IUSG vs. TLT
IUSG (iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF) and TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IUSG is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the S&P 900 Growth Index, while TLT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IUSG returned 17.20%/yr vs -2.33%/yr for TLT. Their -0.23 correlation means they have often moved in opposite directions in the past. IUSG charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for TLT.
Performance
IUSG vs. TLT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IUSG achieves a 12.72% return, which is significantly higher than TLT's -3.18% return. Over the past 10 years, IUSG has outperformed TLT with an annualized return of 17.20%, while TLT has yielded a comparatively lower -2.33% annualized return.
IUSG
- 1D
- 2.17%
- 1M
- 1.92%
- 6M
- 11.50%
- YTD
- 12.72%
- 1Y
- 24.41%
- 3Y*
- 25.35%
- 5Y*
- 13.30%
- 10Y*
- 17.20%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.19%
TLT
- 1D
- 0.33%
- 1M
- -3.49%
- 6M
- -2.86%
- YTD
- -3.18%
- 1Y
- -2.12%
- 3Y*
- -1.15%
- 5Y*
- -8.33%
- 10Y*
- -2.33%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.48%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $105.73M | $92.27M | $99.82M | |
| $2.39B | $2.06B | $2.20B |
IUSG vs. TLT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IUSG iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF | 12.72% | 21.23% | 34.70% | 29.28% | -28.81% | 31.26% | 32.65% | 30.62% | -0.79% | 27.02% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | -3.18% | 4.25% | -8.05% | 2.77% | -31.23% | -4.60% | 18.15% | 14.12% | -1.61% | 9.18% |
Correlation
The correlation between IUSG and TLT is 0.19, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.19 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.12 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.07 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | -0.05 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 26, 2002 | -0.23 |
The correlation between IUSG and TLT shifts across timeframes, from -0.23 (all time) to 0.19 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IUSG vs. TLT — Risk / Return Rank
IUSG
TLT
IUSG vs. TLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF (IUSG) 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.
| IUSG | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.61 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.22 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 0.97 | +0.27 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.88 | -0.28 | +2.15 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.96 | -0.59 | +7.55 |
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Drawdowns
IUSG vs. TLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IUSG drawdown since its inception was -63.41%, which is greater than TLT's maximum drawdown of -48.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IUSG and TLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IUSG | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.41% | -48.35% | -15.06% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.07% | -7.74% | -5.33% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -22.28% | -14.79% | -7.49% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.21% | -43.70% | +11.49% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.35% | -48.35% | +16.00% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.17% | -42.17% | +40.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -21.33% | -14.00% | -7.33% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.52% | 3.60% | -0.08% |
Volatility
IUSG vs. TLT - Volatility Comparison
iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF (IUSG) has a higher volatility of 6.24% compared to iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) at 2.51%. This indicates that IUSG'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
| IUSG | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.24% | 2.51% | +3.73% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.68% | 6.84% | +7.84% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.84% | 9.24% | +8.60% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.22% | 15.74% | +5.48% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.55% | 14.83% | +5.72% |
IUSG vs. TLT - Expense Ratio Comparison
IUSG has a 0.04% 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
IUSG vs. TLT - Dividend Comparison
IUSG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.49%, less than TLT's 4.75% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IUSG iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF | 0.49% | 0.53% | 0.59% | 1.12% | 1.07% | 0.59% | 0.93% | 1.64% | 1.32% | 1.28% | 1.48% | 1.29% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 4.75% | 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
IUSG and TLT have a correlation of 0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IUSG has higher volatility (6.24%) compared to TLT (2.51%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IUSG dropped -63.41% vs TLT's -48.35%.
On 10-year performance, IUSG leads with 17.20% vs -2.33% for TLT. On fees, IUSG is cheaper at 0.04% per year. On volatility, TLT has been the lower-risk option at 2.51%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IUSG has performed better with a 17.20% return vs -2.33%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IUSG is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for TLT.
TLT has the higher dividend yield at 4.75%, compared with 0.49% for IUSG.
IUSG is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while TLT is Government Bonds. IUSG tracks S&P 900 Growth Index, while TLT tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Their fees differ too: 0.04% for IUSG and 0.15% for TLT.
IUSG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.38 vs -0.23), 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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