MBSD vs. GSG
MBSD (FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund) and GSG (iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust) are both exchange-traded funds - MBSD is a Mortgage Backed Securities fund tracking the ICE BofA Constrained Duration US Mortgage Backed Securities, while GSG is a Commodities fund tracking the S&P GSCI Total Return Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, MBSD returned 1.37%/yr vs 7.69%/yr for GSG. At a correlation of -0.06, they often move in opposite directions. MBSD charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for GSG.
Performance
MBSD vs. GSG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MBSD achieves a 0.42% return, which is significantly lower than GSG's 42.58% return. Over the past 10 years, MBSD has underperformed GSG with an annualized return of 1.37%, while GSG has yielded a comparatively higher 7.69% annualized return.
MBSD
- 1D
- -0.22%
- 1M
- 0.16%
- YTD
- 0.42%
- 6M
- 0.52%
- 1Y
- 5.26%
- 3Y*
- 4.31%
- 5Y*
- 0.62%
- 10Y*
- 1.37%
GSG
- 1D
- 0.77%
- 1M
- -4.83%
- YTD
- 42.58%
- 6M
- 41.06%
- 1Y
- 51.52%
- 3Y*
- 19.31%
- 5Y*
- 15.74%
- 10Y*
- 7.69%
MBSD vs. GSG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MBSD FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund | 0.42% | 7.12% | 2.30% | 4.46% | -9.49% | -1.40% | 5.43% | 6.05% | 0.32% | 0.86% |
GSG iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust | 42.58% | 5.93% | 8.52% | -5.51% | 24.08% | 38.77% | -23.94% | 15.62% | -13.88% | 3.89% |
Correlation
The correlation between MBSD and GSG is -0.34, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.35 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.15 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.07 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.05 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 5, 2014 | -0.06 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between MBSD and GSG has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.06 to -0.34, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
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Return for Risk
MBSD vs. GSG — Risk / Return Rank
MBSD
GSG
MBSD vs. GSG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund (MBSD) and iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG). 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.
| MBSD | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.76 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.66 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.40 | -0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.43 | 5.47 | -3.05 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.71 | 14.39 | -6.68 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| MBSD | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.50 | 2.26 | -0.76 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.12 | 0.70 | -0.58 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.32 | 0.35 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.38 | -0.09 | +0.46 |
Drawdowns
MBSD vs. GSG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MBSD drawdown since its inception was -14.36%, smaller than the maximum GSG drawdown of -89.62%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MBSD and GSG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MBSD | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -14.36% | -89.62% | +75.26% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.17% | -9.46% | +7.29% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.68% | -14.94% | +10.26% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -14.10% | -29.12% | +15.02% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -14.36% | -57.64% | +43.28% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.19% | -56.95% | +55.76% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.81% | -63.71% | +60.90% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.68% | 3.59% | -2.91% |
Volatility
MBSD vs. GSG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund (MBSD) is 1.15%, while iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG) has a volatility of 7.65%. This indicates that MBSD experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GSG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MBSD | GSG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.15% | 7.65% | -6.50% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.47% | 20.42% | -17.95% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.53% | 22.95% | -19.42% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.15% | 22.61% | -17.46% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.26% | 22.03% | -17.77% |
MBSD vs. GSG - Expense Ratio Comparison
MBSD has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is lower than GSG's 0.75% expense ratio.
Dividends
MBSD vs. GSG - Dividend Comparison
MBSD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.19%, while GSG has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GSG iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
MBSD FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund | 4.19% | 4.23% | 3.91% | 3.39% | 3.03% | 2.41% | 2.78% | 3.42% | 3.22% | 3.30% | 3.02% | 3.46% |
Frequently Asked Questions
MBSD and GSG have a correlation of -0.34, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GSG has higher volatility (7.65%) compared to MBSD (1.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MBSD dropped -14.36% vs GSG's -89.62%.
On 10-year performance, GSG leads with 7.69% vs 1.37% for MBSD. On fees, MBSD is cheaper at 0.20% per year. On volatility, MBSD has been the lower-risk option at 1.15%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, GSG has performed better with a 7.69% return vs 1.37%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
MBSD is cheaper with a 0.20% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for GSG.
MBSD has the higher dividend yield at 4.19%, compared with 0.00% for GSG.
MBSD is categorized as Mortgage Backed Securities, while GSG is Commodities. MBSD tracks ICE BofA Constrained Duration US Mortgage Backed Securities, while GSG tracks S&P GSCI Total Return Index. They also come from different issuers: Northern Trust and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.20% for MBSD and 0.75% for GSG.
GSG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.26 vs 1.50), 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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