PRVBX vs. IGSB
PRVBX (Permanent Portfolio Versatile Bond Portfolio) and IGSB (iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF) are both funds - PRVBX is a Short-Term Bond fund managed by Permanent Portfolio, while IGSB is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the ICE BofA 1-5 Year US Corporate Index. Over the past 10 years, PRVBX returned 4.22%/yr vs 2.70%/yr for IGSB. Their 0.40 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. PRVBX charges 0.64%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for IGSB.
Performance
PRVBX vs. IGSB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PRVBX achieves a 1.22% return, which is significantly higher than IGSB's 0.91% return. Over the past 10 years, PRVBX has outperformed IGSB with an annualized return of 4.22%, while IGSB has yielded a comparatively lower 2.70% annualized return.
PRVBX
- 1D
- 0.03%
- 1M
- -0.02%
- 6M
- 0.54%
- YTD
- 1.22%
- 1Y
- 3.28%
- 3Y*
- 5.31%
- 5Y*
- 2.53%
- 10Y*
- 4.22%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.67%
IGSB
- 1D
- -0.04%
- 1M
- -0.17%
- 6M
- 0.47%
- YTD
- 0.91%
- 1Y
- 3.16%
- 3Y*
- 5.60%
- 5Y*
- 2.41%
- 10Y*
- 2.70%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.82%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $137.50M | $132.28M | $161.41M | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
PRVBX vs. IGSB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PRVBX Permanent Portfolio Versatile Bond Portfolio | 1.22% | 5.66% | 5.78% | 6.91% | -5.91% | 2.93% | 9.88% | 9.29% | 2.01% | 0.69% |
IGSB iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 0.91% | 6.96% | 4.97% | 6.40% | -5.63% | -0.56% | 5.37% | 7.11% | 1.25% | 1.27% |
Correlation
The correlation between PRVBX and IGSB is 0.68, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.68 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.70 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.73 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.52 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 11, 2007 | 0.40 |
Over the past year, PRVBX and IGSB have become more correlated (0.68) than their long-term average of 0.40, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
PRVBX vs. IGSB — Risk / Return Rank
PRVBX
IGSB
PRVBX vs. IGSB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Permanent Portfolio Versatile Bond Portfolio (PRVBX) and iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (IGSB). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| PRVBX | IGSB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.02 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.01 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.37 | 1.37 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.36 | 2.56 | -0.20 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.97 | 10.07 | -1.10 |
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Drawdowns
PRVBX vs. IGSB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PRVBX drawdown since its inception was -16.91%, which is greater than IGSB's maximum drawdown of -13.38%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PRVBX and IGSB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PRVBX | IGSB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -16.91% | -13.38% | -3.53% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.51% | -1.46% | -0.05% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.51% | -1.46% | -0.05% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -8.22% | -9.46% | +1.24% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -16.91% | -13.38% | -3.53% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.23% | -0.23% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.72% | -0.85% | +0.13% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.40% | 0.37% | +0.03% |
Volatility
PRVBX vs. IGSB - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Permanent Portfolio Versatile Bond Portfolio (PRVBX) is 0.48%, while iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (IGSB) has a volatility of 0.51%. This indicates that PRVBX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IGSB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PRVBX | IGSB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.48% | 0.51% | -0.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.48% | 1.57% | -0.09% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.84% | 1.95% | -0.11% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.37% | 2.95% | -0.58% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.35% | 3.47% | +0.88% |
PRVBX vs. IGSB - Expense Ratio Comparison
PRVBX has a 0.64% expense ratio, which is higher than IGSB's 0.04% expense ratio.
Dividends
PRVBX vs. IGSB - Dividend Comparison
PRVBX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.13%, less than IGSB's 4.60% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IGSB iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 4.23% | 4.44% | 4.02% | 3.26% | 2.07% | 1.82% | 2.36% | 3.06% | 2.46% | 1.65% | 1.45% | 1.18% |
PRVBX Permanent Portfolio Versatile Bond Portfolio | 4.13% | 4.18% | 3.61% | 3.16% | 1.83% | 0.85% | 4.73% | 2.51% | 1.71% | 3.30% | 3.27% | 5.71% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PRVBX and IGSB have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IGSB has higher volatility (0.51%) compared to PRVBX (0.48%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PRVBX dropped -16.91% vs IGSB's -13.38%.
PRVBX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.94 vs 1.91), 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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