USHY vs. VGIT
USHY (iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF) and VGIT (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - USHY is a High Yield Bonds fund tracking the ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained Index, while VGIT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 3-10 Year Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, USHY returned 4.21%/yr vs 0.01%/yr for VGIT. At a 0.22 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. USHY charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VGIT.
Performance
USHY vs. VGIT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, USHY achieves a 1.75% return, which is significantly higher than VGIT's -0.29% return.
USHY
- 1D
- 0.03%
- 1M
- 0.68%
- YTD
- 1.75%
- 6M
- 2.37%
- 1Y
- 7.19%
- 3Y*
- 8.94%
- 5Y*
- 4.21%
- 10Y*
- —
VGIT
- 1D
- -0.12%
- 1M
- 0.16%
- YTD
- -0.29%
- 6M
- 0.04%
- 1Y
- 3.43%
- 3Y*
- 3.69%
- 5Y*
- 0.01%
- 10Y*
- 1.20%
USHY vs. VGIT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USHY iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | 1.75% | 8.81% | 8.45% | 12.73% | -11.18% | 5.02% | 6.17% | 14.24% | -2.41% | 0.16% |
VGIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF | -0.29% | 7.34% | 1.39% | 4.28% | -10.53% | -2.64% | 7.71% | 6.19% | 1.35% | -0.05% |
Correlation
The correlation between USHY and VGIT is 0.52, 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 | 0.52 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.54 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 26, 2017 | 0.22 |
Over the past year, USHY and VGIT have become more correlated (0.52) than their long-term average of 0.22, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
USHY vs. VGIT — Risk / Return Rank
USHY
VGIT
USHY vs. VGIT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY) and Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT). 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.
| USHY | VGIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.92 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.36 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.17 | +0.20 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.85 | 1.13 | +1.72 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.77 | 3.18 | +9.60 |
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Drawdowns
USHY vs. VGIT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum USHY drawdown since its inception was -22.44%, which is greater than VGIT's maximum drawdown of -16.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for USHY and VGIT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| USHY | VGIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.44% | -16.05% | -6.39% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.43% | -2.83% | +0.40% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.66% | -4.34% | -0.32% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.56% | -15.02% | -0.54% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -16.05% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -2.22% | +2.22% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.66% | -3.52% | +0.86% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.54% | 1.01% | -0.47% |
Volatility
USHY vs. VGIT - Volatility Comparison
iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY) and Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT) have volatilities of 1.20% and 1.15%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| USHY | VGIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.20% | 1.15% | +0.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.96% | 2.40% | +0.56% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.69% | 3.34% | +0.35% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.35% | 5.38% | +1.97% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.24% | 4.50% | +3.74% |
USHY vs. VGIT - Expense Ratio Comparison
USHY has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than VGIT's 0.03% 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%.
Dividends
USHY vs. VGIT - Dividend Comparison
USHY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.90%, more than VGIT's 3.86% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USHY iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | 6.90% | 6.79% | 6.89% | 6.63% | 6.08% | 5.07% | 5.30% | 5.92% | 6.30% | 0.73% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VGIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF | 3.86% | 3.79% | 3.67% | 2.73% | 1.74% | 1.69% | 2.23% | 2.24% | 2.05% | 1.67% | 1.69% | 1.69% |
Frequently Asked Questions
USHY and VGIT have a correlation of 0.52, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
USHY has higher volatility (1.20%) compared to VGIT (1.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, USHY dropped -22.44% vs VGIT's -16.05%.
On 5-year performance, USHY leads with 4.21% vs 0.01% for VGIT. On fees, VGIT is cheaper at 0.03% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, USHY has performed better with a 4.21% return vs 0.01%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VGIT is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for USHY.
USHY has the higher dividend yield at 6.90%, compared with 3.86% for VGIT.
USHY is categorized as High Yield Bonds, while VGIT is Government Bonds. USHY tracks ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained Index, while VGIT tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 3-10 Year Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for USHY and 0.03% for VGIT.
USHY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.88 vs 0.96), 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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