VUSB vs. ICSH
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF (VUSB) and iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH).
VUSB and ICSH are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VUSB is an actively managed fund by Vanguard. It was launched on Apr 5, 2021. ICSH is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the ICE BofA US 6-Month Treasury Bill Index (USD). It was launched on Dec 11, 2013.
Performance
VUSB vs. ICSH - Performance Comparison
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VUSB vs. ICSH - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUSB Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF | 0.59% | 5.20% | 5.68% | 5.52% | -0.36% | 0.00% |
ICSH iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF | 0.74% | 4.96% | 5.52% | 5.58% | 0.97% | 0.05% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VUSB achieves a 0.59% return, which is significantly lower than ICSH's 0.74% return.
VUSB
- 1D
- 0.09%
- 1M
- -0.12%
- YTD
- 0.59%
- 6M
- 1.76%
- 1Y
- 4.48%
- 3Y*
- 5.28%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
ICSH
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- 0.12%
- YTD
- 0.74%
- 6M
- 1.89%
- 1Y
- 4.40%
- 3Y*
- 5.21%
- 5Y*
- 3.55%
- 10Y*
- 2.71%
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VUSB vs. ICSH - Expense Ratio Comparison
VUSB has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than ICSH's 0.08% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
VUSB vs. ICSH — Risk / Return Rank
VUSB
ICSH
VUSB vs. ICSH - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF (VUSB) and iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH). 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.
| VUSB | ICSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 5.84 | 10.86 | -5.02 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 9.33 | 25.58 | -16.25 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 2.86 | 6.41 | -3.55 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 9.75 | 45.33 | -35.57 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 50.27 | 283.87 | -233.61 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VUSB | ICSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.84 | 10.86 | -5.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 7.40 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 2.55 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 4.00 | 1.90 | +2.10 |
Correlation
The correlation between VUSB and ICSH is 0.54, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
VUSB vs. ICSH - Dividend Comparison
VUSB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.53%, more than ICSH's 4.46% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUSB Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF | 4.53% | 4.63% | 5.16% | 4.45% | 1.56% | 0.26% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
ICSH iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF | 4.46% | 4.55% | 5.24% | 4.78% | 1.66% | 0.42% | 1.21% | 2.61% | 2.20% | 1.36% | 0.88% | 0.54% |
Drawdowns
VUSB vs. ICSH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VUSB drawdown since its inception was -1.79%, smaller than the maximum ICSH drawdown of -3.94%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUSB and ICSH.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VUSB | ICSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -1.79% | -3.94% | +2.15% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.46% | -0.10% | -0.36% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -0.73% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -3.94% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.12% | 0.00% | -0.12% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.28% | -0.08% | -0.20% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.09% | 0.02% | +0.07% |
Volatility
VUSB vs. ICSH - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF (VUSB) has a higher volatility of 0.37% compared to iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF (ICSH) at 0.16%. This indicates that VUSB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ICSH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VUSB | ICSH | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.37% | 0.16% | +0.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.49% | 0.26% | +0.23% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.77% | 0.41% | +0.36% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.83% | 0.48% | +0.35% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.83% | 1.06% | -0.23% |