AGZ vs. VTG
AGZ (iShares Agency Bond ETF) and VTG (Vanguard Total Treasury ETF) are both Government Bonds funds - AGZ tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Agency Bond Index (USD) while VTG tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Total Return Unhedged USD Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, AGZ returned 2.32% vs 1.06% for VTG. Their 0.78 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. AGZ charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VTG.
Performance
AGZ vs. VTG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AGZ achieves a 0.14% return, which is significantly higher than VTG's -0.78% return.
AGZ
- 1D
- -0.12%
- 1M
- -0.37%
- 6M
- 0.06%
- YTD
- 0.14%
- 1Y
- 2.32%
- 3Y*
- 4.20%
- 5Y*
- 0.97%
- 10Y*
- 1.74%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.35%
VTG
- 1D
- -0.22%
- 1M
- -1.11%
- 6M
- -0.79%
- YTD
- -0.78%
- 1Y
- 1.06%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 2.14%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.57M | $1.51M | $1.37M | |
| $2.81M | $3.14M | $2.90M |
AGZ vs. VTG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
AGZ iShares Agency Bond ETF | 0.14% | 3.16% |
VTG Vanguard Total Treasury ETF | -0.78% | 3.07% |
Correlation
The correlation between AGZ and VTG is 0.76, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.76 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 9, 2025 | 0.78 |
The correlation between AGZ and VTG has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.76 to 0.78 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
AGZ vs. VTG — Risk / Return Rank
AGZ
VTG
AGZ vs. VTG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Agency Bond ETF (AGZ) and Vanguard Total Treasury ETF (VTG). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| AGZ | VTG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.60 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.91 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.10 | +0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.21 | 0.68 | +1.52 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.46 | 1.62 | +4.83 |
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Drawdowns
AGZ vs. VTG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AGZ drawdown since its inception was -11.01%, which is greater than VTG's maximum drawdown of -2.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AGZ and VTG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AGZ | VTG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -11.01% | -2.89% | -8.12% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.35% | -2.89% | +1.54% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.85% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -10.65% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -11.01% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.81% | -2.55% | +1.74% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.60% | -0.90% | -0.70% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.46% | 1.22% | -0.76% |
Volatility
AGZ vs. VTG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Agency Bond ETF (AGZ) is 0.66%, while Vanguard Total Treasury ETF (VTG) has a volatility of 0.88%. This indicates that AGZ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VTG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| AGZ | VTG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.66% | 0.88% | -0.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.01% | 2.68% | -0.67% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.54% | 3.49% | -0.95% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.55% | 3.51% | +0.04% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.03% | 3.51% | -0.48% |
AGZ vs. VTG - Expense Ratio Comparison
AGZ has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is higher than VTG's 0.03% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
AGZ vs. VTG - Dividend Comparison
AGZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.72%, more than VTG's 3.57% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AGZ iShares Agency Bond ETF | 3.39% | 3.75% | 3.48% | 3.14% | 1.56% | 0.96% | 2.25% | 2.32% | 2.15% | 1.58% | 1.52% | 1.30% |
VTG Vanguard Total Treasury ETF | 3.31% | 1.65% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
AGZ and VTG have a correlation of 0.76, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VTG has higher volatility (0.88%) compared to AGZ (0.66%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AGZ dropped -11.01% vs VTG's -2.89%.
On 1-year performance, AGZ leads with 2.32% vs 1.06% for VTG. On fees, VTG is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, AGZ has been the lower-risk option at 0.66%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, AGZ has performed better with a 2.32% return vs 1.06%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VTG is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.20% for AGZ.
AGZ has the higher dividend yield at 3.39%, compared with 3.31% for VTG.
AGZ tracks Bloomberg U.S. Agency Bond Index (USD), while VTG tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Total Return Unhedged USD Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.20% for AGZ and 0.03% for VTG.
AGZ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.17 vs 0.57), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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