NEAR vs. ISTB
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF (NEAR) and iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB).
NEAR and ISTB are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. NEAR is an actively managed fund by iShares. It was launched on Sep 25, 2013. ISTB is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the BBG US Universal 1-5 Year Index (USD). It was launched on Oct 18, 2012.
Performance
NEAR vs. ISTB - Performance Comparison
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NEAR vs. ISTB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEAR iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF | 0.16% | 5.90% | 5.09% | 7.42% | 0.41% | 0.32% | 1.39% | 3.55% | 1.71% | 1.41% |
ISTB iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF | 0.10% | 6.36% | 4.37% | 5.56% | -6.08% | -0.71% | 4.75% | 5.61% | 1.02% | 1.72% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NEAR achieves a 0.16% return, which is significantly higher than ISTB's 0.10% return. Over the past 10 years, NEAR has outperformed ISTB with an annualized return of 2.83%, while ISTB has yielded a comparatively lower 2.31% annualized return.
NEAR
- 1D
- 0.19%
- 1M
- -0.66%
- YTD
- 0.16%
- 6M
- 1.39%
- 1Y
- 4.52%
- 3Y*
- 5.75%
- 5Y*
- 3.77%
- 10Y*
- 2.83%
ISTB
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- -0.81%
- YTD
- 0.10%
- 6M
- 1.31%
- 1Y
- 4.49%
- 3Y*
- 4.77%
- 5Y*
- 1.87%
- 10Y*
- 2.31%
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NEAR vs. ISTB - Expense Ratio Comparison
NEAR has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than ISTB's 0.06% 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%.
Return for Risk
NEAR vs. ISTB — Risk / Return Rank
NEAR
ISTB
NEAR vs. ISTB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF (NEAR) and iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB). 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.
| NEAR | ISTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.41 | 2.32 | +0.09 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 3.59 | 3.56 | +0.03 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.56 | 1.47 | +0.09 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.92 | 3.62 | +0.30 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 15.25 | 14.54 | +0.71 |
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
| NEAR | ISTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.41 | 2.32 | +0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 2.88 | 0.68 | +2.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.14 | 0.93 | +0.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.08 | 0.84 | +0.24 |
Correlation
The correlation between NEAR and ISTB is 0.40, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
NEAR vs. ISTB - Dividend Comparison
NEAR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.51%, more than ISTB's 4.18% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NEAR iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF | 4.51% | 4.54% | 5.00% | 4.59% | 1.78% | 0.76% | 1.53% | 2.69% | 2.25% | 1.52% | 1.07% | 0.85% |
ISTB iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF | 4.18% | 4.12% | 3.83% | 2.97% | 2.01% | 1.69% | 2.20% | 2.75% | 2.57% | 2.06% | 1.90% | 1.58% |
Drawdowns
NEAR vs. ISTB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NEAR drawdown since its inception was -9.61%, roughly equal to the maximum ISTB drawdown of -9.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NEAR and ISTB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NEAR | ISTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -9.61% | -9.34% | -0.27% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.16% | -1.26% | +0.10% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -1.32% | -9.34% | +8.02% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -9.61% | -9.34% | -0.27% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.66% | -0.81% | +0.15% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.16% | -1.23% | +1.07% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.30% | 0.31% | -0.01% |
Volatility
NEAR vs. ISTB - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF (NEAR) is 0.62%, while iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB) has a volatility of 0.78%. This indicates that NEAR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ISTB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NEAR | ISTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.62% | 0.78% | -0.16% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.93% | 1.18% | -0.25% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.88% | 1.94% | -0.06% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.32% | 2.78% | -1.46% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.49% | 2.50% | -0.01% |