IG vs LQD
Principal Investment Grade Corporate ETF compared with iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
IG
Principal Investment Grade Corporate ETF
TTM yield · Monthly
LQD
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF
TTM yield · Monthly
Quick take
- IG yields more today: 5.21% vs 4.76% (forward).
- Both pay every month.
- Over the last year IG delivered the higher total return: +1.3% vs +0.6% (price change plus payouts).
- LQD is cheaper to own: 0.14% vs 0.19% expense ratio.
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | IG | LQD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $20.09 | $105.48 |
| TTM yield | 5.21% | 4.76% |
| Forward yield | 5.21% | 4.76% |
| Annual payout per share | $1.047 | $5.016 |
| Payment frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Next ex-date | Oct 1, 2026 (est.) | Oct 1, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | 0.19% | 0.14% |
| 1-year payout growth | — | — |
| 5-year payout CAGR | — | — |
| Consecutive years of increases | — | — |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| 1-year total return | +1.3% | +0.6% |
| 1-year price return | -3.7% | -3.9% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 202.9M | 32.0B |
| Years paying | 8.3 | 24.0 |
| Sector / category | Corporate Bond | Corporate Bond |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| IG | LQD | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 497.8 | 94.8 |
| Income per year | $521 | $476 |
| Income per month (avg) | $43 | $40 |
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IG Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | $0.0872 | Est. |
| IG Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | $0.0872 | Est. |
| IG Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | $0.0872 | Est. |
| LQD Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | $0.418 | Est. |
| LQD Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | $0.418 | Est. |
| LQD Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | $0.418 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
IGLQD
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, IG or LQD?
IG currently has the higher trailing yield: IG yields 5.21% and LQD yields 4.76%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do IG and LQD pay?
IG pays every month and LQD pays every month. IG's next ex-date is Oct 1, 2026 and LQD's is Oct 1, 2026.
Is IG or LQD better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. IG and LQD differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.