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HYG vs LQD

Total return with dividends reinvested · 5Y

Open chart
HYGiShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETFLQDiShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF
-21%-14%-7%0%+7%+14%10-25’2108-23’2206-22’2304-19’2402-19’2512-16HYG +17.5%LQD -4.5%lopjlb.com
HYG
LQD

Return and risk 5Y

Ticker$10K becameTotalPer yearVolatilityWorst dropOff high nowBest yearWorst yearYears upCorr. with HYG
HYG$11,750+17.50%+3.29%7.5%-15.78%-2.71%+11.35% 2023-10.93% 202275%—
LQD$9,552-4.48%-0.92%8.7%-24.54%-6.45%+8.67% 2023-17.04% 202275%0.71
HYG
$10K became
$11,750
Total
+17.50%
Per year
+3.29%
Volatility
7.5%
Worst drop
-15.78%
Off high now
-2.71%
Best year
+11.35% 2023
Worst year
-10.93% 2022
LQD
$10K became
$9,552
Total
-4.48%
Per year
-0.92%
Volatility
8.7%
Worst drop
-24.54%
Off high now
-6.45%
Best year
+8.67% 2023
Worst year
-17.04% 2022

Per year is the compound annual growth rate and needs a year of history. Volatility is the yearly spread of daily returns. Best and worst years count full calendar years only.

Drawdown from peak 5Y

0%-15%-30%
2021-102026-10

Correlation of daily returns

HYGLQDHYG1.000.71LQD0.711.00

1 moves together, 0 unrelated, negative moves opposite. Lower correlation means more diversification.

Trailing returns up to 5 years

Ticker1Y2Y3Y5Y
HYG————
LQD————

Calendar-year returns best each year in bold

YearHYGLQD
No full years in this range yet.
About this comparison

iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) vs iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) total return over 5Y: HYG +17.50%, LQD -4.48%. As of Oct 21, 2026. Research only.

Desk note, written 2026-10-20. Its figures are as of that date; the tables above are live.

As of 2026-10-20, HYG closed at $76.83 while LQD settled at $103.20. Both iShares corporate bond ETFs currently carry a SELL directional signal, reflecting a broader bearish regime in the fixed-income sector. HYG, which tracks high-yield debt, shows a composite performance score of -29.90, whereas LQD, focused on investment-grade bonds, registers a composite score of -21.50. These metrics suggest that both instruments are under pressure, with HYG exhibiting slightly weaker relative performance in the current market environment. The divergence in total-return overlays highlights distinct risk profiles. Over a five-year window, HYG has delivered a +17.2% return, contrasting sharply with LQD’s -4.0% performance. This gap underscores the higher yield compensation inherent in high-yield credit versus the defensive nature of investment-grade holdings. Both tickers are classified as Balanced archetypes with quality scores near 43. For a deeper analysis of the underlying overlays and methodology, readers are encouraged to review the individual stock pages.

What does the HYG vs LQD overlay show?

LOPJLB overlays HYG vs LQD as total return (dividends and splits) from the first adjusted close in the selected 5Y window. Each path starts at 0% so you can read relative holding performance, not raw tape price.

Is this holding return or tape close?

Holding return. The series uses split- and dividend-adjusted close (Yahoo-style backward adjustment) when dividend coverage is sufficient, otherwise it falls back to tape close. Candles and technical overlays on /chart stay tape.

Which windows are public?

Public visitors can share 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y, and 5Y. MAX is Research+. Direction and regime in the table follow the desk ladder: SPY25 on Free, full book on Essential+.

How do I read the drawdown, period, and annual tables?

Drawdowns are current and worst peak-to-trough on the visible range. Periods are calendar lookbacks (1Y / 2Y / 3Y / 5Y, plus 10Y on MAX) from the last bar. Annual is calendar-year holding return, with the latest year labeled YTD.

How has HYG vs LQD performed on a normalized basis?

HYG vs LQD holding-return overlay: 5Y HYG +17.50% · LQD -4.48%; worst drawdown HYG -15.78% · LQD -24.54%; YTD HYG -0.23% · LQD -2.93%. Numbers update from the live compare-series book.

Is ticker compare investment advice?

No. The overlay is research context only — not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

Related: HYG, LQD, methodology, chart