LQD vs SUSC
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF vs iShares ESG Aware USD Corporate Bond ETF
Which is better, LQD or SUSC?
Nearly the same fund. LQD costs less.
LQD has a lower expense ratio. LQD led over the full window, SUSC over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
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 | LQD | SUSC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.14%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $27.7B | $1.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.67% | 4.60% |
| Holdings | 6,282 | 3,970 |
| YTD Return | -3.54% | -2.48%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.82% | -2.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.89% | +5.40%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.12% | -0.29%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.6% | 7.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.9% | -22.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,452 | $9,856Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Style | Long Term Mid Quality | Long Term Mid Quality |
| Inception | Jul 22, 2002 | Jul 11, 2017 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 20, 2017 to Oct 12, 2026 (9.2 years).
LQD vs SUSC 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 9.2 years both funds cover.
LQD vs SUSC Performance
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and iShares ESG Aware USD Corporate Bond ETF (SUSC) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year LQD returned -3.82% while SUSC returned -2.44%. Year to date, LQD is down 3.54% versus a loss of 2.48% for SUSC.
Over three years, LQD compounded at +4.89% per year against +5.40% for SUSC; over five years the annualized figures are -1.12% and -0.29% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, LQD has the edge at +1.82% annualized vs +0.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LQD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 8.6% compared with 7.1% for SUSC. 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 -24.9% for LQD and -22.6% for SUSC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LQD charges 0.14% per year while SUSC charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $14 vs $18 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LQD currently yields 4.67% against 4.60% for SUSC.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2,560 holdings in LQD and 3,632 in SUSC, totalling 77.0% and 90.5% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1,536 positions appear in both.
1,536 positions in common, counted across the 2,560 positions we hold weights for in LQD and 3,632 in SUSC, against full books of 6,282 and 3,970.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in LQD | Weight in SUSC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XTSLABlackrock Cash Funds: Treasury, Sl Agency Shares | 0.85% | 0.19% | 0.66% |
| ABIBB 4.9 02/01/46 *Anheuser-busch Cos Llc / Anheuser-busch Inbev Worldwide Inc 4.9 02/01/2046 | 0.20% | 0.14% | 0.06% |
| ADP 1.25 09/01/30Automatic Data Processing Inc 1.25 Sep 01, 2030 | 0.03% | 0.29% | 0.26% |
| CVS 5.05 03/25/48Cvs Health Corp 5.05 03/25/2048 | 0.18% | 0.12% | 0.06% |
| ADBE 2.3 02/01/30Adobe Inc 2.3% | 0.05% | 0.24% | 0.19% |
| NEE 2.75 11/01/29Nextera Energy Capital Holdings Inc | 0.02% | 0.26% | 0.24% |
| NEE 2.25 06/01/30Nextera Energy Capital Holdings In 2.25 Jun 01, 2030 | 0.04% | 0.21% | 0.17% |
| GS 6.75 10/01/37Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (the) 6.75 10/01/2037 | 0.15% | 0.09% | 0.06% |
| BAC V5.015 07/22/33 | 0.14% | 0.09% | 0.05% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa, Inc. 3.875% 15-Apr-2030 | 0.19% | 0.04% | 0.15% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LQD and SUSC 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, LQD or SUSC?
LQD has an expense ratio of 0.14% while SUSC charges 0.18%. LQD is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LQD or SUSC?
Over the past year LQD returned -3.82% vs -2.44% for SUSC, so SUSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), LQD annualized +1.82% vs +0.82% for SUSC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LQD or SUSC?
LQD has been the more volatile fund at 8.6% annualized versus 7.1% for SUSC. Worst drawdown: LQD -24.9% vs SUSC -22.6%.
Should I hold both LQD and SUSC?
LQD and SUSC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, LQD or SUSC?
LQD yields 4.67% while SUSC yields 4.60%, so LQD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SUSC better than LQD?
LQD has a lower expense ratio. LQD led over the full window, SUSC over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.