IQHI vs. ESGB

Last updated Jul 18, 2026

IQHI (IQ MacKay ESG High Income ETF) and ESGB (IQ MacKay ESG Core Plus Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IQHI is a High Yield Bonds fund actively managed by IndexIQ, while ESGB is a Intermediate Core-Plus Bond fund actively managed by IndexIQ. Both are actively managed. At a correlation of -0.17, they often move in opposite directions. IQHI charges 0.40%/yr vs 0.39%/yr for ESGB.

Performance

IQHI vs. ESGB - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in IQ MacKay ESG High Income ETF (IQHI) and IQ MacKay ESG Core Plus Bond ETF (ESGB). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

IQHI

• 1D: 0.12%
• 1M: 0.57%
• 6M: 1.81%
• YTD: 2.45%
• 1Y: 6.40%
• 3Y*: 8.04%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

ESGB

• 1D: —
• 1M: —
• 6M: —
• YTD: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IQHI vs. ESGB - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
IQHI IQ MacKay ESG High Income ETF	0.67%
ESGB IQ MacKay ESG Core Plus Bond ETF	-0.18%

Correlation

The correlation between IQHI and ESGB is -0.17, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 4, 2026	-0.17

Return for Risk

IQHI vs. ESGB — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

IQHI

IQHI Risk / Return Rank: 73
IQHI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 69
IQHI Sortino Ratio Rank: 73
IQHI Omega Ratio Rank: 75
IQHI Calmar Ratio Rank: 68
IQHI Martin Ratio Rank: 78

ESGB

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

IQHI vs. ESGB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for IQ MacKay ESG High Income ETF (IQHI) and IQ MacKay ESG Core Plus Bond ETF (ESGB). 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.

	IQHI	ESGB	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.74	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.58	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.34	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.62	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	11.13	—	—

Drawdowns

Drawdown Indicators

	IQHI	ESGB	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-4.19%	—	—
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.46%	—	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-3.97%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.02%	—	—
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.61%	—	—
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.58%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	IQHI	ESGB	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.85%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.81%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.70%	—	—
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	4.84%	—	—
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	4.84%	—	—

IQHI vs. ESGB - Expense Ratio Comparison

IQHI has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is higher than ESGB's 0.39% expense ratio.

Dividends

IQHI vs. ESGB - Dividend Comparison

IQHI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.41%, while ESGB has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
ESGB IQ MacKay ESG Core Plus Bond ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
IQHI IQ MacKay ESG High Income ETF	7.41%	7.88%	8.83%	6.92%	1.29%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IQHI and ESGB in my portfolio?

IQHI and ESGB have a correlation of -0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, IQHI or ESGB?

On fees, ESGB is cheaper at 0.39% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, IQHI or ESGB?

ESGB is cheaper with a 0.39% expense ratio, compared with 0.40% for IQHI.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, IQHI or ESGB?

IQHI has the higher dividend yield at 7.41%, compared with 0.00% for ESGB.

What is the main difference between IQHI and ESGB?

IQHI is categorized as High Yield Bonds, while ESGB is Intermediate Core-Plus Bond. Their fees differ too: 0.40% for IQHI and 0.39% for ESGB.