SGEA.L vs. VDST.L

Last updated Jul 16, 2026

SGEA.L (iShares Emerging Asia Local Govt Bond UCITS ETF USD (Dist)) and VDST.L (Vanguard U.S. Treasury 0-1 Year Bond UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating) are both Government Bonds funds - SGEA.L tracks the iShares Emerging Asia Local Govt Bond UCITS ETF USD (Dist) while VDST.L tracks the Bloomberg Short Treasury Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SGEA.L returned 0.02%/yr vs 3.80%/yr for VDST.L. A 0.55 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. SGEA.L charges 0.50%/yr vs 0.05%/yr for VDST.L.

Performance

SGEA.L vs. VDST.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in iShares Emerging Asia Local Govt Bond UCITS ETF USD (Dist) (SGEA.L) and Vanguard U.S. Treasury 0-1 Year Bond UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating (VDST.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

SGEA.L is traded in GBP, while VDST.L is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the VDST.L values have been converted to GBP using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SGEA.L achieves a -6.30% return, which is significantly lower than VDST.L's 1.42% return.

SGEA.L

• 1D: 0.50%
• 1M: -0.75%
• 6M: -5.74%
• YTD: -6.30%
• 1Y: -7.02%
• 3Y*: -0.14%
• 5Y*: 0.02%
• 10Y*: 0.95%

VDST.L

• 1D: -1.00%
• 1M: -0.57%
• 6M: 1.08%
• YTD: 1.42%
• 1Y: 2.79%
• 3Y*: 3.49%
• 5Y*: 3.80%
• 10Y*: —

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

SGEA.L vs. VDST.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
SGEA.L iShares Emerging Asia Local Govt Bond UCITS ETF USD (Dist)	-6.30%	-1.01%	3.19%	-0.97%	3.25%	-3.19%	4.49%
VDST.L Vanguard U.S. Treasury 0-1 Year Bond UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating	1.42%	-3.16%	7.08%	-0.27%	12.98%	0.94%	-2.24%

Correlation

The correlation between SGEA.L and VDST.L is 0.49, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.49
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.50
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.53
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 2, 2020	0.55

The correlation between SGEA.L and VDST.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.49 to 0.55 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

SGEA.L vs. VDST.L — Risk / Return Rank

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

SGEA.L

SGEA.L Risk / Return Rank: 2
SGEA.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 1
SGEA.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 2
SGEA.L Omega Ratio Rank: 2
SGEA.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 3
SGEA.L Martin Ratio Rank: 2

VDST.L

VDST.L Risk / Return Rank: 99
VDST.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 99
VDST.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 99
VDST.L Omega Ratio Rank: 99
VDST.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
VDST.L Martin Ratio Rank: 99

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.

SGEA.L vs. VDST.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Emerging Asia Local Govt Bond UCITS ETF USD (Dist) (SGEA.L) and Vanguard U.S. Treasury 0-1 Year Bond UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating (VDST.L). 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.

	SGEA.L	VDST.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-1.03	0.43	-1.45
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-1.34	0.65	-1.99
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.85	1.08	-0.23
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.71	0.54	-1.25
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-1.29	1.47	-2.76

SGEA.L vs. VDST.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SGEA.L Sharpe Ratio is -1.03, which is lower than the VDST.L Sharpe Ratio of 0.43. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SGEA.L and VDST.L, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

SGEA.L vs. VDST.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SGEA.L drawdown since its inception was -40.80%, which is greater than VDST.L's maximum drawdown of -15.91%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SGEA.L and VDST.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	SGEA.L	VDST.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-40.80%	-15.91%	-24.89%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.91%	-5.13%	-3.78%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-10.30%	-9.85%	-0.45%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-10.30%	-15.91%	+5.61%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-12.02%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-10.01%	-6.51%	-3.50%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-17.31%	-7.56%	-9.75%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.91%	1.89%	+3.02%

Volatility

SGEA.L vs. VDST.L - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Emerging Asia Local Govt Bond UCITS ETF USD (Dist) (SGEA.L) is 1.89%, while Vanguard U.S. Treasury 0-1 Year Bond UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating (VDST.L) has a volatility of 2.02%. This indicates that SGEA.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VDST.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SGEA.L	VDST.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.89%	2.02%	-0.13%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	4.38%	5.06%	-0.68%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	6.18%	6.54%	-0.36%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	6.98%	8.45%	-1.47%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	8.03%	8.32%	-0.29%

SGEA.L vs. VDST.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

SGEA.L has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is higher than VDST.L's 0.05% expense ratio.

Dividends

SGEA.L vs. VDST.L - Dividend Comparison

SGEA.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.60%, while VDST.L has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SGEA.L iShares Emerging Asia Local Govt Bond UCITS ETF USD (Dist)	3.60%	3.40%	3.00%	2.90%	2.81%	2.37%	2.97%	2.55%	2.46%	2.17%	2.65%	1.11%
VDST.L Vanguard U.S. Treasury 0-1 Year Bond UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SGEA.L and VDST.L in my portfolio?

SGEA.L and VDST.L have a correlation of 0.49, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, SGEA.L or VDST.L?

On fees, VDST.L is cheaper at 0.05% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, SGEA.L or VDST.L?

VDST.L is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.50% for SGEA.L.

What is the main difference between SGEA.L and VDST.L?

SGEA.L tracks iShares Emerging Asia Local Govt Bond UCITS ETF USD (Dist), while VDST.L tracks Bloomberg Short Treasury Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.50% for SGEA.L and 0.05% for VDST.L.