TLT vs. MU

Last updated Jun 14, 2026

TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) is Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index, while MU (Micron Technology, Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, TLT returned -1.75%/yr vs 55.83%/yr for MU. At a correlation of -0.19, they often move in opposite directions.

Performance

TLT vs. MU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) and Micron Technology, Inc. (MU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, TLT achieves a 0.27% return, which is significantly lower than MU's 244.07% return. Over the past 10 years, TLT has underperformed MU with an annualized return of -1.75%, while MU has yielded a comparatively higher 55.83% 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%

MU

• 1D: -1.43%
• 1M: 35.46%
• YTD: 244.07%
• 6M: 307.41%
• 1Y: 751.18%
• 3Y*: 144.69%
• 5Y*: 66.21%
• 10Y*: 55.83%

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

TLT vs. MU - 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%
MU Micron Technology, Inc.	244.07%	240.24%	-0.96%	71.93%	-45.93%	24.21%	39.79%	69.49%	-22.84%	87.59%

Correlation

The correlation between TLT and MU is -0.01, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.01
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.03
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.03
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	-0.12
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 26, 2002	-0.19

The correlation between TLT and MU shifts across timeframes, from -0.19 (all time) to 0.03 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

TLT vs. MU — Risk / Return Rank

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

TLT

TLT Risk / Return Rank: 14
TLT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 14
TLT Sortino Ratio Rank: 13
TLT Omega Ratio Rank: 13
TLT Calmar Ratio Rank: 14
TLT Martin Ratio Rank: 14

MU

MU Risk / Return Rank: 99
MU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 100
MU Sortino Ratio Rank: 99
MU Omega Ratio Rank: 98
MU Calmar Ratio Rank: 100
MU Martin Ratio Rank: 100

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.

TLT vs. MU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) and Micron Technology, Inc. (MU). 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	MU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.30	10.83	-10.53
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.50	6.14	-5.64
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.06	1.78	-0.73
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.38	24.91	-24.53
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	0.92	94.64	-93.71

TLT vs. MU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current TLT Sharpe Ratio is 0.30, which is lower than the MU Sharpe Ratio of 10.83. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of TLT and MU, 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

TLT vs. MU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum TLT drawdown since its inception was -48.35%, smaller than the maximum MU drawdown of -98.25%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TLT and MU.

Drawdown Indicators

	TLT	MU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-48.35%	-98.25%	+49.90%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-7.58%	-30.28%	+22.70%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-19.18%	-57.63%	+38.45%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-43.70%	-57.63%	+13.93%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-48.35%	-57.63%	+9.28%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-40.12%	-9.07%	-31.05%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-13.84%	-58.16%	+44.32%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.14%	7.95%	-4.81%

Volatility

TLT vs. MU - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) is 2.83%, while Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) has a volatility of 32.86%. This indicates that TLT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	TLT	MU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.83%	32.86%	-30.03%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	6.64%	57.74%	-51.10%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	9.68%	69.66%	-59.98%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.85%	53.18%	-37.33%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.91%	50.12%	-35.21%

Dividends

TLT vs. MU - Dividend Comparison

TLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.56%, more than MU's 0.05% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
MU Micron Technology, Inc.	0.05%	0.16%	0.55%	0.54%	0.89%	0.21%	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

Can I hold both TLT and MU in my portfolio?

TLT and MU have a correlation of -0.01, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, TLT or MU?

MU has higher volatility (32.86%) compared to TLT (2.83%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TLT dropped -48.35% vs MU's -98.25%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

MU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (10.83 vs 0.30), 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.