ISHG vs. BNDX
ISHG (iShares 1-3 Year International Treasury Bond ETF) and BNDX (Vanguard Total International Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ISHG is a International Government Bonds fund tracking the S&P/Citigroup International Treasury Bond Index Ex-US 1-3 Year, while BNDX is a Global Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Float Adjusted RIC Capped Index (USD Hedged). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, ISHG returned -0.20%/yr vs 1.52%/yr for BNDX. At a 0.21 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. ISHG charges 0.35%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for BNDX.
Performance
ISHG vs. BNDX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ISHG achieves a -1.71% return, which is significantly lower than BNDX's 0.48% return. Over the past 10 years, ISHG has underperformed BNDX with an annualized return of -0.20%, while BNDX has yielded a comparatively higher 1.52% annualized return.
ISHG
- 1D
- -0.50%
- 1M
- -1.54%
- 6M
- -1.40%
- YTD
- -1.71%
- 1Y
- -1.04%
- 3Y*
- 2.52%
- 5Y*
- -0.96%
- 10Y*
- -0.20%
BNDX
- 1D
- -0.40%
- 1M
- -0.54%
- 6M
- -0.06%
- YTD
- 0.48%
- 1Y
- 1.94%
- 3Y*
- 4.05%
- 5Y*
- 0.14%
- 10Y*
- 1.52%
ISHG vs. BNDX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ISHG iShares 1-3 Year International Treasury Bond ETF | -1.71% | 13.31% | -4.16% | 3.76% | -10.95% | -7.05% | 7.47% | -0.64% | -3.54% | 10.91% |
BNDX Vanguard Total International Bond ETF | 0.48% | 2.86% | 3.57% | 8.77% | -12.76% | -2.29% | 4.65% | 7.87% | 2.81% | 2.40% |
Correlation
The correlation between ISHG and BNDX is 0.47, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.37 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.23 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 4, 2013 | 0.21 |
Over the past year, ISHG and BNDX have become more correlated (0.47) than their long-term average of 0.21, meaning their price movements have been converging.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
ISHG vs. BNDX — Risk / Return Rank
ISHG
BNDX
ISHG vs. BNDX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 1-3 Year International Treasury Bond ETF (ISHG) and Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX). 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.
| ISHG | BNDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.71 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.99 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.98 | 1.10 | -0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.21 | 0.66 | -0.87 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.45 | 1.80 | -2.25 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
ISHG vs. BNDX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ISHG drawdown since its inception was -37.24%, which is greater than BNDX's maximum drawdown of -16.23%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ISHG and BNDX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| ISHG | BNDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -37.24% | -16.23% | -21.01% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.02% | -2.93% | -2.09% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -8.21% | -2.93% | -5.28% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.29% | -15.86% | -6.43% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -25.56% | -16.23% | -9.33% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -23.56% | -1.55% | -22.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.46% | -3.09% | -15.37% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.31% | 1.08% | +1.23% |
Volatility
ISHG vs. BNDX - Volatility Comparison
iShares 1-3 Year International Treasury Bond ETF (ISHG) has a higher volatility of 1.65% compared to Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX) at 1.14%. This indicates that ISHG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BNDX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| ISHG | BNDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.65% | 1.14% | +0.51% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.94% | 3.07% | +1.87% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.52% | 3.53% | +2.99% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.59% | 4.90% | +2.69% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.92% | 4.09% | +2.83% |
ISHG vs. BNDX - Expense Ratio Comparison
ISHG has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is higher than BNDX's 0.07% expense ratio.
Dividends
ISHG vs. BNDX - Dividend Comparison
ISHG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.48%, less than BNDX's 4.52% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BNDX Vanguard Total International Bond ETF | 4.52% | 4.39% | 4.18% | 4.42% | 1.51% | 3.74% | 1.11% | 3.40% | 3.01% | 2.23% | 1.89% | 1.63% |
ISHG iShares 1-3 Year International Treasury Bond ETF | 1.48% | 1.45% | 2.56% | 0.18% | 0.00% | 1.29% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.80% | 0.46% | 0.00% | 0.09% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ISHG and BNDX have a correlation of 0.47, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ISHG has higher volatility (1.65%) compared to BNDX (1.14%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ISHG dropped -37.24% vs BNDX's -16.23%.
On 10-year performance, BNDX leads with 1.52% vs -0.20% for ISHG. On fees, BNDX is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, BNDX has been the lower-risk option at 1.14%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, BNDX has performed better with a 1.52% return vs -0.20%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BNDX is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.35% for ISHG.
BNDX has the higher dividend yield at 4.52%, compared with 1.48% for ISHG.
ISHG is categorized as International Government Bonds, while BNDX is Global Bonds. ISHG tracks S&P/Citigroup International Treasury Bond Index Ex-US 1-3 Year, while BNDX tracks Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Float Adjusted RIC Capped Index (USD Hedged). They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.35% for ISHG and 0.07% for BNDX.
BNDX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.55 vs -0.16), 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.
Find the right allocation for ISHG and BNDX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer