ULTR vs. VGUS

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about IQ Ultra Short Duration ETF (ULTR) and Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF (VGUS).

ULTR and VGUS are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. ULTR is an actively managed fund by New York Life. It was launched on Jul 31, 2019. VGUS is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the Bloomberg Short Treasury Index. It was launched on Feb 7, 2025.

Performance

ULTR vs. VGUS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in IQ Ultra Short Duration ETF (ULTR) and Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF (VGUS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

ULTR vs. VGUS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
ULTR IQ Ultra Short Duration ETF	0.00%	0.00%
VGUS Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF	0.81%	3.77%

Returns By Period

ULTR

• 1D: —
• 1M: —
• YTD: —
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

VGUS

• 1D: 0.01%
• 1M: 0.25%
• YTD: 0.81%
• 6M: 1.82%
• 1Y: 4.00%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

ULTR vs. VGUS - Expense Ratio Comparison

ULTR has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VGUS's 0.07% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

ULTR

IQ Ultra Short Duration ETF

VGUS

Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF

Return for Risk

ULTR vs. VGUS — Risk / Return Rank

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

VGUS

VGUS Risk / Return Rank: 100
VGUS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 100
VGUS Sortino Ratio Rank: 100
VGUS Omega Ratio Rank: 100
VGUS Calmar Ratio Rank: 100
VGUS 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.

ULTR vs. VGUS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for IQ Ultra Short Duration ETF (ULTR) and Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF (VGUS). 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.

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	ULTR	VGUS	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	—	11.39	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	—	11.78	—

Dividends

ULTR vs. VGUS - Dividend Comparison

ULTR has not paid dividends to shareholders, while VGUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.66%.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
ULTR IQ Ultra Short Duration ETF	0.00%	0.00%	1.12%	4.50%	2.43%	2.26%	1.90%	1.03%
VGUS Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF	3.66%	3.12%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

Drawdown Indicators

	ULTR	VGUS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	—	-0.07%	—
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-0.07%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	—	0.00%	—
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	—	0.00%	—
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	0.01%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	ULTR	VGUS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	0.07%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	0.16%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	—	0.35%	—
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	—	0.35%	—
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	—	0.35%	—