IRTR vs. VBIAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF (IRTR) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX).
IRTR is an actively managed fund by iShares. It was launched on Oct 17, 2023. VBIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
IRTR vs. VBIAX - Performance Comparison
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IRTR vs. VBIAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IRTR Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF | -0.08% | 12.70% | 7.59% | 10.63% |
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | -2.43% | 13.61% | 14.58% | 11.33% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IRTR achieves a -0.08% return, which is significantly higher than VBIAX's -2.43% return.
IRTR
- 1D
- 0.23%
- 1M
- -2.67%
- YTD
- -0.08%
- 6M
- 1.29%
- 1Y
- 10.68%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VBIAX
- 1D
- 1.84%
- 1M
- -3.62%
- YTD
- -2.43%
- 6M
- -0.89%
- 1Y
- 12.55%
- 3Y*
- 12.24%
- 5Y*
- 6.52%
- 10Y*
- 8.97%
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IRTR vs. VBIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
IRTR has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is higher than VBIAX's 0.07% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
IRTR vs. VBIAX — Risk / Return Rank
IRTR
VBIAX
IRTR vs. VBIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF (IRTR) and Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX). 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.
| IRTR | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.39 | 1.14 | +0.25 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.04 | 1.70 | +0.34 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.25 | +0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.01 | 1.71 | +0.29 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.66 | 8.03 | +0.63 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IRTR | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.39 | 1.14 | +0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.59 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.80 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.82 | 0.61 | +1.21 |
Correlation
The correlation between IRTR and VBIAX is 0.90, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
IRTR vs. VBIAX - Dividend Comparison
IRTR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.07%, less than VBIAX's 5.74% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IRTR Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF | 3.07% | 3.03% | 3.03% | 0.85% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VBIAX Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares | 5.74% | 6.00% | 5.27% | 4.35% | 2.83% | 3.19% | 2.65% | 2.28% | 2.32% | 1.95% | 2.09% | 2.09% |
Drawdowns
IRTR vs. VBIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IRTR drawdown since its inception was -6.29%, smaller than the maximum VBIAX drawdown of -35.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IRTR and VBIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IRTR | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -6.29% | -35.90% | +29.61% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.48% | -7.78% | +2.30% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -21.53% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -22.78% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.10% | -4.10% | +1.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.80% | -4.47% | +3.67% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.27% | 1.66% | -0.39% |
Volatility
IRTR vs. VBIAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF (IRTR) is 3.06%, while Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares (VBIAX) has a volatility of 3.71%. This indicates that IRTR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VBIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IRTR | VBIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.06% | 3.71% | -0.65% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.42% | 6.20% | -1.78% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.73% | 11.39% | -3.66% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.03% | 11.05% | -4.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.03% | 11.18% | -4.15% |