iShares Aaa - A Rated Corporate Bond ETF (QLTA) Performance
QLTA total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −1.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −2.2% total return
- 5 years
- −0.4% a year
- 10 years
- +1.6% a year
- Since first price
- +2.3% a year since 2012
QLTA trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | QLTA 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 | −0.6% | −1.7% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −2.0% | −4.3% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | −1.6% | −4.9% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | −2.2% | −6.5% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +17.5%+5.5%/yr | +3.4% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | −1.9%−0.4%/yr | −18.4% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | +17.5%+1.6%/yr | −14.4% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionFeb 16, 2012 | +40.0%+2.3%/yr | −8.9% | — | — | — |
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: QLTA vs AGG
From Feb 16, 2012: QLTA grew to $13,998, AGG to $12,955.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
QLTA returns by calendar year
9 of 13 full years positive. Best 2019 (+12.5%), worst 2022 (−15.1%). 2026 is year to date.
QLTA annual returns table
| Year | QLTA | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −1.6% | −5.0% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +7.4% | −2.6% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +1.2% | −4.2% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +7.6% | −7.7% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −15.1% | −19.5% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | −2.3% | −5.6% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +9.6% | −15.2% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +12.5% | −2.7% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −2.3% | −3.9% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +5.7% | −1.8% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +4.3% | −5.6% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | +0.5% | −4.4% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +6.5% | −1.8% | +6.0% | +27.3% | +13.5% |
| 2013 | −2.7% | −7.1% | −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.
QLTA largest drawdowns
Now 5.3% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2020 | −22.3% | Oct 20, 2022 | not yet | 2.2 years | 6.2 years so far |
| Mar 6, 2020 | −15.2% | Mar 19, 2020 | May 29, 2020 | 13 days | 3 months |
| May 2, 2013 | −7.1% | Jun 24, 2013 | May 27, 2014 | 53 days | 1.1 years |
| Jul 8, 2016 | −5.6% | Dec 15, 2016 | Aug 23, 2017 | 5 months | 1.1 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
QLTA risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +4.3% | −0.8% | +1.4% | +2.1% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.3% | 8.0% | 6.6% | 5.9% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.00 | -0.52 | -0.10 | 0.13 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.00 | -0.67 | -0.14 | 0.18 |
| Best month | +5.9% | +5.9% | +5.9% | +5.9% |
| Worst month | −2.9% | −5.3% | −5.3% | −5.3% |
| Best 12 months | +13.4% | +13.4% | +14.6% | +14.6% |
| Worst 12 months | −2.9% | −18.9% | −18.9% | −18.9% |
| Positive months | 64% | 55% | 57% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.29 | 0.35 | 0.23 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.56 | 0.69 | 0.53 | — |
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.
QLTA rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 165 | −18.9% | +2.7% | +14.6% | 73% |
| 3-year (a year) | 141 | −6.0% | +3.1% | +7.2% | 77% |
| 5-year (a year) | 117 | −1.3% | +2.4% | +6.0% | 81% |
| 10-year (a year) | 57 | +0.9% | +2.0% | +3.1% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2012. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
QLTA performance overview
iShares Aaa - A Rated Corporate Bond ETF (QLTA) returned −2.2% over the past year and +1.6% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2012 it has returned +2.3% a year, turning $10,000 into about $13,998. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −22.3%, from Aug 6, 2020 to Oct 20, 2022; the fund has not yet regained that high. QLTA finished 9 of its 13 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2019 (+12.5%) and the worst 2022 (−15.1%). Volatility has been 5.9% a year.
Related: QLTA chart, QLTA dividends, QLTA bond profile. See the QLTA overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
QLTA performance FAQ
What is the QLTA return over the past year?
QLTA returned −2.2% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 6.5%.
What is the average annual return of QLTA?
QLTA has returned −0.4% a year over 5 years, +1.6% a year over 10 years, +2.3% a year since February 16, 2012 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in QLTA be worth?
$10,000 invested in QLTA at its first recorded close on February 16, 2012 would be worth about $13,998 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for QLTA?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −15.1%. The best was 2019 at +12.5%.
What is the biggest drawdown of QLTA?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −22.3% between August 6, 2020 and October 20, 2022. It has not yet recovered to that high; it is 5.3% below its peak.
How volatile is QLTA?
Over the past 3 years QLTA had an annualized volatility of 6.3% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.00 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).