IRTR vs. IBIC
IRTR (iShares LifePath Retirement ETF) and IBIC (iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IRTR is a Target Retirement Date fund actively managed by iShares, while IBIC is a Inflation-Protected Bonds fund tracking the ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. IRTR is actively managed, while IBIC is passively managed. Over the past year, IRTR returned 12.47% vs 4.42% for IBIC. At a 0.12 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IRTR charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for IBIC.
Performance
IRTR vs. IBIC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IRTR achieves a 4.55% return, which is significantly higher than IBIC's 2.43% return.
IRTR
- 1D
- -0.60%
- 1M
- 0.24%
- YTD
- 4.55%
- 6M
- 4.41%
- 1Y
- 12.47%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IBIC
- 1D
- 0.04%
- 1M
- 0.12%
- YTD
- 2.43%
- 6M
- 2.57%
- 1Y
- 4.42%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IRTR vs. IBIC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IRTR iShares LifePath Retirement ETF | 4.55% | 12.70% | 7.59% | 11.03% |
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 2.43% | 4.96% | 5.25% | 2.41% |
Correlation
The correlation between IRTR and IBIC 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 (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.17 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 19, 2023 | 0.12 |
The correlation between IRTR and IBIC shifts across timeframes, from -0.17 (1 year) to 0.12 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IRTR vs. IBIC — Risk / Return Rank
IRTR
IBIC
IRTR vs. IBIC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares LifePath Retirement ETF (IRTR) and iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC). 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.
| IRTR | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -3.01 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -6.13 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.38 | 2.22 | -0.85 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.60 | 16.56 | -13.96 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.24 | 58.67 | -47.43 |
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Drawdowns
IRTR vs. IBIC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IRTR drawdown since its inception was -6.29%, which is greater than IBIC's maximum drawdown of -0.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IRTR and IBIC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IRTR | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -6.29% | -0.90% | -5.39% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.82% | -0.27% | -4.55% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.97% | -0.08% | -0.89% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.78% | -0.10% | -0.68% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.11% | 0.08% | +1.03% |
Volatility
IRTR vs. IBIC - Volatility Comparison
iShares LifePath Retirement ETF (IRTR) has a higher volatility of 2.52% compared to iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC) at 0.17%. This indicates that IRTR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IBIC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IRTR | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.52% | 0.17% | +2.35% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.29% | 0.67% | +4.62% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.34% | 0.89% | +5.45% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.11% | 1.56% | +5.55% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.11% | 1.56% | +5.55% |
IRTR vs. IBIC - Expense Ratio Comparison
IRTR has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than IBIC's 0.10% 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
IRTR vs. IBIC - Dividend Comparison
IRTR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.01%, less than IBIC's 3.58% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 3.58% | 4.43% | 4.65% | 0.83% |
IRTR iShares LifePath Retirement ETF | 3.01% | 3.03% | 3.03% | 0.85% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IRTR and IBIC 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.
IRTR has higher volatility (2.52%) compared to IBIC (0.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IRTR dropped -6.29% vs IBIC's -0.90%.
On 1-year performance, IRTR leads with 12.47% vs 4.42% for IBIC. On fees, IRTR is cheaper at 0.08% per year. On volatility, IBIC has been the lower-risk option at 0.17%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, IRTR has performed better with a 12.47% return vs 4.42%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IRTR is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.10% for IBIC.
IBIC has the higher dividend yield at 3.58%, compared with 3.01% for IRTR.
IRTR is categorized as Target Retirement Date, while IBIC is Inflation-Protected Bonds. Their fees differ too: 0.08% for IRTR and 0.10% for IBIC.
IBIC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.99 vs 1.98), 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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