RSBA vs. SHY

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

RSBA (Return Stacked Bonds & Merger Arbitrage ETF) and SHY (iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - RSBA is a Leveraged Bonds fund actively managed by Return Stacked, while SHY is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE US Treasury 1-3 Year Index. RSBA is actively managed, while SHY is passively managed. Over the past year, RSBA returned 4.65% vs 3.32% for SHY. A 0.77 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. RSBA charges 0.96%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for SHY.

Performance

RSBA vs. SHY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Return Stacked Bonds & Merger Arbitrage ETF (RSBA) and iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, RSBA achieves a -0.30% return, which is significantly lower than SHY's 0.43% return.

RSBA

• 1D: -0.24%
• 1M: 0.15%
• YTD: -0.30%
• 6M: -0.66%
• 1Y: 4.65%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

SHY

• 1D: -0.05%
• 1M: 0.08%
• YTD: 0.43%
• 6M: 0.69%
• 1Y: 3.32%
• 3Y*: 4.03%
• 5Y*: 1.71%
• 10Y*: 1.65%

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

RSBA vs. SHY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
RSBA Return Stacked Bonds & Merger Arbitrage ETF	-0.30%	7.73%	-0.04%
SHY iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF	0.43%	4.95%	0.37%

Correlation

The correlation between RSBA and SHY is 0.78, 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	0.78
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 19, 2024	0.77

The correlation between RSBA and SHY has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.77 to 0.78 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

RSBA vs. SHY — Risk / Return Rank

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

RSBA

RSBA Risk / Return Rank: 30
RSBA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 28
RSBA Sortino Ratio Rank: 28
RSBA Omega Ratio Rank: 26
RSBA Calmar Ratio Rank: 35
RSBA Martin Ratio Rank: 32

SHY

SHY Risk / Return Rank: 79
SHY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 74
SHY Sortino Ratio Rank: 88
SHY Omega Ratio Rank: 82
SHY Calmar Ratio Rank: 73
SHY Martin Ratio Rank: 77

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.

RSBA vs. SHY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Return Stacked Bonds & Merger Arbitrage ETF (RSBA) and iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY). 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.

	RSBA	SHY	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.02	2.49	-1.47
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.52	4.10	-2.58
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.18	1.51	-0.33
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.70	3.75	-2.05
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	4.70	15.21	-10.51
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

RSBA vs. SHY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current RSBA Sharpe Ratio is 1.02, which is lower than the SHY Sharpe Ratio of 2.49. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of RSBA and SHY, 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

	RSBA	SHY	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.02	2.49	-1.47
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.87	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	1.06	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.00	1.28	-0.29

Drawdowns

RSBA vs. SHY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum RSBA drawdown since its inception was -2.83%, smaller than the maximum SHY drawdown of -5.71%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RSBA and SHY.

Drawdown Indicators

	RSBA	SHY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-2.83%	-5.71%	+2.88%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.74%	-0.89%	-1.85%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-0.97%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-5.71%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-5.71%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.62%	-0.31%	-1.31%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.81%	-0.52%	-0.29%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.99%	0.22%	+0.77%

Volatility

RSBA vs. SHY - Volatility Comparison

Return Stacked Bonds & Merger Arbitrage ETF (RSBA) has a higher volatility of 1.37% compared to iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY) at 0.35%. This indicates that RSBA's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SHY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	RSBA	SHY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.37%	0.35%	+1.02%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	3.27%	0.92%	+2.35%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.59%	1.34%	+3.25%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	5.08%	1.98%	+3.10%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	5.08%	1.57%	+3.51%

RSBA vs. SHY - Expense Ratio Comparison

RSBA has a 0.96% expense ratio, which is higher than SHY's 0.15% expense ratio.

Dividends

RSBA vs. SHY - Dividend Comparison

RSBA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.38%, less than SHY's 3.68% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
RSBA Return Stacked Bonds & Merger Arbitrage ETF	3.38%	3.37%	0.01%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
SHY iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF	3.68%	3.81%	3.92%	2.99%	1.30%	0.26%	0.94%	2.12%	1.72%	0.98%	0.71%	0.54%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both RSBA and SHY in my portfolio?

RSBA and SHY have a correlation of 0.78, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, RSBA or SHY?

RSBA has higher volatility (1.37%) compared to SHY (0.35%). In terms of maximum drawdown, RSBA dropped -2.83% vs SHY's -5.71%.

Which ETF is better, RSBA or SHY?

On 1-year performance, RSBA leads with 4.65% vs 3.32% for SHY. On fees, SHY is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, SHY has been the lower-risk option at 0.35%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, RSBA or SHY?

Over the 1-year period, RSBA has performed better with a 4.65% return vs 3.32%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, RSBA or SHY?

SHY is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.96% for RSBA.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, RSBA or SHY?

SHY has the higher dividend yield at 3.68%, compared with 3.38% for RSBA.

What is the main difference between RSBA and SHY?

RSBA is categorized as Leveraged Bonds, while SHY is Government Bonds. They also come from different issuers: Return Stacked and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.96% for RSBA and 0.15% for SHY.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SHY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.49 vs 1.02), 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.