ITDF vs. TLT
ITDF (Ishares Lifepath Target Date 2050 ETF) and TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ITDF is a Target Retirement Date fund actively managed by iShares, while TLT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. ITDF is actively managed, while TLT is passively managed. Over the past year, ITDF returned 22.67% vs -2.45% for TLT. Their 0.25 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. ITDF charges 0.11%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for TLT.
Performance
ITDF vs. TLT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ITDF achieves a 10.90% return, which is significantly higher than TLT's -3.49% return.
ITDF
- 1D
- 0.29%
- 1M
- -0.17%
- 6M
- 7.65%
- YTD
- 10.90%
- 1Y
- 22.67%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 22.48%
TLT
- 1D
- -0.66%
- 1M
- -3.81%
- 6M
- -3.46%
- YTD
- -3.49%
- 1Y
- -2.45%
- 3Y*
- -1.80%
- 5Y*
- -8.18%
- 10Y*
- -2.38%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.47%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $205.68K | $291.78K | $509.52K | |
| $2.33B | $2.02B | $2.19B |
ITDF vs. TLT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ITDF Ishares Lifepath Target Date 2050 ETF | 10.90% | 20.86% | 16.15% | 12.92% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | -3.49% | 4.25% | -8.05% | 18.17% |
Correlation
The correlation between ITDF and TLT is 0.31, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.31 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 19, 2023 | 0.25 |
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Return for Risk
ITDF vs. TLT — Risk / Return Rank
ITDF
TLT
ITDF vs. TLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ishares Lifepath Target Date 2050 ETF (ITDF) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT). 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.
| ITDF | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.77 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.44 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 0.99 | +0.31 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.31 | -0.14 | +2.45 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.80 | -0.30 | +10.10 |
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Drawdowns
ITDF vs. TLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ITDF drawdown since its inception was -15.67%, smaller than the maximum TLT drawdown of -48.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ITDF and TLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ITDF | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -15.67% | -48.35% | +32.68% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.32% | -7.74% | -1.58% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | — | -14.79% | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -43.70% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -48.35% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.30% | -42.36% | +41.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.52% | -13.99% | +12.47% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.19% | 3.57% | -1.38% |
Volatility
ITDF vs. TLT - Volatility Comparison
Ishares Lifepath Target Date 2050 ETF (ITDF) has a higher volatility of 3.66% compared to iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) at 2.46%. This indicates that ITDF's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than TLT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ITDF | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.66% | 2.46% | +1.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.88% | 6.85% | +4.03% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.00% | 9.32% | +3.68% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 13.93% | 15.74% | -1.81% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.93% | 14.83% | -0.90% |
ITDF vs. TLT - Expense Ratio Comparison
ITDF has a 0.11% expense ratio, which is lower than TLT's 0.15% 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
ITDF vs. TLT - Dividend Comparison
ITDF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.49%, less than TLT's 4.75% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ITDF Ishares Lifepath Target Date 2050 ETF | 1.49% | 1.65% | 1.55% | 0.85% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 4.34% | 4.43% | 4.30% | 3.38% | 2.67% | 1.50% | 1.50% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 2.43% | 2.60% | 2.61% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ITDF and TLT have a correlation of 0.31, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ITDF has higher volatility (3.66%) compared to TLT (2.46%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ITDF dropped -15.67% vs TLT's -48.35%.
On 1-year performance, ITDF leads with 22.67% vs -2.45% for TLT. On fees, ITDF is cheaper at 0.11% per year. On volatility, TLT has been the lower-risk option at 2.46%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, ITDF has performed better with a 22.67% return vs -2.45%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ITDF is cheaper with a 0.11% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for TLT.
TLT has the higher dividend yield at 4.34%, compared with 1.49% for ITDF.
ITDF is categorized as Target Retirement Date, while TLT is Government Bonds. Their fees differ too: 0.11% for ITDF and 0.15% for TLT.
ITDF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.66 vs -0.11), 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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