LIRIX vs. IRTR

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

LIRIX (BlackRock LifePath Index Retirement Fund) and IRTR (Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF) are both Target Retirement Date funds. Over the past year, LIRIX returned 14.50% vs 14.66% for IRTR. With a 0.97 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. LIRIX charges 0.11%/yr vs 0.08%/yr for IRTR.

Performance

LIRIX vs. IRTR - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in BlackRock LifePath Index Retirement Fund (LIRIX) and Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF (IRTR). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with LIRIX having a 5.63% return and IRTR slightly lower at 5.58%.

LIRIX

• 1D: 0.06%
• 1M: 1.68%
• YTD: 5.63%
• 6M: 6.03%
• 1Y: 14.50%
• 3Y*: 10.05%
• 5Y*: 4.10%
• 10Y*: 5.94%

IRTR

• 1D: 0.19%
• 1M: 2.10%
• YTD: 5.58%
• 6M: 6.09%
• 1Y: 14.66%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

LIRIX vs. IRTR - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
LIRIX BlackRock LifePath Index Retirement Fund	5.63%	12.41%	6.04%	10.63%
IRTR Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF	5.58%	12.70%	7.59%	10.63%

Correlation

The correlation between LIRIX and IRTR is 0.97 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.97
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 20, 2023	0.97

The correlation between LIRIX and IRTR has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.97 to 0.97 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

LIRIX vs. IRTR — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

LIRIX

LIRIX Risk / Return Rank: 80
LIRIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 82
LIRIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 82
LIRIX Omega Ratio Rank: 79
LIRIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 77
LIRIX Martin Ratio Rank: 82

IRTR

IRTR Risk / Return Rank: 73
IRTR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 75
IRTR Sortino Ratio Rank: 79
IRTR Omega Ratio Rank: 79
IRTR Calmar Ratio Rank: 61
IRTR Martin Ratio Rank: 71

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

LIRIX vs. IRTR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BlackRock LifePath Index Retirement Fund (LIRIX) and Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF (IRTR). 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.

	LIRIX	IRTR	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.64	2.46	+0.18
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	3.86	3.58	+0.28
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.52	1.48	+0.04
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.49	3.06	+0.43
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	15.59	13.49	+2.10
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

LIRIX vs. IRTR - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current LIRIX Sharpe Ratio is 2.64, which is comparable to the IRTR Sharpe Ratio of 2.46. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of LIRIX and IRTR, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	LIRIX	IRTR	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.64	2.46	+0.18
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.53	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.79	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.79	2.04	-1.25

Drawdowns

LIRIX vs. IRTR - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum LIRIX drawdown since its inception was -20.49%, which is greater than IRTR's maximum drawdown of -6.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LIRIX and IRTR.

Drawdown Indicators

	LIRIX	IRTR	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-20.49%	-6.29%	-14.20%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-4.23%	-4.82%	+0.59%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-7.56%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-20.49%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-20.49%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.86%	-0.79%	-2.07%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.95%	1.09%	-0.14%

Volatility

LIRIX vs. IRTR - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for BlackRock LifePath Index Retirement Fund (LIRIX) is 2.01%, while Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF (IRTR) has a volatility of 2.14%. This indicates that LIRIX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IRTR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	LIRIX	IRTR	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.01%	2.14%	-0.13%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	4.56%	4.84%	-0.28%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	5.58%	5.98%	-0.40%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	7.83%	7.04%	+0.79%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	7.50%	7.04%	+0.46%

LIRIX vs. IRTR - Expense Ratio Comparison

LIRIX has a 0.11% expense ratio, which is higher than IRTR's 0.08% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

LIRIX vs. IRTR - Dividend Comparison

LIRIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.63%, more than IRTR's 3.15% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
IRTR Ishares Lifepath Retirement ETF	3.15%	3.03%	3.03%	0.85%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
LIRIX BlackRock LifePath Index Retirement Fund	3.63%	3.83%	2.02%	2.62%	2.69%	2.68%	1.93%	2.43%	2.44%	2.22%	2.47%	2.92%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both LIRIX and IRTR in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.97, LIRIX and IRTR 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.

Which is riskier, LIRIX or IRTR?

IRTR has higher volatility (2.14%) compared to LIRIX (2.01%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LIRIX dropped -20.49% vs IRTR's -6.29%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

LIRIX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.64 vs 2.46), 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.