AGG vs SCEC
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF vs Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF
Which is better, AGG or SCEC?
Nearly the same fund. AGG costs less.
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98.
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 | SCEC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.39% |
| AUM | $137.6B | $604M |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 5.20% |
| Holdings | 13,338 | 360 |
| YTD Return | -1.51%Best | -5.77% |
| 1Y Return | -1.41%Best | -5.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.76% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.36% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.8%Best | 4.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.6%Best | -7.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $10,343Best | $9,848 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Sterling Capital Active ETF |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Inception | Sep 22, 2003 | Mar 14, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight, Style.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 14, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026 (1.6 years).
AGG vs SCEC 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
AGG vs SCEC Performance
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF (SCEC) is an ETF from Sterling Capital Active ETF. Over the past year AGG returned -1.41% while SCEC returned -5.96%. Year to date, AGG is down 1.51% versus a loss of 5.77% for SCEC.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCEC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 4.2% compared with 3.8% 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 -7.9% for SCEC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.98. 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 SCEC charges 0.39%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $39 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AGG currently yields 4.19% against 5.20% for SCEC.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11,115 holdings in AGG and 178 in SCEC, totalling 67.1% and 40.9% 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, 87 positions appear in both.
87 positions in common, counted across the 11,115 positions we hold weights for in AGG and 178 in SCEC, against full books of 13,338 and 360.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AGG | Weight in SCEC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| T 4.25 08/15/54Treasury Bond (Otr) 4.25% Aug 15, 2054 | 0.18% | 2.74% | 2.56% |
| T 1.375 08/15/50United States Treas Bds 1.375% 08/15/2050 | 0.05% | 2.37% | 2.32% |
| T 2.5 02/15/45Us Treasury Bond 2.5% Feb 15 45 | 0.02% | 2.13% | 2.11% |
| BMARK 2024-V9 A3Biogroup-Lcd 2021 Eur Term Loan B 7.069% 02/09/2028 | 0.00% | 0.92% | 0.92% |
| T 3.375 11/15/48United States Treasury Note/Bond 3.38% 11/15/2048 | 0.13% | 0.67% | 0.54% |
| BMARK 2024-V6 ASBmark 2024-V6 As 6.3843% 03/15/2029 | 0.00% | 0.71% | 0.71% |
| T 4 02/15/34United States Treasury 4.00% 15-Feb-2034 | 0.37% | 0.24% | 0.13% |
| BANK5 2023-5YR4 A3Bank5_23-5Yr4 6.5 2056-12-15 6.5 12/15/2056 | 0.00% | 0.59% | 0.59% |
| MS V5.25 04/21/34 MTMorgan Stanley 2034-04-21 | 0.01% | 0.47% | 0.46% |
| T 2.625 02/15/29Us Treasury N/b 02/29 2.625 | 0.15% | 0.30% | 0.15% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AGG and SCEC 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 SCEC?
AGG has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SCEC charges 0.39%. AGG is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGG or SCEC?
Over the past year AGG returned -1.41% vs -5.96% for SCEC, so AGG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AGG annualized +2.13% vs -0.95% for SCEC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGG or SCEC?
SCEC has been the more volatile fund at 4.2% annualized versus 3.8% for AGG. Worst drawdown: AGG -4.6% vs SCEC -7.9%.
Should I hold both AGG and SCEC?
AGG and SCEC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, 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 SCEC?
AGG yields 4.19% while SCEC yields 5.20%, so SCEC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCEC better than AGG?
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.