MLPB vs. IFED
MLPB (ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B) and IFED (ETRACS IFED Invest with the Fed TR Index ETN) are both exchange-traded funds - MLPB is a MLPs fund tracking the Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index, while IFED is a Leveraged Equities fund tracking the IFED Large-Cap US Equity Index - Benchmark TR Gross. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, MLPB returned 21.94%/yr vs 16.54%/yr for IFED. At a 0.46 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. MLPB charges 0.85%/yr vs 0.45%/yr for IFED.
Performance
MLPB vs. IFED - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MLPB achieves a 17.00% return, which is significantly higher than IFED's -3.07% return.
MLPB
- 1D
- 2.04%
- 1M
- -6.13%
- YTD
- 17.00%
- 6M
- 16.53%
- 1Y
- 18.65%
- 3Y*
- 21.94%
- 5Y*
- 18.51%
- 10Y*
- 8.03%
IFED
- 1D
- -0.05%
- 1M
- 2.47%
- YTD
- -3.07%
- 6M
- -3.90%
- 1Y
- 2.52%
- 3Y*
- 16.54%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
MLPB vs. IFED - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MLPB ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B | 17.00% | 7.40% | 25.53% | 22.01% | 30.22% | 2.52% |
IFED ETRACS IFED Invest with the Fed TR Index ETN | -3.07% | 15.02% | 23.04% | 20.78% | -1.46% | 8.46% |
Correlation
The correlation between MLPB and IFED is 0.03, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 15, 2021 | 0.46 |
Over the past year, the correlation between MLPB and IFED has dropped to 0.03 - well below their long-term average of 0.46, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
MLPB vs. IFED — Risk / Return Rank
MLPB
IFED
MLPB vs. IFED - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B (MLPB) and ETRACS IFED Invest with the Fed TR Index ETN (IFED). 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.
| MLPB | IFED | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.22 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.61 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.04 | +0.19 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.93 | 0.17 | +1.76 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.43 | 0.43 | +5.00 |
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Drawdowns
MLPB vs. IFED - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MLPB drawdown since its inception was -71.93%, which is greater than IFED's maximum drawdown of -22.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MLPB and IFED.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MLPB | IFED | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -71.93% | -22.36% | -49.57% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.68% | -14.65% | +4.97% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.49% | -22.36% | +5.87% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.41% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -71.93% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.86% | -5.05% | -1.81% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.78% | -5.83% | -8.95% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.44% | 5.88% | -2.44% |
Volatility
MLPB vs. IFED - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B (MLPB) is 5.33%, while ETRACS IFED Invest with the Fed TR Index ETN (IFED) has a volatility of 6.74%. This indicates that MLPB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IFED based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MLPB | IFED | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.33% | 6.74% | -1.41% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.30% | 13.81% | -3.51% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.70% | 16.84% | -3.14% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.90% | 19.92% | -0.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 27.16% | 19.92% | +7.24% |
MLPB vs. IFED - Expense Ratio Comparison
MLPB has a 0.85% expense ratio, which is higher than IFED's 0.45% expense ratio.
Dividends
MLPB vs. IFED - Dividend Comparison
MLPB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.99%, while IFED has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IFED ETRACS IFED Invest with the Fed TR Index ETN | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
MLPB ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B | 5.99% | 6.51% | 5.95% | 6.37% | 6.00% | 6.98% | 11.93% | 7.98% | 8.11% | 7.23% | 6.85% |
Frequently Asked Questions
MLPB and IFED have a correlation of 0.03, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IFED has higher volatility (6.74%) compared to MLPB (5.33%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MLPB dropped -71.93% vs IFED's -22.36%.
On 3-year performance, MLPB leads with 21.94% vs 16.54% for IFED. On fees, IFED is cheaper at 0.45% per year. On volatility, MLPB has been the lower-risk option at 5.33%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, MLPB has performed better with a 21.94% return vs 16.54%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IFED is cheaper with a 0.45% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for MLPB.
MLPB has the higher dividend yield at 5.99%, compared with 0.00% for IFED.
MLPB is categorized as MLPs, while IFED is Leveraged Equities. MLPB tracks Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index, while IFED tracks IFED Large-Cap US Equity Index - Benchmark TR Gross. Their fees differ too: 0.85% for MLPB and 0.45% for IFED.
MLPB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.37 vs 0.15), 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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