ISTB vs. SLDR
ISTB (iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF) and SLDR (Global X Short-Term Treasury Ladder ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ISTB is a Short-Term Bond fund tracking the BBG US Universal 1-5 Year Index (USD), while SLDR is a Government Bonds fund tracking the FTSE US Treasury 1-3 Years Laddered Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, ISTB returned 2.74% vs 2.45% for SLDR. Their 0.80 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. ISTB charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.12%/yr for SLDR.
Performance
ISTB vs. SLDR - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with ISTB having a 0.63% return and SLDR slightly higher at 0.65%.
ISTB
- 1D
- -0.04%
- 1M
- -0.19%
- 6M
- 0.35%
- YTD
- 0.63%
- 1Y
- 2.74%
- 3Y*
- 4.99%
- 5Y*
- 1.86%
- 10Y*
- 2.20%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.01%
SLDR
- 1D
- -0.03%
- 1M
- 0.06%
- 6M
- 0.39%
- YTD
- 0.65%
- 1Y
- 2.45%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 3.12%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20.52M | $19.72M | $25.64M | |
| $55.37K | $809.23K | $668.50K |
ISTB vs. SLDR - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
ISTB iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF | 0.63% | 6.36% | -0.21% |
SLDR Global X Short-Term Treasury Ladder ETF | 0.65% | 4.60% | 0.66% |
Correlation
The correlation between ISTB and SLDR is 0.82, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.82 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 10, 2024 | 0.80 |
The correlation between ISTB and SLDR has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.80 to 0.82 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
ISTB vs. SLDR — Risk / Return Rank
ISTB
SLDR
ISTB vs. SLDR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB) and Global X Short-Term Treasury Ladder ETF (SLDR). 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.
| ISTB | SLDR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.33 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.52 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.34 | 1.50 | -0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.61 | 3.30 | -0.69 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.39 | 12.07 | -2.68 |
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Drawdowns
ISTB vs. SLDR - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ISTB drawdown since its inception was -9.34%, which is greater than SLDR's maximum drawdown of -0.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ISTB and SLDR.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ISTB | SLDR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.34% | -0.87% | -8.47% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.26% | -0.87% | -0.39% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.36% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -9.33% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.34% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.27% | -0.07% | -0.20% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.21% | -0.14% | -1.07% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.35% | 0.24% | +0.11% |
Volatility
ISTB vs. SLDR - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB) is 0.48%, while Global X Short-Term Treasury Ladder ETF (SLDR) has a volatility of 0.51%. This indicates that ISTB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SLDR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ISTB | SLDR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.48% | 0.51% | -0.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.42% | 1.02% | +0.40% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.80% | 1.34% | +0.46% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.81% | 1.28% | +1.53% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.51% | 1.28% | +1.23% |
ISTB vs. SLDR - Expense Ratio Comparison
ISTB has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than SLDR's 0.12% 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
ISTB vs. SLDR - Dividend Comparison
ISTB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.26%, more than SLDR's 3.69% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ISTB iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF | 3.91% | 4.12% | 3.83% | 2.97% | 2.01% | 1.69% | 2.20% | 2.75% | 2.57% | 2.06% | 1.90% | 1.58% |
SLDR Global X Short-Term Treasury Ladder ETF | 3.37% | 3.80% | 0.98% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ISTB and SLDR have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SLDR has higher volatility (0.51%) compared to ISTB (0.48%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ISTB dropped -9.34% vs SLDR's -0.87%.
On 1-year performance, ISTB leads with 2.74% vs 2.45% for SLDR. On fees, ISTB is cheaper at 0.06% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, ISTB has performed better with a 2.74% return vs 2.45%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ISTB is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.12% for SLDR.
ISTB has the higher dividend yield at 3.91%, compared with 3.37% for SLDR.
ISTB is categorized as Short-Term Bond, while SLDR is Government Bonds. ISTB tracks BBG US Universal 1-5 Year Index (USD), while SLDR tracks FTSE US Treasury 1-3 Years Laddered Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Global X. Their fees differ too: 0.06% for ISTB and 0.12% for SLDR.
SLDR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.16 vs 1.83), 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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