VBND vs. IXC
VBND (Vident U.S. Bond Strategy ETF) and IXC (iShares Global Energy ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VBND is a Intermediate Core-Plus Bond fund tracking the Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy Index, while IXC is a Energy Equities fund tracking the S&P Global 1200 Energy Capped Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VBND returned 1.37%/yr vs 8.83%/yr for IXC. At a correlation of -0.10, they often move in opposite directions. VBND charges 0.41%/yr vs 0.40%/yr for IXC.
Performance
VBND vs. IXC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VBND achieves a 0.23% return, which is significantly lower than IXC's 23.35% return. Over the past 10 years, VBND has underperformed IXC with an annualized return of 1.37%, while IXC has yielded a comparatively higher 8.83% annualized return.
VBND
- 1D
- -0.25%
- 1M
- -0.30%
- 6M
- 0.31%
- YTD
- 0.23%
- 1Y
- 4.15%
- 3Y*
- 4.81%
- 5Y*
- 0.16%
- 10Y*
- 1.37%
IXC
- 1D
- 0.51%
- 1M
- -4.50%
- 6M
- 20.68%
- YTD
- 23.35%
- 1Y
- 29.02%
- 3Y*
- 14.69%
- 5Y*
- 18.91%
- 10Y*
- 8.83%
VBND vs. IXC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VBND Vident U.S. Bond Strategy ETF | 0.23% | 7.31% | 1.26% | 8.16% | -14.18% | -0.43% | 5.37% | 9.50% | -0.96% | 3.15% |
IXC iShares Global Energy ETF | 23.35% | 13.98% | 1.95% | 3.92% | 48.51% | 40.88% | -31.00% | 12.67% | -14.85% | 5.54% |
Correlation
The correlation between VBND and IXC is -0.21, 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 | -0.21 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.05 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.08 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.08 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 16, 2014 | -0.10 |
The correlation between VBND and IXC shifts across timeframes, from -0.21 (1 year) to -0.05 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VBND vs. IXC — Risk / Return Rank
VBND
IXC
VBND vs. IXC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vident U.S. Bond Strategy ETF (VBND) and iShares Global Energy ETF (IXC). 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 | IXC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.65 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.72 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.26 | -0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.33 | 1.95 | -0.62 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.60 | 6.26 | -2.66 |
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Drawdowns
VBND vs. IXC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VBND drawdown since its inception was -18.97%, smaller than the maximum IXC drawdown of -67.88%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBND and IXC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VBND | IXC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -18.97% | -67.88% | +48.91% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.82% | -15.36% | +12.54% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.60% | -19.06% | +14.46% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -18.97% | -24.93% | +5.96% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -18.97% | -64.16% | +45.19% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.04% | -11.22% | +10.18% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.18% | -17.45% | +13.27% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.05% | 4.78% | -3.73% |
Volatility
VBND vs. IXC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vident U.S. Bond Strategy ETF (VBND) is 1.19%, while iShares Global Energy ETF (IXC) has a volatility of 6.59%. This indicates that VBND experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IXC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VBND | IXC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.19% | 6.59% | -5.40% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.00% | 15.86% | -12.86% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.13% | 19.18% | -15.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.12% | 23.45% | -17.33% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.45% | 26.81% | -21.36% |
VBND vs. IXC - Expense Ratio Comparison
VBND has a 0.41% expense ratio, which is higher than IXC's 0.40% expense ratio.
Dividends
VBND vs. IXC - Dividend Comparison
VBND's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.27%, more than IXC's 3.08% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IXC iShares Global Energy ETF | 3.08% | 3.68% | 4.56% | 3.45% | 4.76% | 3.98% | 4.86% | 7.00% | 3.51% | 3.05% | 2.86% | 3.77% |
VBND Vident U.S. Bond Strategy ETF | 4.27% | 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 IXC have a correlation of -0.21, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IXC has higher volatility (6.59%) compared to VBND (1.19%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBND dropped -18.97% vs IXC's -67.88%.
On 10-year performance, IXC leads with 8.83% vs 1.37% for VBND. On fees, IXC is cheaper at 0.40% per year. On volatility, VBND has been the lower-risk option at 1.19%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IXC has performed better with a 8.83% return vs 1.37%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IXC is cheaper with a 0.40% expense ratio, compared with 0.41% for VBND.
VBND has the higher dividend yield at 4.27%, compared with 3.08% for IXC.
VBND is categorized as Intermediate Core-Plus Bond, while IXC is Energy Equities. VBND tracks Vident Core U.S. Bond Strategy Index, while IXC tracks S&P Global 1200 Energy Capped Index. They also come from different issuers: Vident and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.41% for VBND and 0.40% for IXC.
IXC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.56 vs 0.91), 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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