iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate… (LQD) Performance
LQD total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −2.4% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −3.3% total return
- 5 years
- −0.8% a year
- 10 years
- +1.9% a year
- Since first price
- +4.3% a year since 2002
LQD trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | LQD total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.4% | −0.0% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | −1.0% | −2.3% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −2.9% | −5.2% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | −2.4% | −5.8% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | −3.3% | −7.7% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +19.5%+6.1%/yr | +4.4% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | −3.9%−0.8%/yr | −21.5% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | +21.1%+1.9%/yr | −15.2% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +57.3%+3.1%/yr | −8.1% | +32.2%+1.9%/yr | +9.9%+0.6%/yr | +696.0%+14.8%/yr |
| 20 years | +118.6%+4.0%/yr | −1.6% | +79.6%+3.0%/yr | +75.9%+2.9%/yr | +696.9%+10.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionJul 26, 2002 | +180.7%+4.3%/yr | +1.7% | — | — | — |
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: LQD vs AGG
From Sep 26, 2003: LQD grew to $24,220, AGG to $19,588.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
LQD returns by calendar year
18 of 23 full years positive. Best 2019 (+17.4%), worst 2022 (−17.9%). 2026 is year to date.
LQD annual returns table
| Year | LQD | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −2.4% | −6.0% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +7.9% | −3.6% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +0.9% | −5.0% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +9.4% | −9.7% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −17.9% | −22.7% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | −1.8% | −6.2% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +11.0% | −21.8% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +17.4% | −3.2% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −3.8% | −5.2% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +7.1% | −2.4% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +6.2% | −5.9% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | −1.3% | −6.0% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +8.2% | −2.4% | +6.0% | +27.3% | +13.5% |
| 2013 | −2.0% | −8.6% | −2.0% | −13.4% | +32.3% |
| 2012 | +10.6% | −2.5% | +3.8% | +2.6% | +16.0% |
| 2011 | +9.7% | −4.7% | +7.7% | +34.0% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | +9.3% | −5.2% | +6.4% | +9.0% | +15.1% |
| 2009 | +8.4% | −10.9% | +3.0% | −21.8% | +26.4% |
| 2008 | +2.4% | −21.5% | +7.9% | +33.9% | −36.8% |
| 2007 | +3.7% | −3.6% | +6.6% | +10.3% | +5.1% |
| 2006 | +4.2% | −3.9% | +3.9% | +0.7% | +15.8% |
| 2005 | +1.2% | −4.3% | +2.3% | +8.6% | +4.8% |
| 2004 | +5.7% | −7.7% | +3.8% | +8.7% | +10.7% |
| 2003 | +7.3% | −8.7% | — | +1.6% | +28.2% |
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.
LQD largest drawdowns
Now 6.4% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2021 | −25.0% | Oct 20, 2022 | not yet | 1.1 years | 5.1 years so far |
| Mar 6, 2020 | −21.8% | Mar 19, 2020 | Jun 10, 2020 | 13 days | 3 months |
| May 1, 2008 | −21.5% | Sep 29, 2008 | Jan 9, 2009 | 5 months | 8 months |
| Jan 9, 2009 | −10.9% | Mar 9, 2009 | Jun 25, 2009 | 59 days | 5 months |
| Jun 13, 2003 | −8.7% | Aug 13, 2003 | Jan 14, 2004 | 2 months | 7 months |
| May 2, 2013 | −8.6% | Jun 24, 2013 | May 1, 2014 | 53 days | 12 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
LQD risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +4.6% | −1.3% | +1.7% | +4.3% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.8% | 9.8% | 8.3% | 7.9% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.06 | -0.45 | -0.03 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 0.09 | -0.60 | -0.04 | — |
| Best month | +7.6% | +7.6% | +7.6% | +13.8% |
| Worst month | −3.4% | −6.7% | −6.7% | −10.7% |
| Best 12 months | +15.8% | +15.8% | +18.9% | +27.8% |
| Worst 12 months | −4.0% | −21.9% | −21.9% | −21.9% |
| Positive months | 64% | 53% | 57% | 60% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.36 | 0.45 | 0.33 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.58 | 0.71 | 0.60 | — |
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.
LQD rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 280 | −21.9% | +4.8% | +27.8% | 79% |
| 3-year (a year) | 256 | −6.7% | +4.4% | +15.2% | 86% |
| 5-year (a year) | 232 | −1.3% | +4.5% | +10.6% | 91% |
| 10-year (a year) | 172 | +1.3% | +5.4% | +7.1% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2002. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
LQD performance overview
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate… (LQD) returned −3.3% over the past year and +1.9% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2002 it has returned +4.3% a year, turning $10,000 into about $28,068. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −25.0%, from Sep 22, 2021 to Oct 20, 2022; the fund has not yet regained that high. LQD finished 18 of its 23 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2019 (+17.4%) and the worst 2022 (−17.9%). Volatility has been 7.9% a year.
Related: LQD chart, LQD dividends, LQD bond profile. See the LQD overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
LQD performance FAQ
What is the LQD return over the past year?
LQD returned −3.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 7.7%.
What is the average annual return of LQD?
LQD has returned −0.8% a year over 5 years, +1.9% a year over 10 years, +4.3% a year since July 26, 2002 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in LQD be worth?
$10,000 invested in LQD at its first recorded close on July 26, 2002 would be worth about $28,068 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for LQD?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −17.9%. The best was 2019 at +17.4%.
What is the biggest drawdown of LQD?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −25.0% between September 22, 2021 and October 20, 2022. It has not yet recovered to that high; it is 6.4% below its peak.
How volatile is LQD?
Over the past 3 years LQD had an annualized volatility of 7.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.06 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).