SGOV vs VBIL
iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF vs Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF
Which is better, SGOV or VBIL?
Short Term Government Bond against Ultrashort Term Bond.
VBIL has a lower expense ratio. SGOV led over 1Y, VBIL over 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 | VBIL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $106.0B | $11.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.79% | 3.58% |
| Holdings | 24 | 28 |
| YTD Return | +2.60%Best | +2.59% |
| 1Y Return | +3.75%Best | +3.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.55% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.76% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 0.6% | 0.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -0.3% | -0.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $10,644 | $10,766Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Style | Short Term Government Bond | Ultrashort Term Bond |
| Inception | May 26, 2020 | Feb 7, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 11, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026 (1.6 years).
SGOV vs VBIL 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.
SGOV vs VBIL Performance
iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SGOV returned +3.75% while VBIL returned +3.73%. Year to date, SGOV is up 2.60% versus a gain of 2.59% for VBIL.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SGOV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 0.6% compared with 0.5% for VBIL. 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 -0.1% for VBIL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.19. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SGOV charges 0.09% per year while VBIL charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $6 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SGOV currently yields 3.79% against 3.58% for VBIL.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in SGOV and 1 in VBIL, totalling 0.7% and 0.0% 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 1 in VBIL, against full books of 24 and 28.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SGOV and VBIL 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 VBIL?
SGOV has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VBIL charges 0.06%. VBIL is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SGOV or VBIL?
Over the past year SGOV returned +3.75% vs +3.73% for VBIL, so SGOV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SGOV annualized +3.98% vs +4.72% for VBIL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SGOV or VBIL?
SGOV has been the more volatile fund at 0.6% annualized versus 0.5% for VBIL. Worst drawdown: SGOV -0.3% vs VBIL -0.1%.
Should I hold both SGOV and VBIL?
SGOV and VBIL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.19, 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 VBIL?
SGOV yields 3.79% while VBIL yields 3.58%, so SGOV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VBIL better than SGOV?
VBIL has a lower expense ratio. SGOV led over 1Y, VBIL over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.