MUB vs. IEF
MUB (iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF) and IEF (iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - MUB is a Municipal Bonds fund tracking the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index, while IEF is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, MUB returned 1.92%/yr vs 0.59%/yr for IEF. A 0.56 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. MUB charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for IEF.
Performance
MUB vs. IEF - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MUB achieves a 1.28% return, which is significantly higher than IEF's -0.47% return. Over the past 10 years, MUB has outperformed IEF with an annualized return of 1.92%, while IEF has yielded a comparatively lower 0.59% annualized return.
MUB
- 1D
- -0.01%
- 1M
- 0.65%
- YTD
- 1.28%
- 6M
- 1.80%
- 1Y
- 6.17%
- 3Y*
- 3.35%
- 5Y*
- 0.80%
- 10Y*
- 1.92%
IEF
- 1D
- -0.17%
- 1M
- 0.19%
- YTD
- -0.47%
- 6M
- -0.18%
- 1Y
- 3.39%
- 3Y*
- 2.86%
- 5Y*
- -1.24%
- 10Y*
- 0.59%
MUB vs. IEF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MUB iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF | 1.28% | 3.78% | 1.26% | 5.56% | -7.34% | 1.02% | 5.12% | 7.06% | 0.93% | 4.72% |
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | -0.47% | 8.03% | -0.63% | 3.64% | -15.15% | -3.33% | 10.01% | 8.03% | 0.99% | 2.55% |
Correlation
The correlation between MUB and IEF is 0.73, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.82 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 10, 2007 | 0.56 |
The correlation between MUB and IEF shifts across timeframes, from 0.56 (all time) to 0.82 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
MUB vs. IEF — Risk / Return Rank
MUB
IEF
MUB vs. IEF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (MUB) and iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF). 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.
| MUB | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.43 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.02 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.44 | 1.12 | +0.32 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.22 | 0.84 | +1.39 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.77 | 2.35 | +5.42 |
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Drawdowns
MUB vs. IEF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MUB drawdown since its inception was -13.68%, smaller than the maximum IEF drawdown of -23.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MUB and IEF.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MUB | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -13.68% | -23.93% | +10.25% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.79% | -4.07% | +1.28% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.34% | -7.74% | +2.40% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -11.88% | -21.40% | +9.52% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -13.68% | -23.93% | +10.25% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.66% | -11.18% | +10.52% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.23% | -5.35% | +3.12% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.80% | 1.45% | -0.65% |
Volatility
MUB vs. IEF - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (MUB) is 1.01%, while iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) has a volatility of 1.62%. This indicates that MUB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IEF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MUB | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.01% | 1.62% | -0.61% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.25% | 3.42% | -1.17% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.90% | 4.72% | -1.82% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.06% | 7.71% | -3.65% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.92% | 6.63% | -1.71% |
MUB vs. IEF - Expense Ratio Comparison
MUB has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than IEF's 0.15% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
MUB vs. IEF - Dividend Comparison
MUB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.17%, less than IEF's 3.89% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.89% | 3.77% | 3.62% | 2.91% | 1.96% | 0.83% | 1.08% | 2.08% | 2.24% | 1.82% | 1.81% | 1.90% |
MUB iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF | 3.17% | 3.14% | 3.01% | 2.65% | 2.11% | 1.81% | 2.11% | 2.42% | 2.46% | 2.26% | 2.21% | 2.51% |
Frequently Asked Questions
MUB and IEF have a correlation of 0.73, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IEF has higher volatility (1.62%) compared to MUB (1.01%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MUB dropped -13.68% vs IEF's -23.93%.
On 10-year performance, MUB leads with 1.92% vs 0.59% for IEF. On fees, MUB is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, MUB has been the lower-risk option at 1.01%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, MUB has performed better with a 1.92% return vs 0.59%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
MUB is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for IEF.
IEF has the higher dividend yield at 3.89%, compared with 3.17% for MUB.
MUB is categorized as Municipal Bonds, while IEF is Government Bonds. MUB tracks S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index, while IEF tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for MUB and 0.15% for IEF.
MUB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.16 vs 0.72), 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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