NFLT vs. IEF
NFLT (Virtus Newfleet Multi-Sector Bond ETF) and IEF (iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - NFLT is a Multisector Bonds fund actively managed by Virtus, while IEF is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index. NFLT is actively managed, while IEF is passively managed. Over the past 10 years, NFLT returned 4.13%/yr vs 0.63%/yr for IEF. At a 0.36 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. NFLT charges 0.50%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for IEF.
Performance
NFLT vs. IEF - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NFLT achieves a 1.50% return, which is significantly higher than IEF's -0.66% return. Over the past 10 years, NFLT has outperformed IEF with an annualized return of 4.13%, while IEF has yielded a comparatively lower 0.63% annualized return.
NFLT
- 1D
- -0.16%
- 1M
- 0.47%
- YTD
- 1.50%
- 6M
- 1.58%
- 1Y
- 7.11%
- 3Y*
- 7.38%
- 5Y*
- 3.15%
- 10Y*
- 4.13%
IEF
- 1D
- -0.25%
- 1M
- -0.08%
- YTD
- -0.66%
- 6M
- -1.17%
- 1Y
- 4.06%
- 3Y*
- 2.47%
- 5Y*
- -1.14%
- 10Y*
- 0.63%
NFLT vs. IEF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NFLT Virtus Newfleet Multi-Sector Bond ETF | 1.50% | 8.77% | 6.05% | 9.16% | -9.49% | 1.18% | 8.02% | 10.13% | -2.68% | 6.30% |
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | -0.66% | 8.03% | -0.63% | 3.64% | -15.15% | -3.33% | 10.01% | 8.03% | 0.99% | 2.55% |
Correlation
The correlation between NFLT and IEF is 0.44, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.44 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 12, 2015 | 0.36 |
The correlation between NFLT and IEF shifts across timeframes, from 0.36 (all time) to 0.57 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
NFLT vs. IEF — Risk / Return Rank
NFLT
IEF
NFLT vs. IEF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Virtus Newfleet Multi-Sector Bond ETF (NFLT) 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.
| NFLT | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.93 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.32 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.15 | +0.18 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.95 | 1.00 | +1.95 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.00 | 2.98 | +10.02 |
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
| NFLT | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.78 | 0.85 | +0.93 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.71 | -0.15 | +0.86 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.84 | 0.10 | +0.74 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.84 | 0.50 | +0.34 |
Drawdowns
NFLT vs. IEF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NFLT drawdown since its inception was -15.17%, smaller than the maximum IEF drawdown of -23.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NFLT and IEF.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NFLT | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -15.17% | -23.93% | +8.76% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.42% | -4.07% | +1.65% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -3.24% | -7.74% | +4.50% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -13.42% | -21.40% | +7.98% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -15.17% | -23.93% | +8.76% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.33% | -11.35% | +11.02% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.10% | -5.34% | +3.24% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.55% | 1.37% | -0.82% |
Volatility
NFLT vs. IEF - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Virtus Newfleet Multi-Sector Bond ETF (NFLT) is 1.19%, while iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) has a volatility of 1.54%. This indicates that NFLT 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
| NFLT | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.19% | 1.54% | -0.35% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.90% | 3.34% | -0.44% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.01% | 4.78% | -0.77% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.43% | 7.71% | -3.28% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.93% | 6.62% | -1.69% |
NFLT vs. IEF - Expense Ratio Comparison
NFLT has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is higher than IEF's 0.15% expense ratio.
Dividends
NFLT vs. IEF - Dividend Comparison
NFLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.50%, more than IEF's 3.90% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.90% | 3.77% | 3.62% | 2.91% | 1.96% | 0.83% | 1.08% | 2.08% | 2.24% | 1.82% | 1.81% | 1.90% |
NFLT Virtus Newfleet Multi-Sector Bond ETF | 5.50% | 5.74% | 5.76% | 6.02% | 4.16% | 3.41% | 3.63% | 4.33% | 4.81% | 6.23% | 5.30% | 0.67% |
Frequently Asked Questions
NFLT and IEF have a correlation of 0.44, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IEF has higher volatility (1.54%) compared to NFLT (1.19%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NFLT dropped -15.17% vs IEF's -23.93%.
On 10-year performance, NFLT leads with 4.13% vs 0.63% for IEF. On fees, IEF is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, NFLT has been the lower-risk option at 1.19%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, NFLT has performed better with a 4.13% return vs 0.63%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IEF is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.50% for NFLT.
NFLT has the higher dividend yield at 5.50%, compared with 3.90% for IEF.
NFLT is categorized as Multisector Bonds, while IEF is Government Bonds. They also come from different issuers: Virtus and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.50% for NFLT and 0.15% for IEF.
NFLT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.78 vs 0.85), 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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