ILTB vs VYM
iShares Core 10+ Year USD Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ILTB or VYM?
Long Term Bond against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ILTB | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $589M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.11% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 3,866 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -4.89% | +9.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.84% | +13.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.44% | +17.30%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -4.80% | +11.45%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.5%Best | 13.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -38.0% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,820 | $17,195Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 8, 2009 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 9, 2009 to Sep 24, 2026 (16.8 years).
ILTB vs VYM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 16.8 years both funds cover.
ILTB vs VYM Performance
iShares Core 10+ Year USD Bond ETF (ILTB) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ILTB returned -4.84% while VYM returned +13.77%. Year to date, ILTB is down 4.89% versus a gain of 9.71% for VYM.
Over three years, ILTB compounded at +3.44% per year against +17.30% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -4.80% and +11.45% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.85% annualized vs +0.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.2% compared with 10.5% for ILTB. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -38.0% for ILTB and -35.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.18. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ILTB charges 0.06% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $4 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ILTB currently yields 5.11% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.5% of VYM's money is in holdings ILTB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ILTB, our book for it covers 58.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 1,063 positions we hold weights for in ILTB and 557 in VYM, against full books of 3,866 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ILTB and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ILTB or VYM?
ILTB has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ILTB or VYM?
Over the past year ILTB returned -4.84% vs +13.77% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), ILTB annualized +0.81% vs +9.85% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ILTB or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 10.5% for ILTB. Worst drawdown: ILTB -38.0% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both ILTB and VYM?
ILTB and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.18, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ILTB or VYM?
ILTB yields 5.11% while VYM yields 2.22%, so ILTB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ILTB?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.