iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond (ISTB) Performance
ISTB total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +0.5% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +1.2% total return
- 5 years
- +2.0% a year
- 10 years
- +2.2% a year
- Since first price
- +2.0% a year since 2012
ISTB trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | ISTB total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.7% | +0.3% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | +0.1% | −1.0% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −0.0% | −2.2% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | +0.5% | −2.7% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | +1.2% | −3.1% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +15.9%+5.0%/yr | +2.7% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | +10.3%+2.0%/yr | −6.5% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | +23.8%+2.2%/yr | −6.2% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionOct 24, 2012 | +31.2%+2.0%/yr | −5.3% | — | — | — |
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: ISTB vs AGG
From Oct 24, 2012: ISTB grew to $13,120, AGG to $12,570.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
ISTB returns by calendar year
11 of 13 full years positive. Best 2025 (+6.4%), worst 2022 (−6.1%). 2026 is year to date.
ISTB annual returns table
| Year | ISTB | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +0.5% | −1.6% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +6.4% | −1.0% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +4.4% | −1.4% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +5.6% | −2.0% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −6.1% | −8.2% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | −0.8% | −1.3% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +4.8% | −6.1% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +5.6% | −0.8% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | +1.0% | −1.0% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +1.7% | −0.8% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +2.7% | −1.5% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | +0.6% | −1.2% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +1.2% | −0.8% | +6.0% | +27.3% | +13.5% |
| 2013 | +0.6% | −2.3% | −2.0% | −13.4% | +32.3% |
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.
ISTB largest drawdowns
Now 0.7% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 3, 2021 | −9.4% | Oct 20, 2022 | Jul 12, 2024 | 1.2 years | 2.9 years |
| Mar 6, 2020 | −6.1% | Mar 19, 2020 | May 15, 2020 | 13 days | 2 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
ISTB risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +4.7% | +1.7% | +2.1% | +1.9% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.5% | 3.1% | 2.4% | 2.2% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.12 | -0.62 | -0.07 | 0.14 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.17 | -0.76 | -0.09 | 0.19 |
| Best month | +2.0% | +2.0% | +2.0% | +2.0% |
| Worst month | −1.2% | −2.0% | −2.0% | −2.0% |
| Best 12 months | +8.9% | +8.9% | +8.9% | +8.9% |
| Worst 12 months | +0.9% | −8.2% | −8.2% | −8.2% |
| Positive months | 75% | 58% | 62% | 60% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.08 | 0.11 | 0.07 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.43 | 0.55 | 0.44 | — |
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.
ISTB rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 157 | −8.2% | +1.8% | +8.9% | 85% |
| 3-year (a year) | 133 | −1.5% | +1.8% | +5.7% | 82% |
| 5-year (a year) | 109 | +0.4% | +1.6% | +3.1% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 49 | +0.9% | +1.9% | +2.5% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2012. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
ISTB performance overview
iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond (ISTB) returned +1.2% over the past year and +2.2% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2012 it has returned +2.0% a year, turning $10,000 into about $13,120. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −9.4%, from Aug 3, 2021 to Oct 20, 2022, and it took 1.7 years to get back to the old high. ISTB finished 11 of its 13 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+6.4%) and the worst 2022 (−6.1%). Volatility has been 2.2% a year.
Related: ISTB chart, ISTB dividends, ISTB bond profile. See the ISTB overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
ISTB performance FAQ
What is the ISTB return over the past year?
ISTB returned +1.2% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 3.1%.
What is the average annual return of ISTB?
ISTB has returned +2.0% a year over 5 years, +2.2% a year over 10 years, +2.0% a year since October 24, 2012 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in ISTB be worth?
$10,000 invested in ISTB at its first recorded close on October 24, 2012 would be worth about $13,120 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for ISTB?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −6.1%. The best was 2025 at +6.4%.
What is the biggest drawdown of ISTB?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −9.4% between August 3, 2021 and October 20, 2022. It recovered to the old high on July 12, 2024, 1.7 years after the bottom.
How volatile is ISTB?
Over the past 3 years ISTB had an annualized volatility of 2.5% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.12 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).