AGG vs GBND
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF vs Goldman Sachs Core Bond ETF
Which is better, AGG or GBND?
Nearly the same fund. AGG costs less.
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over 1Y, GBND over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AGG | GBND |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.25% |
| AUM | $139.2B | $648M |
| Dividend Yield | 4.12% | 3.90% |
| Holdings | 26,818 | 1,463 |
| YTD Return | -1.06%Best | -1.31% |
| 1Y Return | -1.02%Best | -1.15% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.51% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.26% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.2%Best | 4.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.6%Best | -4.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $10,205 | $10,206Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Goldman Sachs Asset Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Inception | Sep 22, 2003 | Jun 24, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight, Style.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.4 years).
AGG vs GBND growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.4 years both funds cover.
AGG vs GBND Performance
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Goldman Sachs Core Bond ETF (GBND) is an ETF from Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Over the past year AGG returned -1.02% while GBND returned -1.15%. Year to date, AGG is down 1.06% versus a loss of 1.31% for GBND.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GBND has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 4.3% compared with 4.2% for AGG. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -4.6% for AGG and -4.9% for GBND. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 1.00. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AGG charges 0.03% per year while GBND charges 0.25%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $25 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AGG currently yields 4.12% against 3.90% for GBND.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11,057 holdings in AGG and 425 in GBND, totalling 64.6% and 39.3% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 306 positions appear in both.
306 positions in common, counted across the 11,057 positions we hold weights for in AGG and 425 in GBND, against full books of 26,818 and 1,463.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AGG | Weight in GBND | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| T 3.875 11/30/29United States Treasury Note/Bond 3.88 11/30/2029 | 0.14% | 6.78% | 6.64% |
| T 4.5 11/15/54Treasury Bond (Otr) 4.5% Nov 15, 2054 | 0.19% | 2.43% | 2.24% |
| T 4.25 08/15/54Treasury Bond (Otr) 4.25% Aug 15, 2054 | 0.18% | 2.33% | 2.15% |
| T 4.875 08/15/45United States Treasury Note/Bond 4.88 08/15/2045 | 0.09% | 1.65% | 1.56% |
| FR SD8200Umbs P#Sd8200 2.5% 03/01/52 | 0.02% | 1.42% | 1.40% |
| FN MA4255Fannie Mae 2 02/01/2051 | 0.00% | 1.20% | 1.20% |
| T 4.75 02/15/45Us Treasury N/B 4.75 2/45 | 0.11% | 0.57% | 0.46% |
| BAC V5.518 10/25/35Bank Of America Corp Subordinated 10/35 Var % | 0.01% | 0.54% | 0.53% |
| T 4 02/28/30Us Treasury 4.0% | 0.40% | 0.04% | 0.36% |
| T 4.375 05/15/34United States Treasury Note/Bondus Treasury N/B | 0.39% | 0.02% | 0.37% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AGG and GBND you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AGG or GBND?
AGG has an expense ratio of 0.03% while GBND charges 0.25%. AGG is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGG or GBND?
Over the past year AGG returned -1.02% vs -1.15% for GBND, so AGG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AGG annualized +1.46% vs +1.47% for GBND. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGG or GBND?
GBND has been the more volatile fund at 4.3% annualized versus 4.2% for AGG. Worst drawdown: AGG -4.6% vs GBND -4.9%.
Should I hold both AGG and GBND?
AGG and GBND have a monthly-return correlation of 1.00, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AGG or GBND?
AGG yields 4.12% while GBND yields 3.90%, so AGG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is GBND better than AGG?
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over 1Y, GBND over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.