SGOV vs SPY
iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SGOV or SPY?
Short Term Government Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | SGOV | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Tie | 0.09%Tie |
| AUM | $106.0B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.79% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 24 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +2.60% | +13.81%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.75% | +16.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.55% | +22.84%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.76% | +13.50%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 0.7%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -0.3%Best | -24.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,027 | $18,836Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Government Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 26, 2020 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 28, 2020 to Sep 22, 2026 (6.3 years).
SGOV vs SPY 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SGOV vs SPY Performance
iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SGOV returned +3.75% while SPY returned +16.94%. Year to date, SGOV is up 2.60% versus a gain of 13.81% for SPY.
Over three years, SGOV compounded at +4.55% per year against +22.84% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +3.76% and +13.50% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +17.36% annualized vs +2.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 0.7% for SGOV. 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 -0.3% for SGOV and -24.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.06. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SGOV charges 0.09% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $9 annually. On income, SGOV currently yields 3.79% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in SGOV and 504 in SPY, totalling 0.7% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 1 positions we hold weights for in SGOV and 504 in SPY, against full books of 24 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SGOV and SPY 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, SGOV or SPY?
SGOV has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SPY charges 0.09%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, SGOV or SPY?
Over the past year SGOV returned +3.75% vs +16.94% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), SGOV annualized +2.97% vs +17.36% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SGOV or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 0.7% for SGOV. Worst drawdown: SGOV -0.3% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both SGOV and SPY?
SGOV and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.06, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SGOV or SPY?
SGOV yields 3.79% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SGOV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SGOV?
SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.