TLT vs. ISRG
TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) is Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index, while ISRG (Intuitive Surgical, Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, TLT returned -1.75%/yr vs 19.09%/yr for ISRG. At a correlation of -0.13, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
TLT vs. ISRG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, TLT achieves a 0.27% return, which is significantly higher than ISRG's -27.42% return. Over the past 10 years, TLT has underperformed ISRG with an annualized return of -1.75%, while ISRG has yielded a comparatively higher 19.09% annualized return.
TLT
- 1D
- -0.24%
- 1M
- 2.93%
- YTD
- 0.27%
- 6M
- 0.45%
- 1Y
- 3.88%
- 3Y*
- -1.38%
- 5Y*
- -6.53%
- 10Y*
- -1.75%
ISRG
- 1D
- -0.45%
- 1M
- -2.39%
- YTD
- -27.42%
- 6M
- -24.20%
- 1Y
- -19.74%
- 3Y*
- 9.23%
- 5Y*
- 7.37%
- 10Y*
- 19.09%
TLT vs. ISRG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 0.27% | 4.25% | -8.05% | 2.77% | -31.23% | -4.60% | 18.15% | 14.12% | -1.61% | 9.18% |
ISRG Intuitive Surgical, Inc. | -27.42% | 8.51% | 54.72% | 27.14% | -26.15% | 31.76% | 38.39% | 23.43% | 31.23% | 72.64% |
Correlation
The correlation between TLT and ISRG is 0.19, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 26, 2002 | -0.13 |
The correlation between TLT and ISRG shifts across timeframes, from -0.13 (all time) to 0.19 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
TLT vs. ISRG — Risk / Return Rank
TLT
ISRG
TLT vs. ISRG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) and Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG). 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.
| TLT | ISRG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.95 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.37 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.06 | 0.90 | +0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.38 | -0.62 | +1.00 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.92 | -1.24 | +2.17 |
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Drawdowns
TLT vs. ISRG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum TLT drawdown since its inception was -48.35%, smaller than the maximum ISRG drawdown of -82.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TLT and ISRG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| TLT | ISRG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -48.35% | -82.26% | +33.91% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.58% | -32.14% | +24.56% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.18% | -34.10% | +14.92% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -43.70% | -49.90% | +6.20% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -48.35% | -49.90% | +1.55% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -40.12% | -32.66% | -7.46% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -13.84% | -21.28% | +7.44% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.14% | 16.00% | -12.86% |
Volatility
TLT vs. ISRG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) is 2.83%, while Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) has a volatility of 9.70%. This indicates that TLT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ISRG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| TLT | ISRG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.83% | 9.70% | -6.87% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.64% | 20.72% | -14.08% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 9.68% | 30.69% | -21.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.85% | 33.19% | -17.34% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.91% | 32.40% | -17.49% |
Dividends
TLT vs. ISRG - Dividend Comparison
TLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.56%, while ISRG has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ISRG Intuitive Surgical, Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 4.56% | 4.43% | 4.30% | 3.38% | 2.67% | 1.50% | 1.50% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 2.43% | 2.60% | 2.61% |
Frequently Asked Questions
TLT and ISRG have a correlation of 0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ISRG has higher volatility (9.70%) compared to TLT (2.83%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TLT dropped -48.35% vs ISRG's -82.26%.
TLT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.30 vs -0.65), 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.
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