VBK vs. IBIC
VBK (Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF) and IBIC (iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VBK is a Small Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the CRSP US Small Cap Growth 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, VBK returned 33.39% vs 4.38% for IBIC. At a 0.00 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VBK charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for IBIC.
Performance
VBK vs. IBIC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBK achieves a 18.61% return, which is significantly higher than IBIC's 2.39% return.
VBK
- 1D
- 0.39%
- 1M
- 3.11%
- YTD
- 18.61%
- 6M
- 15.14%
- 1Y
- 33.39%
- 3Y*
- 18.20%
- 5Y*
- 5.09%
- 10Y*
- 12.20%
IBIC
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- 0.08%
- YTD
- 2.39%
- 6M
- 2.49%
- 1Y
- 4.38%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VBK vs. IBIC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
VBK Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF | 18.61% | 8.50% | 16.50% | 7.77% |
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 2.39% | 4.96% | 5.25% | 2.17% |
Correlation
The correlation between VBK and IBIC is -0.15, 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 | -0.15 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 15, 2023 | 0.00 |
The correlation between VBK and IBIC shifts across timeframes, from -0.15 (1 year) to 0.00 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VBK vs. IBIC — Risk / Return Rank
VBK
IBIC
VBK vs. IBIC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) 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.
| VBK | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -3.27 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -6.59 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 2.21 | -0.93 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.93 | 16.41 | -13.48 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.98 | 58.11 | -47.13 |
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Drawdowns
VBK vs. IBIC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBK drawdown since its inception was -58.68%, which is greater than IBIC's maximum drawdown of -0.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBK and IBIC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBK | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.68% | -0.90% | -57.78% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.44% | -0.27% | -11.17% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.54% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.39% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.70% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.05% | -0.11% | +0.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.14% | -0.10% | -10.04% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.05% | 0.08% | +2.97% |
Volatility
VBK vs. IBIC - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) has a higher volatility of 6.94% compared to iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC) at 0.16%. This indicates that VBK'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
| VBK | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.94% | 0.16% | +6.78% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.58% | 0.67% | +14.91% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.07% | 0.89% | +19.18% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.62% | 1.57% | +22.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.94% | 1.57% | +21.37% |
VBK vs. IBIC - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBK has a 0.05% 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
VBK vs. IBIC - Dividend Comparison
VBK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.44%, 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% |
VBK Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF | 0.44% | 0.54% | 0.54% | 0.68% | 0.55% | 0.36% | 0.44% | 0.57% | 0.79% | 0.82% | 1.08% | 0.98% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VBK and IBIC have a correlation of -0.15, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VBK has higher volatility (6.94%) compared to IBIC (0.16%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBK dropped -58.68% vs IBIC's -0.90%.
On 1-year performance, VBK leads with 33.39% vs 4.38% for IBIC. On fees, VBK is cheaper at 0.05% 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, VBK has performed better with a 33.39% return vs 4.38%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VBK is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.10% for IBIC.
IBIC has the higher dividend yield at 3.59%, compared with 0.44% for VBK.
VBK is categorized as Small Cap Growth Equities, while IBIC is Inflation-Protected Bonds. VBK tracks CRSP US Small Cap Growth 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: 0.05% for VBK and 0.10% for IBIC.
IBIC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.94 vs 1.67), 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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