VGIT vs. USRT
VGIT (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF) and USRT (iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VGIT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 3-10 Year Index, while USRT is a REIT fund tracking the FTSE Nareit Equity REITS 40 Act Capped Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VGIT returned 1.09%/yr vs 6.03%/yr for USRT. Their 0.03 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. VGIT charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.08%/yr for USRT.
Performance
VGIT vs. USRT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGIT achieves a -0.77% return, which is significantly lower than USRT's 20.27% return. Over the past 10 years, VGIT has underperformed USRT with an annualized return of 1.09%, while USRT has yielded a comparatively higher 6.03% annualized return.
VGIT
- 1D
- -0.17%
- 1M
- -0.77%
- 6M
- -0.72%
- YTD
- -0.77%
- 1Y
- 1.11%
- 3Y*
- 3.73%
- 5Y*
- -0.24%
- 10Y*
- 1.09%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.13%
USRT
- 1D
- -0.54%
- 1M
- 0.64%
- 6M
- 16.77%
- YTD
- 20.27%
- 1Y
- 25.30%
- 3Y*
- 12.13%
- 5Y*
- 5.19%
- 10Y*
- 6.03%
- ALL TIME*
- 5.55%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30.77M | $33.55M | $34.12M | |
| $132.12M | $142.49M | $173.65M |
VGIT vs. USRT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF | -0.77% | 7.34% | 1.39% | 4.28% | -10.53% | -2.64% | 7.71% | 6.19% | 1.35% | 1.70% |
USRT iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF | 20.27% | 2.44% | 8.58% | 13.64% | -24.43% | 43.26% | -8.06% | 25.98% | -4.67% | 5.27% |
Correlation
The correlation between VGIT and USRT is 0.35, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.35 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.33 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.25 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.16 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 23, 2009 | 0.03 |
Over the past year, VGIT and USRT have become more correlated (0.35) than their long-term average of 0.03, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
VGIT vs. USRT — Risk / Return Rank
VGIT
USRT
VGIT vs. USRT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT) and iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF (USRT). 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.
| VGIT | USRT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.17 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.56 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.11 | 1.31 | -0.21 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.75 | 3.09 | -2.34 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.73 | 10.42 | -8.70 |
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Drawdowns
VGIT vs. USRT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGIT drawdown since its inception was -16.05%, smaller than the maximum USRT drawdown of -69.92%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGIT and USRT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGIT | USRT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -16.05% | -69.92% | +53.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.83% | -8.04% | +5.21% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.34% | -18.70% | +14.36% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -14.94% | -31.03% | +16.09% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -16.05% | -44.38% | +28.33% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.70% | -2.76% | +0.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.51% | -12.88% | +9.37% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.22% | 2.37% | -1.15% |
Volatility
VGIT vs. USRT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT) is 0.84%, while iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF (USRT) has a volatility of 4.64%. This indicates that VGIT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than USRT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGIT | USRT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.84% | 4.64% | -3.80% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.59% | 10.64% | -8.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.34% | 13.87% | -10.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.39% | 18.93% | -13.54% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.49% | 21.34% | -16.85% |
VGIT vs. USRT - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGIT has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than USRT's 0.08% 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
VGIT vs. USRT - Dividend Comparison
VGIT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.89%, more than USRT's 2.51% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USRT iShares Core U.S. REIT ETF | 2.51% | 3.07% | 2.85% | 3.18% | 3.46% | 2.27% | 3.12% | 3.34% | 5.66% | 3.44% | 3.98% | 3.59% |
VGIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF | 3.56% | 3.79% | 3.67% | 2.73% | 1.74% | 1.69% | 2.23% | 2.24% | 2.05% | 1.67% | 1.69% | 1.69% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VGIT and USRT have a correlation of 0.35, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
USRT has higher volatility (4.64%) compared to VGIT (0.84%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VGIT dropped -16.05% vs USRT's -69.92%.
On 10-year performance, USRT leads with 6.03% vs 1.09% for VGIT. On fees, VGIT is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, VGIT has been the lower-risk option at 0.84%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, USRT has performed better with a 6.03% return vs 1.09%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VGIT is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.08% for USRT.
VGIT has the higher dividend yield at 3.56%, compared with 2.51% for USRT.
VGIT is categorized as Government Bonds, while USRT is REIT. VGIT tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 3-10 Year Index, while USRT tracks FTSE Nareit Equity REITS 40 Act Capped Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for VGIT and 0.08% for USRT.
USRT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.80 vs 0.63), 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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