USHY vs. VT
USHY (iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF) and VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - USHY is a High Yield Bonds fund tracking the ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained Index, while VT is a Global Equities fund tracking the FTSE Global All Cap Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, USHY returned 4.21%/yr vs 10.65%/yr for VT. A 0.73 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. USHY charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.06%/yr for VT.
Performance
USHY vs. VT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, USHY achieves a 1.75% return, which is significantly lower than VT's 11.06% return.
USHY
- 1D
- 0.03%
- 1M
- 1.09%
- YTD
- 1.75%
- 6M
- 2.37%
- 1Y
- 7.19%
- 3Y*
- 8.94%
- 5Y*
- 4.21%
- 10Y*
- —
VT
- 1D
- 0.44%
- 1M
- 1.80%
- YTD
- 11.06%
- 6M
- 11.82%
- 1Y
- 27.43%
- 3Y*
- 19.71%
- 5Y*
- 10.65%
- 10Y*
- 12.93%
USHY vs. VT - 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% |
VT Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | 11.06% | 22.43% | 16.49% | 22.02% | -18.00% | 18.27% | 16.59% | 26.81% | -9.76% | 4.30% |
Correlation
The correlation between USHY and VT is 0.79, 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 | 0.79 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.75 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 26, 2017 | 0.73 |
The correlation between USHY and VT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.73 to 0.79 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
USHY vs. VT — Risk / Return Rank
USHY
VT
USHY vs. VT - 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 Total World Stock ETF (VT). 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 | VT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.15 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.35 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.85 | 2.68 | +0.17 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.77 | 11.67 | +1.10 |
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Drawdowns
USHY vs. VT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum USHY drawdown since its inception was -22.44%, smaller than the maximum VT drawdown of -50.27%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for USHY and VT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| USHY | VT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.44% | -50.27% | +27.83% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.43% | -9.67% | +7.24% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.66% | -16.51% | +11.85% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.56% | -26.38% | +10.82% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -34.24% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -1.92% | +1.92% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.66% | -7.01% | +4.35% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.54% | 2.22% | -1.68% |
Volatility
USHY vs. VT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY) is 1.20%, while Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) has a volatility of 5.26%. This indicates that USHY experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| USHY | VT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.20% | 5.26% | -4.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.96% | 11.01% | -8.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.69% | 13.38% | -9.69% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.35% | 16.15% | -8.80% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.24% | 17.27% | -9.03% |
USHY vs. VT - Expense Ratio Comparison
USHY has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than VT's 0.06% 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. VT - Dividend Comparison
USHY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.90%, more than VT's 1.61% 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% |
VT Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | 1.61% | 1.82% | 1.95% | 2.08% | 2.20% | 1.82% | 1.66% | 2.32% | 2.53% | 2.11% | 2.39% | 2.45% |
Frequently Asked Questions
USHY and VT have a correlation of 0.79, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VT has higher volatility (5.26%) compared to USHY (1.20%). In terms of maximum drawdown, USHY dropped -22.44% vs VT's -50.27%.
On 5-year performance, VT leads with 10.65% vs 4.21% for USHY. On fees, VT is cheaper at 0.06% per year. On volatility, USHY has been the lower-risk option at 1.20%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, VT has performed better with a 10.65% return vs 4.21%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VT is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for USHY.
USHY has the higher dividend yield at 6.90%, compared with 1.61% for VT.
USHY is categorized as High Yield Bonds, while VT is Global Equities. USHY tracks ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained Index, while VT tracks FTSE Global All Cap Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for USHY and 0.06% for VT.
VT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.94 vs 1.88), 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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