NUEM vs. IBIC
NUEM (Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF) and IBIC (iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - NUEM is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the MSCI TIAA ESG Emerging Markets, while IBIC is a Inflation-Protected Bonds fund tracking the ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, NUEM returned 42.42% vs 4.54% for IBIC. At a correlation of -0.03, they often move in opposite directions. NUEM charges 0.35%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for IBIC.
Performance
NUEM vs. IBIC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NUEM achieves a 19.14% return, which is significantly higher than IBIC's 2.37% return.
NUEM
- 1D
- -1.30%
- 1M
- 3.53%
- YTD
- 19.14%
- 6M
- 21.09%
- 1Y
- 42.42%
- 3Y*
- 19.13%
- 5Y*
- 5.39%
- 10Y*
- —
IBIC
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- 0.27%
- YTD
- 2.37%
- 6M
- 2.51%
- 1Y
- 4.54%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
NUEM vs. IBIC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NUEM Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 19.14% | 27.12% | 9.73% | 3.25% |
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 2.37% | 4.96% | 5.25% | 2.17% |
Correlation
The correlation between NUEM and IBIC is -0.26, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.26 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 18, 2023 | -0.03 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between NUEM and IBIC has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.03 to -0.26, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
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Return for Risk
NUEM vs. IBIC — Risk / Return Rank
NUEM
IBIC
NUEM vs. IBIC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NUEM) and iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC). 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.
| NUEM | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.77 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -6.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.42 | 2.24 | -0.82 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.69 | 17.27 | -13.58 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.95 | 67.45 | -54.50 |
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
| NUEM | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.28 | 5.05 | -2.77 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.27 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.41 | 3.49 | -3.08 |
Drawdowns
NUEM vs. IBIC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NUEM drawdown since its inception was -39.48%, which is greater than IBIC's maximum drawdown of -0.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NUEM and IBIC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NUEM | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -39.48% | -0.90% | -38.58% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.56% | -0.26% | -11.30% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.58% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.10% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.30% | -0.13% | -1.17% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.02% | -0.10% | -14.92% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.28% | 0.07% | +3.21% |
Volatility
NUEM vs. IBIC - Volatility Comparison
Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NUEM) has a higher volatility of 6.76% compared to iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC) at 0.33%. This indicates that NUEM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IBIC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NUEM | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.76% | 0.33% | +6.43% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.83% | 0.67% | +15.16% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.68% | 0.90% | +17.78% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.72% | 1.58% | +18.14% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.18% | 1.58% | +18.60% |
NUEM vs. IBIC - Expense Ratio Comparison
NUEM has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is higher than IBIC's 0.10% expense ratio.
Dividends
NUEM vs. IBIC - Dividend Comparison
NUEM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.00%, less than IBIC's 3.59% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 3.59% | 4.43% | 4.65% | 0.83% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
NUEM Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 3.00% | 3.58% | 1.95% | 2.37% | 1.90% | 2.45% | 1.26% | 1.98% | 2.05% | 0.62% |
Frequently Asked Questions
NUEM and IBIC have a correlation of -0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NUEM has higher volatility (6.76%) compared to IBIC (0.33%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NUEM dropped -39.48% vs IBIC's -0.90%.
On 1-year performance, NUEM leads with 42.42% vs 4.54% for IBIC. On fees, IBIC is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, IBIC has been the lower-risk option at 0.33%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, NUEM has performed better with a 42.42% return vs 4.54%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IBIC is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.35% for NUEM.
IBIC has the higher dividend yield at 3.59%, compared with 3.00% for NUEM.
NUEM is categorized as Emerging Markets Equities, while IBIC is Inflation-Protected Bonds. NUEM tracks MSCI TIAA ESG Emerging Markets, while IBIC tracks ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. They also come from different issuers: Nuveen and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.35% for NUEM and 0.10% for IBIC.
IBIC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (5.05 vs 2.28), 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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