📝 Executive Summary
Investors evaluating the iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB) and the Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO) must weigh the trade-off between higher corporate yields and Treasury-backed capital preservation. While ISTB offers a 4.3% dividend yield through a diversified portfolio of corporate and government debt, SCHO provides a lower-cost, risk-averse alternative focused exclusively on U.S. Treasuries.