Benchmark research · Bitcoin
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed IBIT (Bitcoin)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF), we screened IBIT against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 5 different time windows from 1 month to 1 year, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Compare the entire market against IBIT live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top IBIT: Across over 10,000 stocks and ETFs, outperformance was common over the available 1-year history. Of 2,477 eligible ETFs, 2,130, or 86%, outperformed IBIT in at least 3 of 5 short-term timeframes; the same was true of 1,234 of 2,023 eligible stocks, or 61%. No investments qualified as all-weather because IBIT has no long-term history.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: VGT, QQQ, and SPY each outperformed in 4 of 5 timeframes, while SI also made the list with 4 of 5. HUT and BLOK each managed 2 of 5, while RIOT, MSTR, GBTC, BITO, COIN, and MARA fell short with 1 of 5 or 0 of 5. FBTC, a same-index alternative, tied IBIT in every period.
- Top ETFs: Commodities and alternatives were the leading categories among the top ETFs. BNO and USO, both commodity funds, and the alternatives DBE and PLTY each outperformed in 5 of 5 timeframes. Overall, 2,130 ETFs made the consistency cut.
- Top stocks: A total of 1,234 stocks made the consistency cut. The top stocks include healthcare companies IOVA, KOD, and CDNA, along with ECO from industrials. Each outperformed in 5 of 5 timeframes.
- The risk trade-off: The top ETFs generally had a smoother ride than IBIT, with 11 of 15 showing lower volatility and all 15 posting higher Sharpe ratios. The top stocks were bumpier, with median volatility moderately higher than IBIT, but all 10 had higher Sharpe ratios.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against IBIT, sorted by periods outperformed.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Risk · 1 year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (benchmark) | — | −4.7% | +26.6% | +8.0% | −8.3% | −25.8% | 45.0% | -0.44 |
| SI Made the listShoulder Innovations, Inc. | 4/5 short | +6.8% | −10.8% | +25.6% | +30.3% | +49.3% | 68.0%1.5× IBIT | 0.91 |
| VGT Made the listVanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | 24.8%0.6× IBIT | 1.08 |
| QQQ Made the listInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 4/5 short | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | 19.8%0.4× IBIT | 0.93 |
| SPY Made the listState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 4/5 short | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | 12.7%0.3× IBIT | 1.22 |
| HUT Fell shortHut 8 Corp. | 2/5 short | −33.2% | −31.6% | −12.6% | +34.7% | +38.3% | 108%2.4× IBIT | 0.83 |
| BLOK Fell shortAmplify Blockchain Technology ETF | 2/5 short | −17.5% | −9.0% | −10.0% | −6.9% | −22.4% | 40.9%0.9× IBIT | -0.42 |
| RIOT Fell shortRiot Platforms, Inc. | 1/5 short | −43.1% | −30.8% | −24.0% | −2.8% | −37.4% | 88.1%2.0× IBIT | -0.10 |
| MSTR Fell shortStrategy Inc | 1/5 short | −15.3% | +45.9% | −16.4% | −9.2% | −51.9% | 82.0%1.8× IBIT | -0.49 |
| FBTC Same indexFidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund | ≈ Same returns | −4.8% | +26.5% | +7.9% | −8.3% | −25.8% | 44.9%1.0× IBIT | -0.44 |
| GBTC Fell shortGrayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF | 0/5 short | −4.8% | +26.3% | +7.3% | −9.2% | −26.7% | 44.9%1.0× IBIT | -0.47 |
| BITO Fell shortProShares Bitcoin ETF | 0/5 short | −5.1% | +25.4% | +6.2% | −10.7% | −28.3% | 44.7%1.0× IBIT | -0.52 |
| COIN Fell shortCoinbase Global, Inc. | 0/5 short | −15.0% | +6.5% | −19.3% | −27.8% | −50.3% | 72.5%1.6× IBIT | -0.61 |
| MARA Fell shortMarathon Digital Holdings, Inc. | 0/5 short | −43.7% | −35.9% | −35.7% | −24.5% | −63.9% | 84.5%1.9× IBIT | -0.79 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed IBIT
Top 15 by periods outperformed, then by 1Y return. Green cells outperformed IBIT in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 1 year of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Risk · 1 year | Fund | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (benchmark) | — | −4.7% | +26.6% | +8.0% | −8.3% | −25.8% | 45.0% | -0.44 | ||
| 1 | BNO CommoditiesUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | 47.5%1.1× IBIT | 2.10 | 1.15% | $768M |
| 2 | USO CommoditiesUnited States Oil Fund, LP | 5/5 short | +8.4% | +28.0% | +32.4% | +133% | +137% | 49.6%1.1× IBIT | 1.99 | 0.86% | $1.9B |
| 3 | DBE AlternativesInvesco DB Energy Fund | 5/5 short | +8.4% | +28.7% | +39.3% | +126% | +126% | 40.1%0.9× IBIT | 2.25 | 0.79% | $132M |
| 4 | IDNA HealthcareiShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare ETF | 5/5 short | +4.8% | +32.0% | +37.0% | +63.1% | +70.3% | 29.6%0.7× IBIT | 1.95 | 0.47% | $308M |
| 5 | PLTY AlternativesYieldMax PLTR Option Income Strategy ETF | 5/5 short | +2.6% | +34.6% | +29.0% | +16.5% | +7.6% | 52.0%1.2× IBIT | 0.39 | 1.07% | $342M |
| 6 | PLTW Broad MarketRoundhill Investments - PLTR WeeklyPay ETF | 5/5 short | +5.7% | +49.1% | +33.0% | +8.6% | −2.7% | 72.8%1.6× IBIT | 0.31 | 0.99% | $127M |
| 7 | UGA CommoditiesUnited States Gasoline Fund, LP | 4/5 short | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | 39.2%0.9× IBIT | 2.33 | 1.08% | $167M |
| 8 | DBO AlternativesInvesco DB Oil Fund | 4/5 short | +6.2% | +23.0% | +30.4% | +111% | +115% | 41.6%0.9× IBIT | 2.06 | 0.81% | $278M |
| 9 | OILK CommoditiesProShares - K-1 Free Crude Oil ETF | 4/5 short | +11.1% | +25.4% | +31.0% | +92.5% | +91.9% | 30.8%0.7× IBIT | 2.28 | 0.70% | $245M |
| 10 | CRAK EnergyVanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 4/5 short | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | 21.2%0.5× IBIT | 2.93 | 0.61% | $810M |
| 11 | BOAT IndustrialsSonicShares Global Shipping ETF | 4/5 short | −2.0% | +24.9% | +30.5% | +71.8% | +80.5% | 21.8%0.5× IBIT | 2.84 | 0.69% | $148M |
| 12 | IEO Broad MarketiShares U.S. Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF | 4/5 short | +11.0% | +24.0% | +36.4% | +67.4% | +73.9% | 26.9%0.6× IBIT | 2.21 | 0.37% | $915M |
| 13 | PIT CommoditiesVanEck Commodity Strategy ETF | 4/5 short | +2.8% | +16.2% | +19.7% | +60.3% | +65.6% | 23.2%0.5× IBIT | 2.30 | 0.55% | $488M |
| 14 | DRLL EnergyStrive U.S. Energy ETF | 4/5 short | +10.7% | +20.9% | +29.2% | +56.7% | +63.7% | 24.2%0.5× IBIT | 2.17 | 0.41% | $340M |
| 15 | PXE Broad MarketInvesco Energy Exploration & Production ETF | 4/5 short | +10.6% | +21.3% | +28.8% | +58.9% | +63.2% | 28.1%0.6× IBIT | 1.90 | 0.67% | $159M |
Stocks that consistently outperformed IBIT
Top 10 by periods outperformed, then by 1Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Risk · 1 year | Company | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (benchmark) | — | −4.7% | +26.6% | +8.0% | −8.3% | −25.8% | 45.0% | -0.44 | |
| 1 | IOVA BiotechnologyIovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short | +45.8% | +196% | +293% | +490% | +541% | 105%2.3× IBIT | 2.26 | $6.7B |
| 2 | KOD BiotechnologyKodiak Sciences Inc. | 5/5 short | +187% | +127% | +100% | +257% | +425% | 207%4.6× IBIT | 1.40 | $5.8B |
| 3 | CDNA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchCareDx, Inc | 5/5 short | +27.4% | +80.3% | +225% | +262% | +355% | 73.1%1.6× IBIT | 2.42 | $3.6B |
| 4 | ECO Marine ShippingOkeanis Eco Tankers Corp. | 5/5 short | +6.7% | +77.1% | +89.6% | +222% | +236% | 44.0%1.0× IBIT | 2.99 | $2.9B |
| 5 | CLMT Chemicals - SpecialtyCalumet Inc. | 5/5 short | −3.6% | +29.0% | +74.8% | +187% | +198% | 42.6%0.9× IBIT | 2.79 | $4.9B |
| 6 | RNG Software - ApplicationRingCentral, Inc. | 5/5 short | +5.6% | +101% | +104% | +197% | +197% | 70.4%1.6× IBIT | 1.88 | $6.0B |
| 7 | LIND Travel ServicesLindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. | 5/5 short | +25.3% | +28.4% | +75.1% | +145% | +195% | 51.3%1.1× IBIT | 2.38 | $2.3B |
| 8 | PBF Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingPBF Energy Inc. | 5/5 short | +14.5% | +30.5% | +122% | +196% | +189% | 66.5%1.5× IBIT | 1.93 | $9.8B |
| 9 | SSL ChemicalsSasol Limited | 5/5 short | +17.5% | +39.1% | +26.3% | +139% | +189% | 56.5%1.3× IBIT | 2.17 | $10B |
| 10 | VLO Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingValero Energy Corporation | 5/5 short | +10.2% | +38.9% | +93.2% | +166% | +176% | 37.6%0.8× IBIT | 2.91 | $125B |
What stands out
The comparison covers only the available 1-year history, so it shows recent relative performance rather than a long-term record. Commodities and alternatives feature prominently among the top ETFs, while the standout stocks span healthcare, industrials, materials, technology, and other sectors. The results therefore point to a range of recent winners rather than a single narrow theme.
Risk measures add useful context. The top ETFs had median volatility of 30.8%, below IBIT's 45.0%, while the top stocks had median volatility of 61.5%. Yet every top ETF and stock had a higher Sharpe ratio than IBIT, suggesting their returns were stronger relative to their measured risk over this period. Past performance over a short history does not establish how these investments will fare over longer spans.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than IBIT's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of IBIT's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- IBIT is too new for long-term periods, so consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 periods. Rankings use periods outperformed, then the 1Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 1 year of history.
- 9 ETFs that track essentially the same returns as IBIT (FBTC, BTC, BITB, ARKB, HODL, BRRR, EZBC, BTCO, …) are excluded, since tiny fee differences decide whether they finish ahead.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 1 year. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.