BILS vs. DBC
BILS (SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF) and DBC (Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - BILS is a Ultrashort Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg 3-12 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, while DBC is a Commodities fund tracking the DBIQ Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Index Excess Return. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, BILS returned 3.38%/yr vs 11.23%/yr for DBC. At a correlation of -0.10, they often move in opposite directions. BILS charges 0.14%/yr vs 0.85%/yr for DBC.
Performance
BILS vs. DBC - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BILS achieves a 1.79% return, which is significantly lower than DBC's 26.70% return.
BILS
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.27%
- 6M
- 1.69%
- YTD
- 1.79%
- 1Y
- 3.85%
- 3Y*
- 4.59%
- 5Y*
- 3.38%
- 10Y*
- —
DBC
- 1D
- 2.94%
- 1M
- -0.77%
- 6M
- 22.16%
- YTD
- 26.70%
- 1Y
- 30.09%
- 3Y*
- 11.04%
- 5Y*
- 11.23%
- 10Y*
- 8.42%
BILS vs. DBC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BILS SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF | 1.79% | 4.23% | 5.17% | 4.92% | 0.90% | -0.08% | -0.01% |
DBC Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund | 26.70% | 8.10% | 2.18% | -6.19% | 19.34% | 41.36% | 14.04% |
Correlation
The correlation between BILS and DBC is -0.18, 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 | -0.18 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.11 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.10 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 24, 2020 | -0.10 |
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
BILS vs. DBC — Risk / Return Rank
BILS
DBC
BILS vs. DBC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF (BILS) and Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC). 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.
| BILS | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +14.75 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +85.09 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 32.90 | 1.28 | +31.62 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 128.13 | 1.83 | +126.30 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1,281.20 | 6.41 | +1,274.79 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
BILS vs. DBC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BILS drawdown since its inception was -0.41%, smaller than the maximum DBC drawdown of -76.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BILS and DBC.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| BILS | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -0.41% | -76.36% | +75.95% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.03% | -16.54% | +16.51% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.04% | -16.54% | +16.50% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -0.36% | -27.34% | +26.98% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -41.71% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -26.71% | +26.71% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.04% | -46.13% | +46.09% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.00% | 4.71% | -4.71% |
Volatility
BILS vs. DBC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF (BILS) is 0.07%, while Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC) has a volatility of 6.07%. This indicates that BILS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DBC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| BILS | DBC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.07% | 6.07% | -6.00% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.14% | 16.67% | -16.53% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.24% | 18.84% | -18.60% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.31% | 19.28% | -18.97% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.30% | 17.80% | -17.50% |
BILS vs. DBC - Expense Ratio Comparison
BILS has a 0.14% expense ratio, which is lower than DBC's 0.85% expense ratio.
Dividends
BILS vs. DBC - Dividend Comparison
BILS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.77%, more than DBC's 2.63% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BILS SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF | 3.77% | 4.08% | 5.01% | 4.98% | 1.61% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
DBC Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund | 2.63% | 3.33% | 5.22% | 4.94% | 0.59% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.59% | 1.30% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BILS and DBC have a correlation of -0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DBC has higher volatility (6.07%) compared to BILS (0.07%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BILS dropped -0.41% vs DBC's -76.36%.
On 5-year performance, DBC leads with 11.23% vs 3.38% for BILS. On fees, BILS is cheaper at 0.14% per year. On volatility, BILS has been the lower-risk option at 0.07%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, DBC has performed better with a 11.23% return vs 3.38%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BILS is cheaper with a 0.14% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for DBC.
BILS has the higher dividend yield at 3.77%, compared with 2.63% for DBC.
BILS is categorized as Ultrashort Bond, while DBC is Commodities. BILS tracks Bloomberg 3-12 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, while DBC tracks DBIQ Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Index Excess Return. They also come from different issuers: State Street and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.14% for BILS and 0.85% for DBC.
BILS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (16.36 vs 1.61), 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 BILS and DBC
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