IRTR vs. VWALX
Compare and contrast key facts about Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF (IRTR) and Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX).
IRTR is an actively managed fund by iShares. It was launched on Oct 17, 2023. VWALX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001.
Performance
IRTR vs. VWALX - Performance Comparison
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IRTR vs. VWALX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IRTR Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF | -0.08% | 12.70% | 7.59% | 10.63% |
VWALX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | -0.26% | 5.06% | 4.08% | 11.27% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IRTR achieves a -0.08% return, which is significantly higher than VWALX's -0.26% return.
IRTR
- 1D
- 0.23%
- 1M
- -2.67%
- YTD
- -0.08%
- 6M
- 1.29%
- 1Y
- 10.68%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VWALX
- 1D
- 0.38%
- 1M
- -2.23%
- YTD
- -0.26%
- 6M
- 1.36%
- 1Y
- 4.06%
- 3Y*
- 4.63%
- 5Y*
- 1.55%
- 10Y*
- 3.08%
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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%.
Return for Risk
IRTR vs. VWALX — Risk / Return Rank
IRTR
VWALX
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 ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.39 | 0.79 | +0.59 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.04 | 1.08 | +0.96 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.22 | +0.07 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.01 | 0.97 | +1.04 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.66 | 3.01 | +5.65 |
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 | VWALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.39 | 0.79 | +0.59 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.33 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.67 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.82 | 1.07 | +0.75 |
Correlation
The correlation between IRTR and VWALX is 0.34, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
IRTR vs. VWALX - Dividend Comparison
IRTR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.07%, less than VWALX's 4.14% 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% |
VWALX Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 4.14% | 5.04% | 4.47% | 3.59% | 3.44% | 3.04% | 3.40% | 4.03% | 3.85% | 3.77% | 3.86% | 3.75% |
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.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IRTR | VWALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -6.29% | -17.24% | +10.95% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.48% | -5.63% | +0.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -17.24% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -17.24% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.10% | -2.50% | -0.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.80% | -2.18% | +1.38% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.27% | 1.81% | -0.54% |
Volatility
IRTR vs. VWALX - Volatility Comparison
Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF (IRTR) has a higher volatility of 3.06% compared to Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VWALX) at 1.29%. 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.
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Volatility by Period
| IRTR | VWALX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.06% | 1.29% | +1.77% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.42% | 2.00% | +2.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.73% | 5.71% | +2.02% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.03% | 4.76% | +2.27% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 7.03% | 4.62% | +2.41% |