SLXX.L vs. GFA.L

Last updated Jul 17, 2026

SLXX.L (iShares Core £ Corp Bond UCITS ETF) and GFA.L (VanEck Global Fallen Angel High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc)) are both exchange-traded funds - SLXX.L is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Markit iBoxx GBP Liquid Corporates Large Cap Index, while GFA.L is a Global High Yield Bonds fund tracking the ICE Global Fallen Angel High Yield 10% Constrained Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SLXX.L returned -1.16%/yr vs 3.44%/yr for GFA.L. At a 0.25 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SLXX.L charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.40%/yr for GFA.L.

Performance

SLXX.L vs. GFA.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in iShares Core £ Corp Bond UCITS ETF (SLXX.L) and VanEck Global Fallen Angel High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (GFA.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SLXX.L achieves a -0.11% return, which is significantly lower than GFA.L's 3.67% return.

SLXX.L

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: -0.55%
• 6M: -0.92%
• YTD: -0.11%
• 1Y: 4.02%
• 3Y*: 5.99%
• 5Y*: -1.16%
• 10Y*: 1.19%

GFA.L

• 1D: 0.27%
• 1M: -0.39%
• 6M: 2.66%
• YTD: 3.67%
• 1Y: 6.62%
• 3Y*: 7.13%
• 5Y*: 3.44%
• 10Y*: —

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

SLXX.L vs. GFA.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
SLXX.L iShares Core £ Corp Bond UCITS ETF	-0.11%	6.50%	1.60%	8.54%	-18.36%	-4.01%	9.03%	11.30%	-0.84%
GFA.L VanEck Global Fallen Angel High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc)	3.67%	2.14%	7.87%	4.78%	-2.17%	2.89%	13.52%	9.03%	5.96%

Correlation

The correlation between SLXX.L and GFA.L is 0.11, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.11
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.21
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.23
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 19, 2018	0.25

The correlation between SLXX.L and GFA.L shifts across timeframes, from 0.11 (1 year) to 0.25 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

SLXX.L vs. GFA.L — Risk / Return Rank

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

SLXX.L

SLXX.L Risk / Return Rank: 24
SLXX.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 24
SLXX.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 23
SLXX.L Omega Ratio Rank: 23
SLXX.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 25
SLXX.L Martin Ratio Rank: 27

GFA.L

GFA.L Risk / Return Rank: 39
GFA.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 37
GFA.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 35
GFA.L Omega Ratio Rank: 40
GFA.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 43
GFA.L Martin Ratio Rank: 39

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.

SLXX.L vs. GFA.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core £ Corp Bond UCITS ETF (SLXX.L) and VanEck Global Fallen Angel High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (GFA.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.

	SLXX.L	GFA.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.71	0.79	-0.08
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.05	1.15	-0.10
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.13	1.15	-0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.94	1.83	-0.89
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.86	4.52	-1.67

SLXX.L vs. GFA.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SLXX.L Sharpe Ratio is 0.71, which is comparable to the GFA.L Sharpe Ratio of 0.79. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SLXX.L and GFA.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

SLXX.L vs. GFA.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SLXX.L drawdown since its inception was -30.27%, which is greater than GFA.L's maximum drawdown of -15.25%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SLXX.L and GFA.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	SLXX.L	GFA.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-30.27%	-15.25%	-15.02%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-4.25%	-3.60%	-0.65%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-4.25%	-7.13%	+2.88%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-29.34%	-10.60%	-18.74%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-30.27%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.14%	-2.63%	-5.51%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.01%	-2.58%	-3.43%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.40%	1.46%	-0.06%

Volatility

SLXX.L vs. GFA.L - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Core £ Corp Bond UCITS ETF (SLXX.L) is 1.49%, while VanEck Global Fallen Angel High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (GFA.L) has a volatility of 2.30%. This indicates that SLXX.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GFA.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SLXX.L	GFA.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.49%	2.30%	-0.81%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	4.95%	7.32%	-2.37%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	5.61%	8.31%	-2.70%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	8.06%	8.95%	-0.89%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	8.05%	9.41%	-1.36%

SLXX.L vs. GFA.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

SLXX.L has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is lower than GFA.L's 0.40% expense ratio.

Dividends

SLXX.L vs. GFA.L - Dividend Comparison

SLXX.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.04%, while GFA.L has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
GFA.L VanEck Global Fallen Angel High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
SLXX.L iShares Core £ Corp Bond UCITS ETF	5.04%	4.82%	4.68%	4.06%	2.75%	2.06%	2.12%	2.44%	2.71%	2.73%	2.99%	3.39%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SLXX.L and GFA.L in my portfolio?

SLXX.L and GFA.L have a correlation of 0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, SLXX.L or GFA.L?

On fees, SLXX.L is cheaper at 0.20% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, SLXX.L or GFA.L?

SLXX.L is cheaper with a 0.20% expense ratio, compared with 0.40% for GFA.L.

What is the main difference between SLXX.L and GFA.L?

SLXX.L is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while GFA.L is Global High Yield Bonds. SLXX.L tracks Markit iBoxx GBP Liquid Corporates Large Cap Index, while GFA.L tracks ICE Global Fallen Angel High Yield 10% Constrained Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and VanEck. Their fees differ too: 0.20% for SLXX.L and 0.40% for GFA.L.