IUSB vs. ABNFX
IUSB (iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF) and ABNFX (American Funds The Bond Fund of America® Class F-2) are both funds - IUSB is a Intermediate Core-Plus Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Universal Index, while ABNFX is a Intermediate Core Bond fund managed by American Funds. Over the past 10 years, IUSB returned 1.94%/yr vs 1.93%/yr for ABNFX. Their correlation of 0.86 suggests significant overlap in exposure. IUSB charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for ABNFX.
Performance
IUSB vs. ABNFX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IUSB achieves a 0.43% return, which is significantly higher than ABNFX's 0.19% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IUSB having a 1.94% annualized return and ABNFX not far behind at 1.93%.
IUSB
- 1D
- -0.17%
- 1M
- 0.31%
- YTD
- 0.43%
- 6M
- 0.31%
- 1Y
- 5.54%
- 3Y*
- 4.51%
- 5Y*
- 0.44%
- 10Y*
- 1.94%
ABNFX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.46%
- YTD
- 0.19%
- 6M
- 0.12%
- 1Y
- 5.28%
- 3Y*
- 3.92%
- 5Y*
- 0.01%
- 10Y*
- 1.93%
IUSB vs. ABNFX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IUSB iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF | 0.43% | 7.38% | 2.11% | 6.23% | -13.04% | -1.33% | 7.62% | 9.13% | -0.27% | 3.82% |
ABNFX American Funds The Bond Fund of America® Class F-2 | 0.19% | 7.42% | 1.42% | 4.29% | -13.08% | -0.88% | 10.86% | 8.08% | 0.15% | 3.48% |
Correlation
The correlation between IUSB and ABNFX is 0.90, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 13, 2014 | 0.86 |
The correlation between IUSB and ABNFX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.86 to 0.94 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IUSB vs. ABNFX — Risk / Return Rank
IUSB
ABNFX
IUSB vs. ABNFX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF (IUSB) and American Funds The Bond Fund of America® Class F-2 (ABNFX). 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.
| IUSB | ABNFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.19 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.26 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.24 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.20 | 1.71 | +0.49 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.68 | 5.13 | +1.55 |
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
| IUSB | ABNFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.54 | 1.34 | +0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.08 | 0.00 | +0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.39 | 0.40 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.46 | 0.65 | -0.19 |
Drawdowns
IUSB vs. ABNFX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IUSB drawdown since its inception was -17.90%, roughly equal to the maximum ABNFX drawdown of -17.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IUSB and ABNFX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IUSB | ABNFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.90% | -17.69% | -0.21% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.53% | -3.09% | +0.56% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.82% | -6.12% | +0.30% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.87% | -17.65% | -0.22% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -17.90% | -17.69% | -0.21% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.33% | -1.92% | +0.59% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.59% | -3.29% | -0.30% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.83% | 1.03% | -0.20% |
Volatility
IUSB vs. ABNFX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF (IUSB) is 1.24%, while American Funds The Bond Fund of America® Class F-2 (ABNFX) has a volatility of 1.40%. This indicates that IUSB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ABNFX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IUSB | ABNFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.24% | 1.40% | -0.16% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.62% | 2.83% | -0.21% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.62% | 3.95% | -0.33% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.79% | 5.96% | -0.17% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.04% | 4.89% | +0.15% |
IUSB vs. ABNFX - Expense Ratio Comparison
IUSB has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than ABNFX's 0.35% expense ratio.
Dividends
IUSB vs. ABNFX - Dividend Comparison
IUSB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.23%, less than ABNFX's 4.38% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABNFX American Funds The Bond Fund of America® Class F-2 | 4.38% | 4.37% | 4.55% | 3.19% | 2.37% | 2.07% | 5.15% | 3.72% | 2.65% | 2.10% | 2.31% | 2.24% |
IUSB iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF | 4.23% | 4.17% | 4.04% | 3.46% | 2.53% | 1.74% | 2.68% | 3.04% | 2.98% | 2.56% | 2.60% | 1.95% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.90, IUSB and ABNFX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
ABNFX has higher volatility (1.40%) compared to IUSB (1.24%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IUSB dropped -17.90% vs ABNFX's -17.69%.
IUSB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.54 vs 1.34), 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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