BIL vs. SPEM
BIL (SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF) and SPEM (SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - BIL is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, while SPEM is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the S&P Emerging Markets BMI. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, BIL returned 2.20%/yr vs 9.63%/yr for SPEM. At a correlation of -0.01, they often move in opposite directions. BIL charges 0.14%/yr vs 0.11%/yr for SPEM.
Performance
BIL vs. SPEM - 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 SPEM's 11.32% return. Over the past 10 years, BIL has underperformed SPEM with an annualized return of 2.20%, while SPEM has yielded a comparatively higher 9.63% annualized 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%
SPEM
- 1D
- 0.87%
- 1M
- -0.13%
- YTD
- 11.32%
- 6M
- 13.11%
- 1Y
- 27.73%
- 3Y*
- 17.37%
- 5Y*
- 5.60%
- 10Y*
- 9.63%
BIL vs. SPEM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BIL SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF | 1.60% | 4.15% | 5.19% | 4.94% | 1.40% | -0.10% | 0.40% | 2.03% | 1.74% | 0.69% |
SPEM SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF | 11.32% | 25.63% | 11.40% | 10.51% | -17.90% | 1.51% | 14.55% | 19.69% | -13.26% | 34.82% |
Correlation
The correlation between BIL and SPEM is -0.12, 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 | -0.12 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.04 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 30, 2007 | -0.01 |
The correlation between BIL and SPEM shifts across timeframes, from -0.12 (1 year) to 0.03 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
BIL vs. SPEM — Risk / Return Rank
BIL
SPEM
BIL vs. SPEM - 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 SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM). 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 | SPEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +18.08 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +173.01 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 88.41 | 1.29 | +87.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 357.44 | 2.28 | +355.16 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2,834.34 | 8.16 | +2,826.17 |
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Drawdowns
BIL vs. SPEM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BIL drawdown since its inception was -0.78%, smaller than the maximum SPEM drawdown of -64.41%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BIL and SPEM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BIL | SPEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -0.78% | -64.41% | +63.63% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.01% | -11.36% | +11.35% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.01% | -17.62% | +17.61% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -0.09% | -31.75% | +31.66% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -0.21% | -36.06% | +35.85% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -2.40% | +2.40% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.26% | -14.73% | +14.47% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.00% | 3.17% | -3.17% |
Volatility
BIL vs. SPEM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) is 0.06%, while SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) has a volatility of 6.87%. This indicates that BIL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPEM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BIL | SPEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.06% | 6.87% | -6.81% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.14% | 14.21% | -14.07% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.20% | 16.67% | -16.47% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.26% | 17.26% | -17.00% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.26% | 18.83% | -18.57% |
BIL vs. SPEM - Expense Ratio Comparison
BIL has a 0.14% expense ratio, which is higher than SPEM's 0.11% 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
BIL vs. SPEM - Dividend Comparison
BIL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.86%, more than SPEM's 2.49% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% | 0.00% |
SPEM SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF | 2.49% | 2.77% | 2.78% | 2.80% | 3.38% | 3.14% | 1.92% | 2.94% | 2.34% | 1.12% | 1.51% | 2.40% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BIL and SPEM have a correlation of -0.12, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SPEM has higher volatility (6.87%) compared to BIL (0.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BIL dropped -0.78% vs SPEM's -64.41%.
On 10-year performance, SPEM leads with 9.63% vs 2.20% for BIL. On fees, SPEM is cheaper at 0.11% 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 10-year period, SPEM has performed better with a 9.63% return vs 2.20%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPEM is cheaper with a 0.11% expense ratio, compared with 0.14% for BIL.
BIL has the higher dividend yield at 3.86%, compared with 2.49% for SPEM.
BIL is categorized as Government Bonds, while SPEM is Emerging Markets Equities. BIL tracks Bloomberg 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, while SPEM tracks S&P Emerging Markets BMI. Their fees differ too: 0.14% for BIL and 0.11% for SPEM.
BIL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (19.63 vs 1.55), 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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