IYT vs. RBLD

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

IYT (iShares Transportation Average ETF) and RBLD (First Trust Alerian U.S. NextGen Infrastructure ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IYT is a Industrials Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones Transportation Average Index, while RBLD is a Infrastructure Equities fund tracking the Alerian US NextGen Infrastructure Index - Benchmark TR Net. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IYT returned 10.75%/yr vs 8.19%/yr for RBLD. Their 0.66 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. IYT charges 0.42%/yr vs 0.65%/yr for RBLD.

Performance

IYT vs. RBLD - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Transportation Average ETF (IYT) and First Trust Alerian U.S. NextGen Infrastructure ETF (RBLD). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IYT achieves a 14.55% return, which is significantly lower than RBLD's 16.81% return. Over the past 10 years, IYT has outperformed RBLD with an annualized return of 10.75%, while RBLD has yielded a comparatively lower 8.19% annualized return.

IYT

• 1D: 0.01%
• 1M: -3.52%
• 6M: 11.47%
• YTD: 14.55%
• 1Y: 28.75%
• 3Y*: 10.10%
• 5Y*: 7.51%
• 10Y*: 10.75%
• ALL TIME*: 9.92%

RBLD

• 1D: 0.07%
• 1M: -1.92%
• 6M: 10.34%
• YTD: 16.81%
• 1Y: 20.06%
• 3Y*: 18.07%
• 5Y*: 11.47%
• 10Y*: 8.19%
• ALL TIME*: 8.64%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
IYT iShares Transportation Average ETF	$61.92M	$57.48M	$60.22M
RBLD First Trust Alerian U.S. NextGen Infrastructure ETF	$127.03K	$1.03M	$779.49K

IYT vs. RBLD - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
IYT iShares Transportation Average ETF	14.55%	11.48%	4.10%	24.62%	-21.74%	26.41%	14.20%	20.11%	-12.87%	18.89%
RBLD First Trust Alerian U.S. NextGen Infrastructure ETF	16.81%	13.99%	17.94%	19.36%	-9.87%	12.98%	0.51%	12.81%	-21.72%	22.95%

Correlation

The correlation between IYT and RBLD is 0.59, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.59
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.68
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.72
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions.	0.68
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 17, 2008	0.66

The correlation between IYT and RBLD shifts across timeframes, from 0.59 (1 year) to 0.72 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

IYT vs. RBLD - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	IYT	RBLD
Industrials	84.9%	42.4%
Technology	15.1%	10.9%
Basic Materials	-	6.1%
Communication Services	-	1.0%
Consumer Cyclical	-	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-
Energy	-	8.3%
Financial Services	-	-
Healthcare	-	-
Real Estate	-	4.3%
Utilities	-	27.9%

Return for Risk

IYT vs. RBLD — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

IYT

IYT Risk / Return Rank: 57
IYT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 54
IYT Sortino Ratio Rank: 54
IYT Omega Ratio Rank: 52
IYT Calmar Ratio Rank: 62
IYT Martin Ratio Rank: 62

RBLD

RBLD Risk / Return Rank: 60
RBLD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 55
RBLD Sortino Ratio Rank: 51
RBLD Omega Ratio Rank: 50
RBLD Calmar Ratio Rank: 74
RBLD Martin Ratio Rank: 70

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

IYT vs. RBLD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Transportation Average ETF (IYT) and First Trust Alerian U.S. NextGen Infrastructure ETF (RBLD). 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.

	IYT	RBLD	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.29	1.32	-0.03
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.89	1.84	+0.05
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.23	1.23	+0.01
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.17	2.61	-0.43
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	7.44	8.60	-1.16

IYT vs. RBLD - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IYT Sharpe Ratio is 1.29, which is comparable to the RBLD Sharpe Ratio of 1.32. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IYT and RBLD, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

IYT vs. RBLD - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IYT drawdown since its inception was -60.39%, which is greater than RBLD's maximum drawdown of -50.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IYT and RBLD.

Drawdown Indicators

	IYT	RBLD	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-60.39%	-50.07%	-10.32%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.09%	-7.19%	-4.90%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-26.35%	-19.14%	-7.21%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-29.15%	-22.54%	-6.61%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-41.28%	-50.07%	+8.79%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-5.69%	-4.12%	-1.57%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.26%	-10.76%	+1.50%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.53%	2.18%	+1.35%

Volatility

IYT vs. RBLD - Volatility Comparison

iShares Transportation Average ETF (IYT) has a higher volatility of 4.43% compared to First Trust Alerian U.S. NextGen Infrastructure ETF (RBLD) at 3.65%. This indicates that IYT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than RBLD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	IYT	RBLD	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.43%	3.65%	+0.78%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	16.10%	11.00%	+5.10%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	20.29%	14.19%	+6.10%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	22.33%	16.78%	+5.55%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	23.11%	18.50%	+4.61%

IYT vs. RBLD - Expense Ratio Comparison

IYT has a 0.42% expense ratio, which is lower than RBLD's 0.65% expense ratio.

Dividends

IYT vs. RBLD - Dividend Comparison

IYT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.92%, less than RBLD's 0.97% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
IYT iShares Transportation Average ETF	0.92%	1.00%	1.08%	1.26%	1.40%	0.77%	0.93%	1.29%	1.35%	0.92%	0.96%	1.28%
RBLD First Trust Alerian U.S. NextGen Infrastructure ETF	0.97%	1.19%	1.31%	1.16%	2.10%	1.45%	2.88%	1.84%	1.74%	1.49%	2.01%	1.17%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IYT and RBLD in my portfolio?

IYT and RBLD have a correlation of 0.59, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, IYT or RBLD?

IYT has higher volatility (4.43%) compared to RBLD (3.65%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IYT dropped -60.39% vs RBLD's -50.07%.

Which ETF is better, IYT or RBLD?

On 10-year performance, IYT leads with 10.75% vs 8.19% for RBLD. On fees, IYT is cheaper at 0.42% per year. On volatility, RBLD has been the lower-risk option at 3.65%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, IYT or RBLD?

Over the 10-year period, IYT has performed better with a 10.75% return vs 8.19%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, IYT or RBLD?

IYT is cheaper with a 0.42% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for RBLD.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, IYT or RBLD?

RBLD has the higher dividend yield at 0.97%, compared with 0.92% for IYT.

What is the main difference between IYT and RBLD?

IYT is categorized as Industrials Equities, while RBLD is Infrastructure Equities. IYT tracks Dow Jones Transportation Average Index, while RBLD tracks Alerian US NextGen Infrastructure Index - Benchmark TR Net. They also come from different issuers: iShares and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.42% for IYT and 0.65% for RBLD.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

RBLD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.32 vs 1.29), 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.