IRTR vs. VWALX

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

IRTR (Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF) and VWALX (Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares) are both funds - IRTR is a Target Retirement Date fund actively managed by iShares, while VWALX is a Municipal Bonds fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past year, IRTR returned 13.84% vs 8.55% for VWALX. At a 0.36 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IRTR charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for VWALX.

Performance

IRTR vs. VWALX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF (IRTR) and Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IRTR achieves a 5.36% return, which is significantly higher than VWALX's 2.33% return.

IRTR

• 1D: 0.21%
• 1M: 1.82%
• YTD: 5.36%
• 6M: 5.66%
• 1Y: 13.84%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

VWALX

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 1.01%
• YTD: 2.33%
• 6M: 2.69%
• 1Y: 8.55%
• 3Y*: 5.55%
• 5Y*: 1.64%
• 10Y*: 3.14%

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

IRTR vs. VWALX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
IRTR Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF	5.36%	12.70%	7.59%	10.63%
VWALX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares	2.33%	5.06%	4.08%	11.27%

Correlation

The correlation between IRTR and VWALX is 0.39, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.39
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 20, 2023	0.36

IRTR vs. VWALX - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	IRTR	VWALX
Technology	26.8%	0.0%
Financial Services	15.0%	0.0%
Industrials	12.6%	-
Consumer Cyclical	9.0%	-
Communication Services	8.0%	-
Healthcare	7.7%	-
Energy	4.9%	-
Consumer Defensive	4.6%	-
Utilities	4.3%	-
Basic Materials	3.8%	-
Real Estate	3.5%	-

Return for Risk

IRTR vs. VWALX — Risk / Return Rank

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

IRTR

IRTR Risk / Return Rank: 70
IRTR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 72
IRTR Sortino Ratio Rank: 76
IRTR Omega Ratio Rank: 76
IRTR Calmar Ratio Rank: 59
IRTR Martin Ratio Rank: 69

VWALX

VWALX Risk / Return Rank: 75
VWALX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 83
VWALX Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
VWALX Omega Ratio Rank: 92
VWALX Calmar Ratio Rank: 58
VWALX Martin Ratio Rank: 52

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.

IRTR vs. VWALX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF (IRTR) and Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX). 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	VWALX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.32	2.74	-0.42
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.37	4.45	-1.08
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.45	1.71	-0.26
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.88	2.92	-0.03
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	12.70	10.63	+2.07
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

IRTR vs. VWALX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IRTR Sharpe Ratio is 2.32, which is comparable to the VWALX Sharpe Ratio of 2.74. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IRTR and VWALX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	IRTR	VWALX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.32	2.74	-0.42
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.34	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.68	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	2.02	1.09	+0.93

Drawdowns

IRTR vs. VWALX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IRTR drawdown since its inception was -6.29%, smaller than the maximum VWALX drawdown of -17.24%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IRTR and VWALX.

Drawdown Indicators

	IRTR	VWALX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-6.29%	-17.24%	+10.95%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-4.82%	-3.05%	-1.77%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-7.10%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-17.24%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-17.24%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.20%	0.00%	-0.20%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.78%	-2.17%	+1.39%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.09%	0.84%	+0.25%

Volatility

IRTR vs. VWALX - Volatility Comparison

Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF (IRTR) has a higher volatility of 2.12% compared to Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX) at 1.27%. This indicates that IRTR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VWALX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	IRTR	VWALX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.12%	1.27%	+0.85%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	4.85%	2.39%	+2.46%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	6.00%	3.25%	+2.75%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	7.03%	4.81%	+2.22%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	7.03%	4.64%	+2.39%

IRTR vs. VWALX - Expense Ratio Comparison

IRTR has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than VWALX's 0.09% 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. VWALX - Dividend Comparison

IRTR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.99%, less than VWALX's 4.13% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
IRTR Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF	2.99%	3.03%	3.03%	0.85%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VWALX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares	4.13%	5.04%	4.47%	3.59%	3.44%	3.04%	3.40%	4.03%	3.85%	3.77%	3.86%	3.75%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IRTR and VWALX in my portfolio?

IRTR and VWALX have a correlation of 0.39, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, IRTR or VWALX?

IRTR has higher volatility (2.12%) compared to VWALX (1.27%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IRTR dropped -6.29% vs VWALX's -17.24%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

VWALX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.74 vs 2.32), 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.