iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF (BYLD) Performance
BYLD total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −0.5% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −0.2% total return
- 5 years
- +2.0% a year
- 10 years
- +2.6% a year
- Since first price
- +2.8% a year since 2014
BYLD trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | BYLD total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.3% | −0.2% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | −1.0% | −2.2% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −1.5% | −4.1% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | −0.5% | −4.4% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | −0.2% | −5.3% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +21.3%+6.7%/yr | +3.6% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | +10.3%+2.0%/yr | −12.6% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | +29.4%+2.6%/yr | −13.7% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionApr 24, 2014 | +40.5%+2.8%/yr | −13.1% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: BYLD vs AGG
From Apr 24, 2014: BYLD grew to $14,047, AGG to $12,496.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
BYLD returns by calendar year
7 of 11 full years positive. Best 2019 (+12.8%), worst 2022 (−10.3%). 2026 is year to date.
BYLD annual returns table
| Year | BYLD | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −0.5% | −3.9% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +8.4% | −2.8% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +4.2% | −2.2% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +8.7% | −3.9% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −10.3% | −13.3% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | −1.3% | −3.3% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +4.3% | −14.4% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +12.8% | −1.5% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −1.5% | −2.9% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +4.7% | −1.5% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +5.9% | −2.6% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | −1.4% | −3.4% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
BYLD largest drawdowns
Now 2.4% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2020 | −14.8% | Oct 20, 2022 | Aug 19, 2024 | 1.8 years | 3.6 years |
| Mar 4, 2020 | −14.4% | Mar 19, 2020 | Jul 28, 2020 | 15 days | 5 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
BYLD risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +5.7% | +1.5% | +2.4% | +2.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.9% | 5.8% | 5.0% | 4.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.26 | -0.33 | 0.06 | 0.19 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.39 | -0.43 | 0.07 | 0.26 |
| Best month | +4.3% | +4.3% | +4.3% | +4.3% |
| Worst month | −3.1% | −3.7% | −5.1% | −5.1% |
| Best 12 months | +12.8% | +12.8% | +12.9% | +12.9% |
| Worst 12 months | −0.9% | −12.9% | −12.9% | −12.9% |
| Positive months | 72% | 60% | 63% | 63% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.25 | 0.27 | 0.21 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.63 | 0.74 | 0.66 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
BYLD rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 139 | −12.9% | +3.7% | +12.9% | 77% |
| 3-year (a year) | 115 | −3.1% | +3.3% | +7.8% | 77% |
| 5-year (a year) | 91 | −0.0% | +2.0% | +5.1% | 99% |
| 10-year (a year) | 31 | +2.1% | +2.7% | +3.4% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2014. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
BYLD performance overview
iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF (BYLD) returned −0.2% over the past year and +2.6% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2014 it has returned +2.8% a year, turning $10,000 into about $14,047. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −14.8%, from Dec 31, 2020 to Oct 20, 2022, and it took 1.8 years to get back to the old high. BYLD finished 7 of its 11 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2019 (+12.8%) and the worst 2022 (−10.3%). Volatility has been 4.6% a year.
Related: BYLD chart, BYLD dividends, BYLD bond profile. See the BYLD overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
BYLD performance FAQ
What is the BYLD return over the past year?
BYLD returned −0.2% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 5.3%.
What is the average annual return of BYLD?
BYLD has returned +2.0% a year over 5 years, +2.6% a year over 10 years, +2.8% a year since April 24, 2014 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in BYLD be worth?
$10,000 invested in BYLD at its first recorded close on April 24, 2014 would be worth about $14,047 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for BYLD?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −10.3%. The best was 2019 at +12.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of BYLD?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −14.8% between December 31, 2020 and October 20, 2022. It recovered to the old high on August 19, 2024, 1.8 years after the bottom.
How volatile is BYLD?
Over the past 3 years BYLD had an annualized volatility of 4.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.26 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).