VAW vs. IBIC
VAW (Vanguard Materials ETF) and IBIC (iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VAW is a Materials fund tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Materials 25/50 Index, while IBIC is a Inflation-Protected Bonds fund tracking the ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, VAW returned 24.61% vs 4.38% for IBIC. At a 0.01 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VAW charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for IBIC.
Performance
VAW vs. IBIC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VAW achieves a 13.13% return, which is significantly higher than IBIC's 2.39% return.
VAW
- 1D
- -0.13%
- 1M
- 2.70%
- YTD
- 13.13%
- 6M
- 11.82%
- 1Y
- 24.61%
- 3Y*
- 11.91%
- 5Y*
- 7.19%
- 10Y*
- 10.67%
IBIC
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- 0.08%
- YTD
- 2.39%
- 6M
- 2.49%
- 1Y
- 4.38%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VAW vs. IBIC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
VAW Vanguard Materials ETF | 13.13% | 12.30% | 0.48% | 6.02% |
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 2.39% | 4.96% | 5.25% | 2.17% |
Correlation
The correlation between VAW and IBIC is -0.14, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.14 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 15, 2023 | 0.01 |
The correlation between VAW and IBIC shifts across timeframes, from -0.14 (1 year) to 0.01 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VAW vs. IBIC — Risk / Return Rank
VAW
IBIC
VAW vs. IBIC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) and iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC). 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.
| VAW | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -3.60 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -6.96 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 2.21 | -0.98 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.84 | 16.41 | -14.57 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.85 | 58.11 | -52.26 |
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Drawdowns
VAW vs. IBIC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VAW drawdown since its inception was -62.17%, which is greater than IBIC's maximum drawdown of -0.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VAW and IBIC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VAW | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.17% | -0.90% | -61.27% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.42% | -0.27% | -13.15% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.21% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.50% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.13% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.82% | -0.11% | -3.71% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.62% | -0.10% | -9.52% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.22% | 0.08% | +4.14% |
Volatility
VAW vs. IBIC - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) has a higher volatility of 6.50% compared to iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC) at 0.16%. This indicates that VAW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IBIC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VAW | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.50% | 0.16% | +6.34% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.73% | 0.67% | +14.06% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.44% | 0.89% | +17.55% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.70% | 1.57% | +18.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.27% | 1.57% | +19.70% |
VAW vs. IBIC - Expense Ratio Comparison
VAW has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than IBIC's 0.10% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VAW vs. IBIC - Dividend Comparison
VAW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.36%, less than IBIC's 3.59% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 3.59% | 4.43% | 4.65% | 0.83% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VAW Vanguard Materials ETF | 1.36% | 1.55% | 1.70% | 1.72% | 1.98% | 1.44% | 1.67% | 1.94% | 2.03% | 1.63% | 1.67% | 2.30% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VAW and IBIC have a correlation of -0.14, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VAW has higher volatility (6.50%) compared to IBIC (0.16%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VAW dropped -62.17% vs IBIC's -0.90%.
On 1-year performance, VAW leads with 24.61% vs 4.38% for IBIC. On fees, VAW is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, IBIC has been the lower-risk option at 0.16%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, VAW has performed better with a 24.61% return vs 4.38%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VAW is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.10% for IBIC.
IBIC has the higher dividend yield at 3.59%, compared with 1.36% for VAW.
VAW is categorized as Materials, while IBIC is Inflation-Protected Bonds. VAW tracks MSCI US Investable Market Materials 25/50 Index, while IBIC tracks ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for VAW and 0.10% for IBIC.
IBIC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.94 vs 1.34), 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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