VBND vs. IMTB
VBND (Vident U.S. Bond Strategy ETF) and IMTB (iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF) are both Intermediate Core-Plus Bond funds - VBND tracks the Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy Index while IMTB tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Universal 5-10 Years Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VBND returned 0.08%/yr vs 0.36%/yr for IMTB. A 0.74 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VBND charges 0.41%/yr vs 0.06%/yr for IMTB.
Performance
VBND vs. IMTB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBND achieves a -0.01% return, which is significantly higher than IMTB's -0.29% return.
VBND
- 1D
- -0.24%
- 1M
- -0.54%
- 6M
- 0.15%
- YTD
- -0.01%
- 1Y
- 3.90%
- 3Y*
- 4.46%
- 5Y*
- 0.08%
- 10Y*
- 1.37%
IMTB
- 1D
- -0.34%
- 1M
- -1.10%
- 6M
- -0.56%
- YTD
- -0.29%
- 1Y
- 4.48%
- 3Y*
- 4.52%
- 5Y*
- 0.36%
- 10Y*
- —
VBND vs. IMTB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBND Vident U.S. Bond Strategy ETF | -0.01% | 7.31% | 1.26% | 8.16% | -14.18% | -0.43% | 5.37% | 9.50% | -0.96% | 3.15% |
IMTB iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF | -0.29% | 8.88% | 1.94% | 6.10% | -12.75% | -1.41% | 6.25% | 8.62% | -0.45% | 4.88% |
Correlation
The correlation between VBND and IMTB is 0.80, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.80 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.85 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.87 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 7, 2016 | 0.74 |
The correlation between VBND and IMTB shifts across timeframes, from 0.74 (all time) to 0.87 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VBND vs. IMTB — Risk / Return Rank
VBND
IMTB
VBND vs. IMTB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vident U.S. Bond Strategy ETF (VBND) and iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF (IMTB). 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.
| VBND | IMTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.14 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.19 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.19 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.39 | 1.58 | -0.19 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.74 | 4.44 | -0.70 |
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Drawdowns
VBND vs. IMTB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBND drawdown since its inception was -18.97%, roughly equal to the maximum IMTB drawdown of -18.15%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBND and IMTB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBND | IMTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.97% | -18.15% | -0.82% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.82% | -2.86% | +0.04% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.60% | -6.79% | +2.19% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.97% | -18.11% | -0.86% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -18.97% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.27% | -2.00% | +0.73% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.18% | -4.10% | -0.08% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.05% | 1.01% | +0.04% |
Volatility
VBND vs. IMTB - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vident U.S. Bond Strategy ETF (VBND) is 1.22%, while iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF (IMTB) has a volatility of 1.58%. This indicates that VBND experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IMTB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBND | IMTB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.22% | 1.58% | -0.36% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.98% | 3.29% | -0.31% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.12% | 4.13% | -0.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.12% | 6.32% | -0.20% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.45% | 5.18% | +0.27% |
VBND vs. IMTB - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBND has a 0.41% expense ratio, which is higher than IMTB's 0.06% expense ratio.
Dividends
VBND vs. IMTB - Dividend Comparison
VBND's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.28%, less than IMTB's 4.55% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IMTB iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF | 4.55% | 4.40% | 4.42% | 4.13% | 2.90% | 2.49% | 2.63% | 2.91% | 3.04% | 2.75% | 0.40% | 0.00% |
VBND Vident U.S. Bond Strategy ETF | 4.28% | 4.22% | 4.41% | 3.88% | 2.55% | 1.56% | 1.98% | 3.14% | 2.82% | 2.00% | 3.12% | 1.49% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VBND and IMTB have a correlation of 0.80, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IMTB has higher volatility (1.58%) compared to VBND (1.22%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBND dropped -18.97% vs IMTB's -18.15%.
On 5-year performance, IMTB leads with 0.36% vs 0.08% for VBND. On fees, IMTB is cheaper at 0.06% per year. On volatility, VBND has been the lower-risk option at 1.22%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, IMTB has performed better with a 0.36% return vs 0.08%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IMTB is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.41% for VBND.
IMTB has the higher dividend yield at 4.55%, compared with 4.28% for VBND.
VBND tracks Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy Index, while IMTB tracks Bloomberg U.S. Universal 5-10 Years Index. They also come from different issuers: Vident and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.41% for VBND and 0.06% for IMTB.
IMTB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.09 vs 0.95), 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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