ITDG vs. TLT
ITDG (Ishares Lifepath Target Date 2055 ETF) and TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ITDG 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. ITDG is actively managed, while TLT is passively managed. Over the past year, ITDG returned 28.74% vs 4.93% for TLT. At a 0.23 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. ITDG charges 0.11%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for TLT.
Performance
ITDG vs. TLT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ITDG achieves a 12.04% return, which is significantly higher than TLT's -0.27% return.
ITDG
- 1D
- -0.79%
- 1M
- 4.78%
- YTD
- 12.04%
- 6M
- 12.96%
- 1Y
- 28.74%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
TLT
- 1D
- -0.40%
- 1M
- 0.81%
- YTD
- -0.27%
- 6M
- -2.02%
- 1Y
- 4.93%
- 3Y*
- -1.80%
- 5Y*
- -6.31%
- 10Y*
- -1.66%
ITDG vs. TLT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ITDG Ishares Lifepath Target Date 2055 ETF | 12.04% | 21.85% | 16.56% | 12.83% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | -0.27% | 4.25% | -8.05% | 20.64% |
Correlation
The correlation between ITDG and TLT is 0.28, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 20, 2023 | 0.23 |
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Return for Risk
ITDG vs. TLT — Risk / Return Rank
ITDG
TLT
ITDG vs. TLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ishares Lifepath Target Date 2055 ETF (ITDG) 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.
| ITDG | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.80 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.40 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.41 | 1.09 | +0.32 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.03 | 0.65 | +2.37 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.34 | 1.63 | +11.71 |
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
| ITDG | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.30 | 0.51 | +1.80 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | -0.40 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | -0.11 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.75 | 0.26 | +1.49 |
Drawdowns
ITDG vs. TLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ITDG drawdown since its inception was -16.60%, smaller than the maximum TLT drawdown of -48.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ITDG and TLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ITDG | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -16.60% | -48.35% | +31.75% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.54% | -7.58% | -1.96% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | — | -19.18% | — |
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 | -0.79% | -40.44% | +39.65% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.57% | -13.82% | +12.25% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.16% | 3.04% | -0.88% |
Volatility
ITDG vs. TLT - Volatility Comparison
Ishares Lifepath Target Date 2055 ETF (ITDG) has a higher volatility of 3.84% compared to iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) at 2.76%. This indicates that ITDG'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
| ITDG | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.84% | 2.76% | +1.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.06% | 6.50% | +3.56% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.54% | 9.77% | +2.77% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.44% | 15.87% | -1.43% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.44% | 14.91% | -0.47% |
ITDG vs. TLT - Expense Ratio Comparison
ITDG 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
ITDG vs. TLT - Dividend Comparison
ITDG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.43%, less than TLT's 4.59% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ITDG Ishares Lifepath Target Date 2055 ETF | 1.43% | 1.60% | 1.44% | 0.84% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 4.59% | 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
ITDG and TLT have a correlation of 0.28, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ITDG has higher volatility (3.84%) compared to TLT (2.76%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ITDG dropped -16.60% vs TLT's -48.35%.
On 1-year performance, ITDG leads with 28.74% vs 4.93% for TLT. On fees, ITDG is cheaper at 0.11% per year. On volatility, TLT has been the lower-risk option at 2.76%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, ITDG has performed better with a 28.74% return vs 4.93%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
ITDG is cheaper with a 0.11% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for TLT.
TLT has the higher dividend yield at 4.59%, compared with 1.43% for ITDG.
ITDG is categorized as Target Retirement Date, while TLT is Government Bonds. Their fees differ too: 0.11% for ITDG and 0.15% for TLT.
ITDG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.30 vs 0.51), 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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