STIP vs. IEF
STIP (iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond ETF) and IEF (iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - STIP is a Inflation-Protected Bonds fund tracking the Barclays Capital U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) 0-5 Years Index (Series-L), while IEF is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, STIP returned 3.18%/yr vs 0.63%/yr for IEF. A 0.52 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. STIP charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for IEF.
Performance
STIP vs. IEF - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, STIP achieves a 2.04% return, which is significantly higher than IEF's -0.66% return. Over the past 10 years, STIP has outperformed IEF with an annualized return of 3.18%, while IEF has yielded a comparatively lower 0.63% annualized return.
STIP
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.03%
- YTD
- 2.04%
- 6M
- 2.03%
- 1Y
- 4.68%
- 3Y*
- 5.23%
- 5Y*
- 3.37%
- 10Y*
- 3.18%
IEF
- 1D
- -0.25%
- 1M
- -0.08%
- YTD
- -0.66%
- 6M
- -1.17%
- 1Y
- 4.06%
- 3Y*
- 2.47%
- 5Y*
- -1.14%
- 10Y*
- 0.63%
STIP vs. IEF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
STIP iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond ETF | 2.04% | 6.03% | 4.77% | 4.63% | -3.02% | 5.68% | 5.18% | 4.89% | 0.54% | 0.74% |
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | -0.66% | 8.03% | -0.63% | 3.64% | -15.15% | -3.33% | 10.01% | 8.03% | 0.99% | 2.55% |
Correlation
The correlation between STIP and IEF is 0.59, 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 | 0.59 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.71 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.60 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.56 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 6, 2010 | 0.52 |
The correlation between STIP and IEF shifts across timeframes, from 0.52 (all time) to 0.71 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
STIP vs. IEF — Risk / Return Rank
STIP
IEF
STIP vs. IEF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond ETF (STIP) and iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF). 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.
| STIP | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.38 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +4.30 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.69 | 1.15 | +0.55 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 6.76 | 1.00 | +5.76 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 26.37 | 2.98 | +23.39 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| STIP | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.23 | 0.85 | +2.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.23 | -0.15 | +1.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.30 | 0.10 | +1.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.07 | 0.50 | +0.57 |
Drawdowns
STIP vs. IEF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum STIP drawdown since its inception was -5.50%, smaller than the maximum IEF drawdown of -23.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for STIP and IEF.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| STIP | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -5.50% | -23.93% | +18.43% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.69% | -4.07% | +3.38% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.95% | -7.74% | +6.79% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -5.50% | -21.40% | +15.90% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -5.50% | -23.93% | +18.43% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.03% | -11.35% | +11.32% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.99% | -5.34% | +4.35% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.18% | 1.37% | -1.19% |
Volatility
STIP vs. IEF - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond ETF (STIP) is 0.40%, while iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) has a volatility of 1.54%. This indicates that STIP experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IEF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| STIP | IEF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.40% | 1.54% | -1.14% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.99% | 3.34% | -2.35% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.46% | 4.78% | -3.32% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.75% | 7.71% | -4.96% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.45% | 6.62% | -4.17% |
STIP vs. IEF - Expense Ratio Comparison
STIP has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than IEF's 0.15% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
STIP vs. IEF - Dividend Comparison
STIP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.30%, more than IEF's 3.90% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.90% | 3.77% | 3.62% | 2.91% | 1.96% | 0.83% | 1.08% | 2.08% | 2.24% | 1.82% | 1.81% | 1.90% |
STIP iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond ETF | 4.30% | 4.11% | 2.62% | 2.84% | 6.04% | 4.15% | 1.40% | 2.06% | 2.44% | 1.59% | 0.89% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
STIP and IEF have a correlation of 0.59, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IEF has higher volatility (1.54%) compared to STIP (0.40%). In terms of maximum drawdown, STIP dropped -5.50% vs IEF's -23.93%.
On 10-year performance, STIP leads with 3.18% vs 0.63% for IEF. On fees, STIP is cheaper at 0.06% per year. On volatility, STIP has been the lower-risk option at 0.40%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, STIP has performed better with a 3.18% return vs 0.63%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
STIP is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for IEF.
STIP has the higher dividend yield at 4.30%, compared with 3.90% for IEF.
STIP is categorized as Inflation-Protected Bonds, while IEF is Government Bonds. STIP tracks Barclays Capital U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) 0-5 Years Index (Series-L), while IEF tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index. Their fees differ too: 0.06% for STIP and 0.15% for IEF.
STIP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.23 vs 0.85), 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.
Find the right allocation for STIP and IEF
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer