WATFX vs. IUSB
Compare and contrast key facts about Western Asset Core Bond Fund (WATFX) and iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF (IUSB).
WATFX is managed by Franklin Templeton. It was launched on Sep 4, 1990. IUSB is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Universal Index. It was launched on Jun 10, 2014.
Performance
WATFX vs. IUSB - Performance Comparison
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WATFX vs. IUSB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WATFX Western Asset Core Bond Fund | -0.86% | 8.01% | 0.44% | 5.52% | -17.32% | -2.13% | 9.12% | 10.44% | -0.62% | 5.21% |
IUSB iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF | -0.07% | 7.38% | 2.11% | 6.23% | -13.04% | -1.33% | 7.62% | 9.13% | -0.27% | 3.82% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WATFX achieves a -0.86% return, which is significantly lower than IUSB's -0.07% return. Over the past 10 years, WATFX has underperformed IUSB with an annualized return of 1.58%, while IUSB has yielded a comparatively higher 2.06% annualized return.
WATFX
- 1D
- 0.47%
- 1M
- -2.58%
- YTD
- -0.86%
- 6M
- 0.34%
- 1Y
- 4.10%
- 3Y*
- 3.12%
- 5Y*
- -0.83%
- 10Y*
- 1.58%
IUSB
- 1D
- 0.20%
- 1M
- -1.81%
- YTD
- -0.07%
- 6M
- 0.97%
- 1Y
- 4.55%
- 3Y*
- 4.07%
- 5Y*
- 0.53%
- 10Y*
- 2.06%
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WATFX vs. IUSB - Expense Ratio Comparison
WATFX has a 0.46% expense ratio, which is higher than IUSB's 0.06% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
WATFX vs. IUSB — Risk / Return Rank
WATFX
IUSB
WATFX vs. IUSB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Western Asset Core Bond Fund (WATFX) and iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF (IUSB). 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.
| WATFX | IUSB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.01 | 1.11 | -0.10 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.45 | 1.56 | -0.12 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.20 | -0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.69 | 1.92 | -0.22 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.08 | 5.96 | -0.88 |
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
| WATFX | IUSB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.01 | 1.11 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.12 | 0.09 | -0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.29 | 0.41 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.56 | 0.46 | +0.10 |
Correlation
The correlation between WATFX and IUSB is 0.85, 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
WATFX vs. IUSB - Dividend Comparison
WATFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.86%, less than IUSB's 4.23% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WATFX Western Asset Core Bond Fund | 3.86% | 4.15% | 4.48% | 3.35% | 2.39% | 2.05% | 3.90% | 3.62% | 2.92% | 2.34% | 2.51% | 2.74% |
IUSB iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF | 4.23% | 4.17% | 4.04% | 3.46% | 2.53% | 1.74% | 2.68% | 3.04% | 2.98% | 2.56% | 2.60% | 1.95% |
Drawdowns
WATFX vs. IUSB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WATFX drawdown since its inception was -23.69%, which is greater than IUSB's maximum drawdown of -17.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WATFX and IUSB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WATFX | IUSB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -23.69% | -17.90% | -5.79% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.04% | -2.49% | -0.55% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.26% | -17.87% | -5.39% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -23.69% | -17.90% | -5.79% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.17% | -1.81% | -6.36% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.96% | -3.62% | +0.66% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.01% | 0.80% | +0.21% |
Volatility
WATFX vs. IUSB - Volatility Comparison
Western Asset Core Bond Fund (WATFX) and iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF (IUSB) have volatilities of 1.58% and 1.62%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| WATFX | IUSB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.58% | 1.62% | -0.04% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.61% | 2.41% | +0.20% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.64% | 4.13% | +0.51% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.80% | 5.77% | +1.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.52% | 5.03% | +0.49% |