iShares Government Inflation ETF (ILB) Review & Analysis
- −0.5% in September (total return), in line with the median Australian bonds ETF at −0.4%.
- Investors added a net $185m (13.2% of the fund). That ranked #9 of 508 ETFs for new money.
- The unit price closed the month at $125.41, 10% below its 12-month high (range $118.51 to $138.61).
About ILB
ILB is the iShares Government Inflation ETF. It tracks the Bloomberg AusBond Inflation Government 0+ Yr Index, holding inflation linked bonds issued by the Australian Government and state governments. The value of these bonds is adjusted for inflation, so the fund offers protection against rising prices. It is passive.
Because the issuers are governments, credit risk is very low. The main risk is interest rates: the bonds are long dated, so the price can fall noticeably when real interest rates rise, even if inflation is high. Income is unfranked and can vary, as inflation adjustments flow through to distributions. Over the long run, inflation linked bonds have helped protect the purchasing power of savings, which matters for retirees. There is no currency risk.
ILB is often used as a defensive holding that hedges against unexpected inflation, alongside regular bonds such as VAF or IAF. Alternatives include VGB and AGVT. See ILB vs VGB, ILB vs AGVT and ILB vs XGOV.
ILB distributions and dividend dates
ILB pays distributions quarterly, usually going ex-distribution in January, April, July and October, with payment about 12 days after the ex-date.
The latest distribution was $0.4695 per unit (0% franked), ex-distribution on 8 October 2026 and paid on 20 October 2026. To receive it you need to own ILB before the ex-date.
Its distribution yield over the past 12 months is about 1.6%. Distributions vary and past payments are not a guide to future ones.
From ASX announcements, updated nightly. See every ETF in the dividend calendar.
Compare ILB with
| Fee | 0.18% | 0.16% |
| 1 year | −0.4% | −0.7% |
| 5 yrs p.a. | +0.3% | −0.5% |
| Size | $1.6bn | $1.4bn |
| Fee | 0.18% | 0.22% |
| 1 year | −0.4% | −1.8% |
| 5 yrs p.a. | +0.3% | −1.6% |
| Size | $1.6bn | $1.1bn |
| Fee | 0.18% | 0.22% |
| 1 year | −0.4% | −2.5% |
| 5 yrs p.a. | +0.3% | – |
| Size | $1.6bn | $477m |
| Fee | 0.18% | 0.15% |
| 1 year | −0.4% | −5.9% |
| 5 yrs p.a. | +0.3% | – |
| Size | $1.6bn | $315m |
ILB price by TradingView
| Stock Code | ILB |
|---|---|
| Fund Manager | iShares |
| Asset Class | Australian bonds |
| AUM | $1.6bn |
| MER (%) | 0.18% |
| Net flows (Sep) | +$185m |
| Last Price | $125.41 |
| 52-Week Range | $118.51 – $138.61 |
| Bid/Ask Spread | 0.05% |
| Listing Date | 14/03/2012 |
| Exchange | ASX |
| Index tracked | Bloomberg AusBond Inflation Government 0+ Yr Index |
| Issuer website | iShares ↗ |
Performance (% return)
$10,000 invested…
Value at 30 September 2026 with distributions reinvested, before tax and brokerage.
Total returns including distributions, to 30 September 2026. 1M, 1Y, 3Y and 5Y bars are cumulative.
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