NUSC vs. IBIC
NUSC (Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF) and IBIC (iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - NUSC is a Small Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the MSCI TIAA ESG USA Small Cap, 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, NUSC returned 27.41% vs 4.54% for IBIC. At a correlation of -0.01, they often move in opposite directions. NUSC charges 0.30%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for IBIC.
Performance
NUSC vs. IBIC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NUSC achieves a 12.88% return, which is significantly higher than IBIC's 2.37% return.
NUSC
- 1D
- -0.57%
- 1M
- 3.77%
- YTD
- 12.88%
- 6M
- 12.74%
- 1Y
- 27.41%
- 3Y*
- 13.27%
- 5Y*
- 4.68%
- 10Y*
- —
IBIC
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- 0.27%
- YTD
- 2.37%
- 6M
- 2.51%
- 1Y
- 4.54%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
NUSC vs. IBIC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NUSC Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF | 12.88% | 7.72% | 8.29% | 9.72% |
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 2.37% | 4.96% | 5.25% | 2.17% |
Correlation
The correlation between NUSC and IBIC is -0.20, 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 | -0.20 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 18, 2023 | -0.01 |
The correlation between NUSC and IBIC shifts across timeframes, from -0.20 (1 year) to -0.01 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
NUSC vs. IBIC — Risk / Return Rank
NUSC
IBIC
NUSC vs. IBIC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) 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.
| NUSC | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -3.43 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -6.74 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 2.24 | -0.96 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.72 | 17.27 | -14.55 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.81 | 67.45 | -57.64 |
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
| NUSC | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.61 | 5.05 | -3.43 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.22 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.44 | 3.49 | -3.05 |
Drawdowns
NUSC vs. IBIC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NUSC drawdown since its inception was -41.49%, which is greater than IBIC's maximum drawdown of -0.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NUSC and IBIC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NUSC | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.49% | -0.90% | -40.59% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.10% | -0.26% | -9.84% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.95% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.85% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.57% | -0.13% | -0.44% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.21% | -0.10% | -8.11% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.80% | 0.07% | +2.73% |
Volatility
NUSC vs. IBIC - Volatility Comparison
Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) has a higher volatility of 4.50% compared to iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC) at 0.33%. This indicates that NUSC'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
| NUSC | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.50% | 0.33% | +4.17% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.17% | 0.67% | +11.50% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.11% | 0.90% | +16.21% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.15% | 1.58% | +19.57% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.36% | 1.58% | +20.78% |
NUSC vs. IBIC - Expense Ratio Comparison
NUSC has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is higher than IBIC's 0.10% expense ratio.
Dividends
NUSC vs. IBIC - Dividend Comparison
NUSC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.93%, 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% |
NUSC Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF | 0.93% | 1.05% | 1.15% | 1.11% | 1.16% | 7.06% | 0.52% | 0.90% | 3.95% | 0.94% |
Frequently Asked Questions
NUSC and IBIC have a correlation of -0.20, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NUSC has higher volatility (4.50%) compared to IBIC (0.33%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NUSC dropped -41.49% vs IBIC's -0.90%.
On 1-year performance, NUSC leads with 27.41% 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, NUSC has performed better with a 27.41% 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 0.30% for NUSC.
IBIC has the higher dividend yield at 3.59%, compared with 0.93% for NUSC.
NUSC is categorized as Small Cap Growth Equities, while IBIC is Inflation-Protected Bonds. NUSC tracks MSCI TIAA ESG USA Small Cap, while IBIC tracks ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. They also come from different issuers: Nuveen and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.30% for NUSC and 0.10% for IBIC.
IBIC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (5.05 vs 1.61), 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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