iShares Edge High Yield Defensive Bond ETF (HYDB) Performance
HYDB total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −0.7% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +0.6% total return
- 5 years
- +3.9% a year
- Since first price
- +5.0% a year since 2017
HYDB trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | HYDB total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −1.5% | −2.1% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | −1.7% | −3.4% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −1.9% | −5.2% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | −0.7% | −5.7% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | +0.6% | −6.0% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +27.5%+8.4%/yr | +3.4% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | +21.3%+3.9%/yr | −13.4% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| Since inceptionJul 13, 2017 | +57.7%+5.0%/yr | −11.4% | — | — | — |
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: HYDB vs AGG
From Jul 13, 2017: HYDB grew to $15,770, AGG to $11,458.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
HYDB returns by calendar year
6 of 8 full years positive. Best 2019 (+16.1%), worst 2022 (−10.0%). 2026 is year to date.
HYDB annual returns table
| Year | HYDB | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −0.7% | −3.6% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +8.1% | −5.6% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +9.1% | −1.9% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +14.0% | −4.3% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −10.0% | −14.0% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | +5.1% | −1.9% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +7.4% | −21.6% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +16.1% | −2.2% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −3.2% | −6.5% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
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.
HYDB largest drawdowns
Now 3.3% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2020 | −21.6% | Mar 23, 2020 | Oct 8, 2020 | 32 days | 8 months |
| Dec 28, 2021 | −14.3% | Sep 27, 2022 | Dec 1, 2023 | 9 months | 1.9 years |
| Oct 3, 2018 | −6.5% | Dec 24, 2018 | Feb 5, 2019 | 3 months | 4 months |
| Feb 28, 2025 | −5.6% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jun 4, 2025 | 39 days | 3 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
HYDB risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +8.1% | +4.0% | +5.0% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.9% | 7.3% | 7.7% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.73 | 0.08 | 0.35 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.26 | 0.11 | 0.49 |
| Best month | +5.0% | +6.2% | +6.2% |
| Worst month | −3.0% | −6.8% | −11.6% |
| Best 12 months | +17.5% | +17.5% | +24.5% |
| Worst 12 months | +0.6% | −13.1% | −13.1% |
| Positive months | 69% | 60% | 67% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.29 | 0.39 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.72 | 0.84 | — |
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.
HYDB rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 100 | −13.1% | +7.4% | +24.5% | 82% |
| 3-year (a year) | 76 | −0.2% | +5.5% | +11.6% | 99% |
| 5-year (a year) | 52 | +1.9% | +4.8% | +7.9% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2017. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
HYDB performance overview
iShares Edge High Yield Defensive Bond ETF (HYDB) returned +0.6% over the past year and +3.9% a year over five years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2017 it has returned +5.0% a year, turning $10,000 into about $15,770. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −21.6%, from Feb 20, 2020 to Mar 23, 2020, and it took 7 months to get back to the old high. HYDB finished 6 of its 8 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2019 (+16.1%) and the worst 2022 (−10.0%). Volatility has been 7.7% a year.
Related: HYDB chart, HYDB dividends, HYDB bond profile. See the HYDB overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
HYDB performance FAQ
What is the HYDB return over the past year?
HYDB returned +0.6% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 6.0%.
What is the average annual return of HYDB?
HYDB has returned +3.9% a year over 5 years, +5.0% a year since July 13, 2017 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in HYDB be worth?
$10,000 invested in HYDB at its first recorded close on July 13, 2017 would be worth about $15,770 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for HYDB?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −10.0%. The best was 2019 at +16.1%.
What is the biggest drawdown of HYDB?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −21.6% between February 20, 2020 and March 23, 2020. It recovered to the old high on October 8, 2020, 7 months after the bottom.
How volatile is HYDB?
Over the past 3 years HYDB had an annualized volatility of 4.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.73 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).