LQD vs. USIG
LQD (iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF) and USIG (iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF) are both Corporate Bonds funds from iShares - LQD tracks the iBoxx $ Liquid Investment Grade Index while USIG tracks the ICE BofA US Corporate. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, LQD returned 2.56%/yr vs 2.65%/yr for USIG. Their correlation of 0.85 suggests significant overlap in exposure. LQD charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for USIG.
Performance
LQD vs. USIG - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, LQD achieves a 0.67% return, which is significantly lower than USIG's 0.73% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with LQD having a 2.56% annualized return and USIG not far ahead at 2.65%.
LQD
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- 0.56%
- YTD
- 0.67%
- 6M
- 0.36%
- 1Y
- 5.54%
- 3Y*
- 5.10%
- 5Y*
- -0.00%
- 10Y*
- 2.56%
USIG
- 1D
- 0.18%
- 1M
- 0.46%
- YTD
- 0.73%
- 6M
- 0.73%
- 1Y
- 5.58%
- 3Y*
- 5.58%
- 5Y*
- 0.75%
- 10Y*
- 2.65%
LQD vs. USIG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LQD iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 0.67% | 7.90% | 0.86% | 9.40% | -17.92% | -1.84% | 10.97% | 17.37% | -3.79% | 7.06% |
USIG iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 0.73% | 7.86% | 2.56% | 8.71% | -15.30% | -1.34% | 9.44% | 13.99% | -2.21% | 5.75% |
Correlation
The correlation between LQD and USIG is 0.99 - 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 | 0.99 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 12, 2007 | 0.85 |
The correlation between LQD and USIG shifts across timeframes, from 0.85 (all time) to 0.99 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
LQD vs. USIG — Risk / Return Rank
LQD
USIG
LQD vs. USIG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) and iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (USIG). 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.
| LQD | USIG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.33 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.47 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.24 | -0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.66 | 2.01 | -0.34 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.76 | 6.53 | -1.77 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| LQD | USIG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.05 | 1.37 | -0.33 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.00 | 0.11 | -0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.30 | 0.39 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.00 |
Drawdowns
LQD vs. USIG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum LQD drawdown since its inception was -24.95%, which is greater than USIG's maximum drawdown of -22.21%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LQD and USIG.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| LQD | USIG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -24.95% | -22.21% | -2.74% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.34% | -2.79% | -0.55% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -8.43% | -6.10% | -2.33% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.95% | -21.45% | -3.50% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -24.95% | -21.45% | -3.50% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.51% | -0.79% | -2.72% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.99% | -3.42% | -0.57% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.17% | 0.86% | +0.31% |
Volatility
LQD vs. USIG - Volatility Comparison
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) has a higher volatility of 1.62% compared to iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (USIG) at 1.25%. This indicates that LQD's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than USIG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| LQD | USIG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.62% | 1.25% | +0.37% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.90% | 3.04% | +0.86% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.36% | 4.13% | +1.23% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 8.64% | 6.82% | +1.82% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.68% | 6.82% | +1.86% |
LQD vs. USIG - Expense Ratio Comparison
LQD has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than USIG's 0.04% 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
LQD vs. USIG - Dividend Comparison
LQD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.56%, less than USIG's 4.73% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LQD iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 4.56% | 4.48% | 4.45% | 3.99% | 3.30% | 2.30% | 2.66% | 3.29% | 3.67% | 3.10% | 3.34% | 3.47% |
USIG iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 4.73% | 4.62% | 4.51% | 3.94% | 3.14% | 2.33% | 2.82% | 3.37% | 3.44% | 3.03% | 2.87% | 3.24% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.99, LQD and USIG 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.
LQD has higher volatility (1.62%) compared to USIG (1.25%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LQD dropped -24.95% vs USIG's -22.21%.
On 10-year performance, USIG leads with 2.65% vs 2.56% for LQD. On fees, USIG is cheaper at 0.04% per year. On volatility, USIG has been the lower-risk option at 1.25%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, USIG has performed better with a 2.65% return vs 2.56%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
USIG is cheaper with a 0.04% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for LQD.
USIG has the higher dividend yield at 4.73%, compared with 4.56% for LQD.
LQD tracks iBoxx $ Liquid Investment Grade Index, while USIG tracks ICE BofA US Corporate. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for LQD and 0.04% for USIG.
USIG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.37 vs 1.05), 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.
Find the right allocation for LQD and USIG
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer