YEAR vs. BOXX

Last updated Jun 25, 2026

YEAR (AB Ultra Short Income ETF) and BOXX (Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF) are both Ultrashort Bond funds. YEAR is actively managed, while BOXX is passively managed. Over the past 3 years, YEAR returned 4.98%/yr vs 4.71%/yr for BOXX. At a 0.07 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. YEAR charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.19%/yr for BOXX.

Performance

YEAR vs. BOXX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in AB Ultra Short Income ETF (YEAR) and Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF (BOXX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, YEAR achieves a 1.33% return, which is significantly lower than BOXX's 1.71% return.

YEAR

• 1D: 0.06%
• 1M: 0.30%
• YTD: 1.33%
• 6M: 1.41%
• 1Y: 3.61%
• 3Y*: 4.98%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

BOXX

• 1D: 0.01%
• 1M: 0.17%
• YTD: 1.71%
• 6M: 1.83%
• 1Y: 3.96%
• 3Y*: 4.71%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

YEAR vs. BOXX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
YEAR AB Ultra Short Income ETF	1.33%	4.69%	5.41%	5.85%	0.07%
BOXX Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF	1.71%	4.37%	5.16%	5.04%	0.07%

Correlation

The correlation between YEAR and BOXX is 0.02, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.02
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.06
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 28, 2022	0.07

Return for Risk

YEAR vs. BOXX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

YEAR

YEAR Risk / Return Rank: 98
YEAR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 98
YEAR Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
YEAR Omega Ratio Rank: 98
YEAR Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
YEAR Martin Ratio Rank: 98

BOXX

BOXX Risk / Return Rank: 100
BOXX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 100
BOXX Sortino Ratio Rank: 99
BOXX Omega Ratio Rank: 99
BOXX Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
BOXX Martin Ratio Rank: 100

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

YEAR vs. BOXX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for AB Ultra Short Income ETF (YEAR) and Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF (BOXX). 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.

	YEAR	BOXX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	4.63	12.38	-7.75
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	8.31	34.94	-26.63
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	2.08	8.67	-6.59
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	15.94	57.81	-41.86
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	68.69	493.36	-424.67

YEAR vs. BOXX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current YEAR Sharpe Ratio is 4.63, which is lower than the BOXX Sharpe Ratio of 12.38. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of YEAR and BOXX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

YEAR vs. BOXX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum YEAR drawdown since its inception was -0.64%, which is greater than BOXX's maximum drawdown of -0.12%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for YEAR and BOXX.

Drawdown Indicators

	YEAR	BOXX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.64%	-0.12%	-0.52%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.23%	-0.07%	-0.16%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-0.43%	-0.12%	-0.31%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-0.01%	+0.01%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.06%	-0.00%	-0.06%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.05%	0.01%	+0.04%

Volatility

YEAR vs. BOXX - Volatility Comparison

AB Ultra Short Income ETF (YEAR) has a higher volatility of 0.29% compared to Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF (BOXX) at 0.10%. This indicates that YEAR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BOXX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	YEAR	BOXX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.29%	0.10%	+0.19%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.54%	0.26%	+0.28%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.78%	0.32%	+0.46%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	1.15%	0.37%	+0.78%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	1.15%	0.37%	+0.78%

YEAR vs. BOXX - Expense Ratio Comparison

YEAR has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than BOXX's 0.19% 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%.

Dividends

YEAR vs. BOXX - Dividend Comparison

YEAR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.14%, while BOXX has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
BOXX Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.26%	0.00%	0.00%
YEAR AB Ultra Short Income ETF	4.14%	4.33%	5.16%	5.00%	1.19%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both YEAR and BOXX in my portfolio?

YEAR and BOXX have a correlation of 0.02, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, YEAR or BOXX?

YEAR has higher volatility (0.29%) compared to BOXX (0.10%). In terms of maximum drawdown, YEAR dropped -0.64% vs BOXX's -0.12%.

Which ETF is better, YEAR or BOXX?

On 3-year performance, YEAR leads with 4.98% vs 4.71% for BOXX. On fees, BOXX is cheaper at 0.19% per year. On volatility, BOXX has been the lower-risk option at 0.10%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, YEAR or BOXX?

Over the 3-year period, YEAR has performed better with a 4.98% return vs 4.71%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, YEAR or BOXX?

BOXX is cheaper with a 0.19% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for YEAR.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, YEAR or BOXX?

YEAR has the higher dividend yield at 4.14%, compared with 0.00% for BOXX.

What is the main difference between YEAR and BOXX?

They also come from different issuers: AllianceBernstein and Alpha Architect. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for YEAR and 0.19% for BOXX.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BOXX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (12.38 vs 4.63), 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.