IXUS vs. ICSH
IXUS (iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF) and ICSH (iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IXUS is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index (Net), while ICSH is a Ultrashort Bond fund actively managed by iShares. IXUS is passively managed, while ICSH is actively managed. Over the past 10 years, IXUS returned 10.24%/yr vs 2.79%/yr for ICSH. At a 0.10 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IXUS charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.08%/yr for ICSH.
Performance
IXUS vs. ICSH - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IXUS achieves a 15.55% return, which is significantly higher than ICSH's 1.57% return. Over the past 10 years, IXUS has outperformed ICSH with an annualized return of 10.24%, while ICSH has yielded a comparatively lower 2.79% annualized return.
IXUS
- 1D
- 1.49%
- 1M
- 4.72%
- YTD
- 15.55%
- 6M
- 17.02%
- 1Y
- 32.06%
- 3Y*
- 18.58%
- 5Y*
- 8.74%
- 10Y*
- 10.24%
ICSH
- 1D
- 0.04%
- 1M
- 0.36%
- YTD
- 1.57%
- 6M
- 1.81%
- 1Y
- 4.36%
- 3Y*
- 5.16%
- 5Y*
- 3.70%
- 10Y*
- 2.79%
IXUS vs. ICSH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | 15.55% | 32.40% | 5.19% | 15.83% | -16.47% | 8.86% | 10.80% | 21.71% | -14.41% | 28.12% |
ICSH iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF | 1.57% | 4.96% | 5.52% | 5.58% | 0.97% | 0.16% | 1.61% | 3.17% | 2.25% | 1.63% |
Correlation
The correlation between IXUS and ICSH is 0.30, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.10 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 13, 2013 | 0.10 |
Over the past year, IXUS and ICSH have become more correlated (0.30) than their long-term average of 0.10, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
IXUS vs. ICSH — Risk / Return Rank
IXUS
ICSH
IXUS vs. ICSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) and iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH). 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.
| IXUS | ICSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -9.10 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -25.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.37 | 6.64 | -5.27 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.84 | 44.30 | -41.46 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.91 | 292.98 | -282.07 |
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Drawdowns
IXUS vs. ICSH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IXUS drawdown since its inception was -36.22%, which is greater than ICSH's maximum drawdown of -3.94%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IXUS and ICSH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IXUS | ICSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.22% | -3.94% | -32.28% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.36% | -0.10% | -11.26% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.75% | -0.10% | -13.65% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.03% | -0.73% | -29.30% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.22% | -3.94% | -32.28% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.11% | 0.00% | -0.11% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.49% | -0.08% | -7.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.95% | 0.01% | +2.94% |
Volatility
IXUS vs. ICSH - Volatility Comparison
iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) has a higher volatility of 7.02% compared to iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH) at 0.13%. This indicates that IXUS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ICSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IXUS | ICSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.02% | 0.13% | +6.89% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.29% | 0.30% | +13.99% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.31% | 0.40% | +15.91% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.40% | 0.48% | +15.92% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.13% | 1.06% | +16.07% |
IXUS vs. ICSH - Expense Ratio Comparison
IXUS has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than ICSH's 0.08% 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
IXUS vs. ICSH - Dividend Comparison
IXUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.12%, less than ICSH's 4.33% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICSH iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF | 4.33% | 4.55% | 5.24% | 4.78% | 1.66% | 0.42% | 1.21% | 2.61% | 2.20% | 1.36% | 0.88% | 0.54% |
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | 4.12% | 3.24% | 3.33% | 3.13% | 2.48% | 3.12% | 1.85% | 3.09% | 3.00% | 2.41% | 2.58% | 2.81% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IXUS and ICSH have a correlation of 0.30, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IXUS has higher volatility (7.02%) compared to ICSH (0.13%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IXUS dropped -36.22% vs ICSH's -3.94%.
On 10-year performance, IXUS leads with 10.24% vs 2.79% for ICSH. On fees, IXUS is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, ICSH has been the lower-risk option at 0.13%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IXUS has performed better with a 10.24% return vs 2.79%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IXUS is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.08% for ICSH.
ICSH has the higher dividend yield at 4.33%, compared with 4.12% for IXUS.
IXUS is categorized as Foreign Large Cap Equities, while ICSH is Ultrashort Bond. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for IXUS and 0.08% for ICSH.
ICSH currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (11.08 vs 1.98), 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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