SBND vs. SDSI

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

SBND (Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF) and SDSI (American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF) are both Short-Term Bond funds - SBND tracks the Bloomberg Beta Advantage Short Term Bond (-300%) while SDSI tracks the Bloomberg U.S. 1-3 Year Government/Credit Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, SBND returned 6.04%/yr vs 5.66%/yr for SDSI. A 0.73 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. SBND charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.33%/yr for SDSI.

Performance

SBND vs. SDSI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF (SBND) and American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF (SDSI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with SBND having a 0.91% return and SDSI slightly lower at 0.90%.

SBND

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.28%
• YTD: 0.91%
• 6M: 1.54%
• 1Y: 5.45%
• 3Y*: 6.04%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

SDSI

• 1D: -0.32%
• 1M: -0.03%
• YTD: 0.90%
• 6M: 1.36%
• 1Y: 4.64%
• 3Y*: 5.66%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

SBND vs. SDSI - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
SBND Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF	0.91%	7.50%	4.83%	7.20%	2.59%
SDSI American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF	0.90%	6.54%	5.63%	5.88%	2.05%

Correlation

The correlation between SBND and SDSI is 0.63, 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	0.63
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.68
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 14, 2022	0.73

The correlation between SBND and SDSI shifts across timeframes, from 0.63 (1 year) to 0.73 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

SBND vs. SDSI - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	SBND	SDSI
Financial Services	9.2%	-
Basic Materials	-	-
Communication Services	-	90.0%
Consumer Cyclical	-	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-
Energy	-	-
Healthcare	-	2.5%
Industrials	-	7.5%
Real Estate	-	-
Technology	-	-
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

SBND vs. SDSI — Risk / Return Rank

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

SBND

SBND Risk / Return Rank: 73
SBND Sharpe Ratio Rank: 69
SBND Sortino Ratio Rank: 79
SBND Omega Ratio Rank: 77
SBND Calmar Ratio Rank: 65
SBND Martin Ratio Rank: 73

SDSI

SDSI Risk / Return Rank: 87
SDSI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 87
SDSI Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
SDSI Omega Ratio Rank: 89
SDSI Calmar Ratio Rank: 79
SDSI Martin Ratio Rank: 88

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.

SBND vs. SDSI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF (SBND) and American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF (SDSI). 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.

	SBND	SDSI	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.24	2.83	-0.60
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.48	4.22	-0.74
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.45	1.56	-0.11
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.20	3.98	-0.78
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	13.43	18.71	-5.28
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SBND vs. SDSI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SBND Sharpe Ratio is 2.24, which is comparable to the SDSI Sharpe Ratio of 2.83. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SBND and SDSI, 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

	SBND	SDSI	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.24	2.83	-0.60
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.70	2.55	-1.85

Drawdowns

SBND vs. SDSI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SBND drawdown since its inception was -10.78%, which is greater than SDSI's maximum drawdown of -1.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SBND and SDSI.

Drawdown Indicators

	SBND	SDSI	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-10.78%	-1.29%	-9.49%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.71%	-1.17%	-0.54%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-1.71%	-1.29%	-0.42%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.14%	-0.39%	+0.25%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.86%	-0.24%	-2.62%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.41%	0.25%	+0.16%

Volatility

SBND vs. SDSI - Volatility Comparison

Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF (SBND) has a higher volatility of 0.58% compared to American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF (SDSI) at 0.52%. This indicates that SBND's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SDSI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SBND	SDSI	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.58%	0.52%	+0.06%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.69%	1.18%	+0.51%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.47%	1.67%	+0.80%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	3.61%	2.28%	+1.33%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	3.61%	2.28%	+1.33%

SBND vs. SDSI - Expense Ratio Comparison

SBND has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than SDSI's 0.33% expense ratio.

Dividends

SBND vs. SDSI - Dividend Comparison

SBND's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.53%, more than SDSI's 4.43% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
SBND Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF	4.53%	4.65%	4.58%	3.90%	2.80%	0.43%
SDSI American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF	4.43%	4.91%	5.49%	5.37%	0.98%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SBND and SDSI in my portfolio?

SBND and SDSI have a correlation of 0.63, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SBND or SDSI?

SBND has higher volatility (0.58%) compared to SDSI (0.52%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SBND dropped -10.78% vs SDSI's -1.29%.

Which ETF is better, SBND or SDSI?

On 3-year performance, SBND leads with 6.04% vs 5.66% for SDSI. On fees, SBND is cheaper at 0.25% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, SBND or SDSI?

Over the 3-year period, SBND has performed better with a 6.04% return vs 5.66%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, SBND or SDSI?

SBND is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.33% for SDSI.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, SBND or SDSI?

SBND has the higher dividend yield at 4.53%, compared with 4.43% for SDSI.

What is the main difference between SBND and SDSI?

SBND tracks Bloomberg Beta Advantage Short Term Bond (-300%), while SDSI tracks Bloomberg U.S. 1-3 Year Government/Credit Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: Columbia and American Century. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for SBND and 0.33% for SDSI.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SDSI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.83 vs 2.24), 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.