IMTB and ISTB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IMTB | ISTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.15% | -9.34% | -8.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.86% | -1.26% | -1.60% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.83% | -1.36% | -4.47% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.02% | -9.33% | -8.69% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -9.34% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.20% | -0.16% | -2.04% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.09% | -1.21% | -2.88% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.12% | 0.35% | +0.77% |
Volatility
IMTB vs. ISTB - Volatility Comparison
iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF (IMTB) has a higher volatility of 1.11% compared to iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB) at 0.47%. This indicates that IMTB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ISTB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IMTB | ISTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.11% | 0.47% | +0.64% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.30% | 1.42% | +1.88% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.07% | 1.73% | +2.34% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.33% | 2.81% | +3.52% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.17% | 2.51% | +2.66% |
IMTB vs. ISTB - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both IMTB and ISTB 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
IMTB vs. ISTB - Dividend Comparison
IMTB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.57%, more than ISTB's 4.28% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IMTB iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF | 4.57% | 4.40% | 4.42% | 4.13% | 2.90% | 2.49% | 2.63% | 2.91% | 3.04% | 2.75% | 0.40% | 0.00% |
ISTB iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF | 4.28% | 4.12% | 3.83% | 2.97% | 2.01% | 1.69% | 2.20% | 2.75% | 2.57% | 2.06% | 1.90% | 1.58% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IMTB and ISTB have a correlation of 0.85, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IMTB has higher volatility (1.11%) compared to ISTB (0.47%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IMTB dropped -18.15% vs ISTB's -9.34%.
On 5-year performance, ISTB leads with 1.87% vs 0.18% for IMTB. Both ETFs have the same 0.06% expense ratio. On volatility, ISTB has been the lower-risk option at 0.47%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, ISTB has performed better with a 1.87% return vs 0.18%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IMTB and ISTB have the same expense ratio: 0.06% per year.
IMTB has the higher dividend yield at 4.57%, compared with 4.28% for ISTB.
IMTB is categorized as Intermediate Core-Plus Bond, while ISTB is Short-Term Bond. IMTB tracks Bloomberg U.S. Universal 5-10 Years Index, while ISTB tracks BBG US Universal 1-5 Year Index (USD).
ISTB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.66 vs 0.75), 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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