BIL vs. AVEM
BIL (SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF) and AVEM (Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - BIL is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, while AVEM is a Emerging Markets Equities fund actively managed by Avantis. BIL is passively managed, while AVEM is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, BIL returned 3.43%/yr vs 9.66%/yr for AVEM. At a 0.02 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. BIL charges 0.14%/yr vs 0.33%/yr for AVEM.
Performance
BIL vs. AVEM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BIL achieves a 1.60% return, which is significantly lower than AVEM's 25.08% return.
BIL
- 1D
- 0.03%
- 1M
- 0.29%
- YTD
- 1.60%
- 6M
- 1.76%
- 1Y
- 3.85%
- 3Y*
- 4.63%
- 5Y*
- 3.43%
- 10Y*
- 2.20%
AVEM
- 1D
- 0.42%
- 1M
- 1.30%
- YTD
- 25.08%
- 6M
- 27.86%
- 1Y
- 47.18%
- 3Y*
- 24.04%
- 5Y*
- 9.66%
- 10Y*
- —
BIL vs. AVEM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BIL SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF | 1.60% | 4.15% | 5.19% | 4.94% | 1.40% | -0.10% | 0.40% | 0.45% |
AVEM Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 25.08% | 34.48% | 7.49% | 15.30% | -18.15% | 5.16% | 14.39% | 10.40% |
Correlation
The correlation between BIL and AVEM is -0.10, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.10 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.05 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 19, 2019 | 0.02 |
The correlation between BIL and AVEM shifts across timeframes, from -0.10 (1 year) to 0.03 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
BIL vs. AVEM — Risk / Return Rank
BIL
AVEM
BIL vs. AVEM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) and Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM). 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.
| BIL | AVEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +17.48 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +172.38 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 88.41 | 1.40 | +87.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 357.44 | 3.46 | +353.98 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2,834.34 | 13.15 | +2,821.18 |
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Drawdowns
BIL vs. AVEM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BIL drawdown since its inception was -0.78%, smaller than the maximum AVEM drawdown of -36.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BIL and AVEM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BIL | AVEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -0.78% | -36.05% | +35.27% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.01% | -13.13% | +13.12% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.01% | -18.02% | +18.01% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -0.09% | -33.88% | +33.79% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -0.21% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -3.33% | +3.33% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.26% | -10.07% | +9.81% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.00% | 3.45% | -3.45% |
Volatility
BIL vs. AVEM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) is 0.06%, while Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM) has a volatility of 10.91%. This indicates that BIL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than AVEM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BIL | AVEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.06% | 10.91% | -10.85% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.14% | 18.79% | -18.65% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.20% | 21.17% | -20.97% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.26% | 18.71% | -18.45% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.26% | 20.76% | -20.50% |
BIL vs. AVEM - Expense Ratio Comparison
BIL has a 0.14% expense ratio, which is lower than AVEM's 0.33% expense ratio.
Dividends
BIL vs. AVEM - Dividend Comparison
BIL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.86%, more than AVEM's 2.59% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVEM Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 2.59% | 2.45% | 3.17% | 3.06% | 2.77% | 2.61% | 1.60% | 0.35% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
BIL SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF | 3.86% | 4.13% | 5.03% | 4.92% | 1.35% | 0.00% | 0.30% | 2.05% | 1.66% | 0.68% | 0.07% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BIL and AVEM have a correlation of -0.10, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
AVEM has higher volatility (10.91%) compared to BIL (0.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BIL dropped -0.78% vs AVEM's -36.05%.
On 5-year performance, AVEM leads with 9.66% vs 3.43% for BIL. On fees, BIL is cheaper at 0.14% per year. On volatility, BIL has been the lower-risk option at 0.06%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, AVEM has performed better with a 9.66% return vs 3.43%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BIL is cheaper with a 0.14% expense ratio, compared with 0.33% for AVEM.
BIL has the higher dividend yield at 3.86%, compared with 2.59% for AVEM.
BIL is categorized as Government Bonds, while AVEM is Emerging Markets Equities. They also come from different issuers: State Street and Avantis. Their fees differ too: 0.14% for BIL and 0.33% for AVEM.
BIL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (19.63 vs 2.15), 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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