VUSB vs. SHY
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF (VUSB) and iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY).
VUSB and SHY 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. SHY is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. 1-3 Year Treasury Bond Index. It was launched on Jul 22, 2002.
Performance
VUSB vs. SHY - Performance Comparison
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VUSB vs. SHY - 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% |
SHY iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 0.27% | 4.95% | 3.92% | 4.16% | -3.88% | -0.64% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VUSB achieves a 0.59% return, which is significantly higher than SHY's 0.27% return.
VUSB
- 1D
- 0.09%
- 1M
- -0.12%
- YTD
- 0.59%
- 6M
- 1.76%
- 1Y
- 4.48%
- 3Y*
- 5.28%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
SHY
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- -0.47%
- YTD
- 0.27%
- 6M
- 1.34%
- 1Y
- 3.61%
- 3Y*
- 3.88%
- 5Y*
- 1.70%
- 10Y*
- 1.65%
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VUSB vs. SHY - Expense Ratio Comparison
VUSB has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than SHY's 0.15% 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%.
Return for Risk
VUSB vs. SHY — Risk / Return Rank
VUSB
SHY
VUSB vs. SHY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF (VUSB) and iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY). 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 | SHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 5.84 | 2.50 | +3.34 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 9.33 | 4.12 | +5.21 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 2.86 | 1.52 | +1.34 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 9.75 | 4.15 | +5.60 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 50.27 | 16.03 | +34.23 |
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 | SHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.84 | 2.50 | +3.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.87 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 1.06 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 4.00 | 1.29 | +2.72 |
Correlation
The correlation between VUSB and SHY is 0.73, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
VUSB vs. SHY - Dividend Comparison
VUSB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.53%, more than SHY's 3.75% 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% |
SHY iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.75% | 3.81% | 3.92% | 2.99% | 1.30% | 0.26% | 0.94% | 2.12% | 1.72% | 0.98% | 0.71% | 0.54% |
Drawdowns
VUSB vs. SHY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VUSB drawdown since its inception was -1.79%, smaller than the maximum SHY drawdown of -5.71%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUSB and SHY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VUSB | SHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -1.79% | -5.71% | +3.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.46% | -0.89% | +0.43% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -5.71% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -5.71% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.12% | -0.47% | +0.35% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.28% | -0.52% | +0.24% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.09% | 0.23% | -0.14% |
Volatility
VUSB vs. SHY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF (VUSB) is 0.37%, while iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY) has a volatility of 0.58%. This indicates that VUSB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SHY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VUSB | SHY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.37% | 0.58% | -0.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.49% | 0.89% | -0.40% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.77% | 1.45% | -0.68% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.83% | 1.97% | -1.14% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.83% | 1.56% | -0.73% |