IUSB vs. SGOV
IUSB (iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF) and SGOV (iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IUSB is a Intermediate Core-Plus Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Universal Index, while SGOV is a Ultrashort Bond fund tracking the ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, IUSB returned 0.44%/yr vs 3.54%/yr for SGOV. At a 0.02 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IUSB charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SGOV.
Performance
IUSB vs. SGOV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IUSB achieves a 0.43% return, which is significantly lower than SGOV's 1.51% return.
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%
SGOV
- 1D
- 0.01%
- 1M
- 0.29%
- YTD
- 1.51%
- 6M
- 1.80%
- 1Y
- 3.95%
- 3Y*
- 4.72%
- 5Y*
- 3.54%
- 10Y*
- —
IUSB vs. SGOV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IUSB iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF | 0.43% | 7.38% | 2.11% | 6.23% | -13.04% | -1.33% | 3.23% |
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | 1.51% | 4.24% | 5.27% | 5.12% | 1.58% | 0.04% | 0.05% |
Correlation
The correlation between IUSB and SGOV is -0.11, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.11 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 29, 2020 | 0.02 |
The correlation between IUSB and SGOV shifts across timeframes, from -0.11 (1 year) to 0.02 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IUSB vs. SGOV — Risk / Return Rank
IUSB
SGOV
IUSB vs. SGOV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF (IUSB) and iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV). 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 | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -18.74 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -273.38 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 195.55 | -194.28 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.20 | 398.20 | -396.00 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.68 | 4,462.00 | -4,455.32 |
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 | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.54 | 20.28 | -18.74 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.08 | 14.73 | -14.66 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.39 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.46 | 12.48 | -12.02 |
Drawdowns
IUSB vs. SGOV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IUSB drawdown since its inception was -17.90%, which is greater than SGOV's maximum drawdown of -0.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IUSB and SGOV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IUSB | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.90% | -0.03% | -17.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.53% | -0.01% | -2.52% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.82% | -0.01% | -5.81% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.87% | -0.03% | -17.84% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -17.90% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.33% | 0.00% | -1.33% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.59% | -0.00% | -3.59% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.83% | 0.00% | +0.83% |
Volatility
IUSB vs. SGOV - Volatility Comparison
iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF (IUSB) has a higher volatility of 1.24% compared to iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) at 0.05%. This indicates that IUSB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SGOV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IUSB | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.24% | 0.05% | +1.19% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.62% | 0.13% | +2.49% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.62% | 0.20% | +3.42% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.79% | 0.24% | +5.55% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.04% | 0.24% | +4.80% |
IUSB vs. SGOV - Expense Ratio Comparison
IUSB has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than SGOV's 0.09% 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
IUSB vs. SGOV - Dividend Comparison
IUSB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.23%, more than SGOV's 3.86% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | 3.86% | 4.10% | 5.10% | 4.87% | 1.45% | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IUSB and SGOV have a correlation of -0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IUSB has higher volatility (1.24%) compared to SGOV (0.05%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IUSB dropped -17.90% vs SGOV's -0.03%.
On 5-year performance, SGOV leads with 3.54% vs 0.44% for IUSB. On fees, IUSB is cheaper at 0.06% per year. On volatility, SGOV has been the lower-risk option at 0.05%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, SGOV has performed better with a 3.54% return vs 0.44%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IUSB is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.09% for SGOV.
IUSB has the higher dividend yield at 4.23%, compared with 3.86% for SGOV.
IUSB is categorized as Intermediate Core-Plus Bond, while SGOV is Ultrashort Bond. IUSB tracks Bloomberg U.S. Universal Index, while SGOV tracks ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index. Their fees differ too: 0.06% for IUSB and 0.09% for SGOV.
SGOV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (20.28 vs 1.54), 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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