iShares Ultra Short-Term Bond ETF (ICSH) Performance
ICSH total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +2.7% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +3.6% total return
- 5 years
- +3.9% a year
- 10 years
- +2.8% a year
- Since first price
- +2.3% a year since 2013
ICSH trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | ICSH total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.4% | +0.1% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | +0.9% | −0.1% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | +1.7% | −0.4% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | +2.7% | −0.3% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | +3.6% | −0.6% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +15.4%+4.9%/yr | +0.2% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | +21.3%+3.9%/yr | −0.1% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | +32.3%+2.8%/yr | +0.6% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionDec 16, 2013 | +34.7%+2.3%/yr | +0.8% | — | — | — |
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: ICSH vs AGG
From Dec 16, 2013: ICSH grew to $13,466, AGG to $12,785.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
ICSH returns by calendar year
12 of 12 full years positive. Best 2023 (+5.6%), worst 2014 (+0.1%). 2026 is year to date.
ICSH annual returns table
| Year | ICSH | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +2.7% | −0.1% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +5.0% | −0.1% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +5.5% | −0.1% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +5.6% | −0.1% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | +1.0% | −0.6% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | +0.2% | −0.2% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +1.6% | −3.9% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +3.2% | −0.1% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | +2.3% | −0.1% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +1.6% | −0.2% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +1.3% | −0.5% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | +0.2% | −0.4% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +0.1% | −1.2% | +6.0% | +27.3% | +13.5% |
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.
ICSH risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +4.9% | +3.8% | +2.8% | +2.3% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 0.4% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.19 | 0.50 | 0.88 | 0.94 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.98 | 0.73 | 1.34 | 1.47 |
| Best month | +0.7% | +0.7% | +1.0% | +1.0% |
| Worst month | +0.0% | −0.2% | −0.9% | −0.9% |
| Best 12 months | +6.2% | +6.2% | +6.2% | +6.2% |
| Worst 12 months | +3.5% | −0.2% | −0.5% | −0.5% |
| Positive months | 100% | 85% | 89% | 84% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.34 | 0.31 | 0.35 | — |
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.
ICSH rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 143 | −0.5% | +1.9% | +6.2% | 94% |
| 3-year (a year) | 119 | +0.5% | +2.0% | +5.4% | 100% |
| 5-year (a year) | 95 | +1.1% | +1.9% | +3.9% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 35 | +1.7% | +2.4% | +2.9% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2013. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
ICSH performance overview
iShares Ultra Short-Term Bond ETF (ICSH) returned +3.6% over the past year and +2.8% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2013 it has returned +2.3% a year, turning $10,000 into about $13,466. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
Related: ICSH chart, ICSH dividends, ICSH bond profile. See the ICSH overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
ICSH performance FAQ
What is the ICSH return over the past year?
ICSH returned +3.6% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 0.6%.
What is the average annual return of ICSH?
ICSH has returned +3.9% a year over 5 years, +2.8% a year over 10 years, +2.3% a year since December 16, 2013 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in ICSH be worth?
$10,000 invested in ICSH at its first recorded close on December 16, 2013 would be worth about $13,466 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for ICSH?
The worst calendar year was 2014, with a total return of +0.1%. The best was 2023 at +5.6%.
How volatile is ICSH?
Over the past 3 years ICSH had an annualized volatility of 0.4% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.19 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).