BIL vs. SPSM
BIL (SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF) and SPSM (State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - BIL is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, while SPSM is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, BIL returned 2.20%/yr vs 11.30%/yr for SPSM. At a correlation of -0.02, they often move in opposite directions. BIL charges 0.14%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for SPSM.
Performance
BIL vs. SPSM - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BIL achieves a 1.60% return, which is significantly lower than SPSM's 19.73% return. Over the past 10 years, BIL has underperformed SPSM with an annualized return of 2.20%, while SPSM has yielded a comparatively higher 11.30% 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%
SPSM
- 1D
- 0.99%
- 1M
- 5.61%
- YTD
- 19.73%
- 6M
- 16.52%
- 1Y
- 37.11%
- 3Y*
- 14.81%
- 5Y*
- 6.32%
- 10Y*
- 11.30%
BIL vs. SPSM - 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% |
SPSM State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF | 19.73% | 6.11% | 8.55% | 16.11% | -16.12% | 26.67% | 11.69% | 25.85% | -11.17% | 15.44% |
Correlation
The correlation between BIL and SPSM is -0.10, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.10 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.08 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.02 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 9, 2013 | -0.02 |
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
BIL vs. SPSM — Risk / Return Rank
BIL
SPSM
BIL vs. SPSM - 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 State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SPSM). 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 | SPSM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +17.68 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +172.36 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 88.41 | 1.33 | +87.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 357.44 | 3.96 | +353.48 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2,834.34 | 13.39 | +2,820.95 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
BIL vs. SPSM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BIL drawdown since its inception was -0.78%, smaller than the maximum SPSM drawdown of -42.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BIL and SPSM.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| BIL | SPSM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -0.78% | -42.89% | +42.11% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.01% | -8.72% | +8.71% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.01% | -27.94% | +27.93% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -0.09% | -27.94% | +27.85% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -0.21% | -42.89% | +42.68% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.26% | -7.91% | +7.65% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.00% | 2.59% | -2.59% |
Volatility
BIL vs. SPSM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) is 0.06%, while State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SPSM) has a volatility of 5.14%. This indicates that BIL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPSM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| BIL | SPSM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.06% | 5.14% | -5.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.14% | 11.96% | -11.82% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.20% | 17.69% | -17.49% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.26% | 21.45% | -21.19% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.26% | 23.00% | -22.74% |
BIL vs. SPSM - Expense Ratio Comparison
BIL has a 0.14% expense ratio, which is higher than SPSM'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
BIL vs. SPSM - Dividend Comparison
BIL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.86%, more than SPSM's 1.37% 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% |
SPSM State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF | 1.37% | 1.62% | 1.85% | 1.61% | 1.38% | 1.40% | 1.34% | 1.58% | 1.82% | 1.51% | 1.49% | 2.37% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BIL and SPSM 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.
SPSM has higher volatility (5.14%) compared to BIL (0.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BIL dropped -0.78% vs SPSM's -42.89%.
On 10-year performance, SPSM leads with 11.30% vs 2.20% for BIL. On fees, SPSM is cheaper at 0.03% 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, SPSM has performed better with a 11.30% return vs 2.20%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPSM is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.14% for BIL.
BIL has the higher dividend yield at 3.86%, compared with 1.37% for SPSM.
BIL is categorized as Government Bonds, while SPSM is Small Cap Blend Equities. BIL tracks Bloomberg 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, while SPSM tracks S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Their fees differ too: 0.14% for BIL and 0.03% for SPSM.
BIL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (19.63 vs 1.95), 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.
Find the right allocation for BIL and SPSM
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer