NEAR vs. SDSI

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

NEAR (iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF) and SDSI (American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF) are both Short-Term Bond funds. NEAR is actively managed, while SDSI is passively managed. Over the past 3 years, NEAR returned 5.64%/yr vs 5.77%/yr for SDSI. A 0.66 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. NEAR charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.33%/yr for SDSI.

Performance

NEAR vs. SDSI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF (NEAR) and American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF (SDSI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, NEAR achieves a 0.73% return, which is significantly lower than SDSI's 1.22% return.

NEAR

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.20%
• YTD: 0.73%
• 6M: 1.15%
• 1Y: 4.31%
• 3Y*: 5.64%
• 5Y*: 3.86%
• 10Y*: 2.85%

SDSI

• 1D: -0.04%
• 1M: 0.35%
• YTD: 1.22%
• 6M: 1.66%
• 1Y: 5.27%
• 3Y*: 5.77%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

NEAR vs. SDSI - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
NEAR iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF	0.73%	5.90%	5.09%	7.42%	1.15%
SDSI American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF	1.22%	6.54%	5.63%	5.88%	2.05%

Correlation

The correlation between NEAR and SDSI is 0.71, 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	0.71
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.68
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 14, 2022	0.66

The correlation between NEAR and SDSI has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.66 to 0.71 - a consistent structural relationship.

NEAR vs. SDSI - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	NEAR	SDSI
Financial Services	0.1%	-
Basic Materials	-	-
Consumer Cyclical	-	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-
Energy	-	-
Healthcare	-	2.5%
Industrials	-	7.5%
Real Estate	-	-
Technology	-	-
Utilities	-	-
Communication Services	-0.0%	90.0%

Return for Risk

NEAR vs. SDSI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

NEAR

NEAR Risk / Return Rank: 87
NEAR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
NEAR Sortino Ratio Rank: 94
NEAR Omega Ratio Rank: 93
NEAR Calmar Ratio Rank: 75
NEAR Martin Ratio Rank: 84

SDSI

SDSI Risk / Return Rank: 91
SDSI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 91
SDSI Sortino Ratio Rank: 94
SDSI Omega Ratio Rank: 93
SDSI Calmar Ratio Rank: 84
SDSI Martin Ratio Rank: 90

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

NEAR vs. SDSI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF (NEAR) and American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF (SDSI). 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	SDSI	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	3.18	3.25	-0.06
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	5.07	5.01	+0.06
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.66	1.66	0.00
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.81	4.53	-0.71
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	17.49	21.22	-3.74
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

NEAR vs. SDSI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current NEAR Sharpe Ratio is 3.18, which is comparable to the SDSI Sharpe Ratio of 3.25. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of NEAR and SDSI, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	NEAR	SDSI	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.18	3.25	-0.06
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	2.90	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	1.14	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.09	2.60	-1.51

Drawdowns

NEAR vs. SDSI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum NEAR drawdown since its inception was -9.61%, which is greater than SDSI's maximum drawdown of -1.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NEAR and SDSI.

Drawdown Indicators

	NEAR	SDSI	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-9.61%	-1.29%	-8.32%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.13%	-1.17%	+0.04%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-1.16%	-1.29%	+0.13%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-1.32%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-9.61%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.09%	-0.07%	-0.02%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.16%	-0.24%	+0.08%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.25%	0.25%	0.00%

Volatility

NEAR vs. SDSI - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF (NEAR) is 0.37%, while American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF (SDSI) has a volatility of 0.41%. This indicates that NEAR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SDSI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	NEAR	SDSI	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.37%	0.41%	-0.04%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.00%	1.14%	-0.14%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.36%	1.63%	-0.27%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	1.34%	2.28%	-0.94%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	2.50%	2.28%	+0.22%

NEAR vs. SDSI - Expense Ratio Comparison

NEAR has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than SDSI's 0.33% expense ratio.

Dividends

NEAR vs. SDSI - Dividend Comparison

NEAR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.44%, which matches SDSI's 4.42% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
NEAR iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF	4.44%	4.54%	5.00%	4.59%	1.78%	0.76%	1.53%	2.69%	2.25%	1.52%	1.07%	0.85%
SDSI American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF	4.42%	4.91%	5.49%	5.37%	0.98%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both NEAR and SDSI in my portfolio?

NEAR and SDSI have a correlation of 0.71, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, NEAR or SDSI?

SDSI has higher volatility (0.41%) compared to NEAR (0.37%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NEAR dropped -9.61% vs SDSI's -1.29%.

Which ETF is better, NEAR or SDSI?

On 3-year performance, SDSI leads with 5.77% vs 5.64% for NEAR. On fees, NEAR is cheaper at 0.25% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, NEAR or SDSI?

Over the 3-year period, SDSI has performed better with a 5.77% return vs 5.64%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, NEAR or SDSI?

NEAR is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.33% for SDSI.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, NEAR or SDSI?

NEAR has the higher dividend yield at 4.44%, compared with 4.42% for SDSI.

What is the main difference between NEAR and SDSI?

They also come from different issuers: iShares and American Century. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for NEAR and 0.33% for SDSI.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SDSI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.25 vs 3.18), 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.