BTOT vs. TLT

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

BTOT (iShares Total USD Fixed Income Market ETF) and TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - BTOT is a Total Bond Market fund tracking the Bloomberg US Total Fixed Income Market Index, while TLT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Their correlation of 0.90 suggests significant overlap in exposure. BTOT charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for TLT.

Performance

BTOT vs. TLT - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Total USD Fixed Income Market ETF (BTOT) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BTOT achieves a 0.61% return, which is significantly higher than TLT's 0.13% return.

BTOT

• 1D: 0.08%
• 1M: 0.03%
• YTD: 0.61%
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

TLT

• 1D: 0.21%
• 1M: 0.44%
• YTD: 0.13%
• 6M: -1.35%
• 1Y: 5.16%
• 3Y*: -1.67%
• 5Y*: -5.98%
• 10Y*: -1.62%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

BTOT vs. TLT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
BTOT iShares Total USD Fixed Income Market ETF	0.61%	0.31%
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF	0.13%	-0.78%

Correlation

The correlation between BTOT and TLT is 0.90, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 12, 2025	0.90

Return for Risk

BTOT vs. TLT — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

TLT

TLT Risk / Return Rank: 16
TLT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 17
TLT Sortino Ratio Rank: 17
TLT Omega Ratio Rank: 16
TLT Calmar Ratio Rank: 15
TLT Martin Ratio Rank: 15

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

BTOT vs. TLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Total USD Fixed Income Market ETF (BTOT) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT). 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.

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	BTOT	TLT	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	—	0.53	—
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	-0.38	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	-0.11	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.54	0.26	+0.28

Drawdowns

BTOT vs. TLT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BTOT drawdown since its inception was -2.36%, smaller than the maximum TLT drawdown of -48.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BTOT and TLT.

Drawdown Indicators

	BTOT	TLT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-2.36%	-48.35%	+45.99%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-7.58%	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-19.18%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-43.70%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-48.35%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.97%	-40.20%	+39.23%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.76%	-13.81%	+13.05%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	3.02%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	BTOT	TLT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	2.84%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	6.60%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.70%	9.81%	-6.11%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	3.70%	15.87%	-12.17%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	3.70%	14.91%	-11.21%

BTOT vs. TLT - Expense Ratio Comparison

BTOT has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than TLT's 0.15% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

BTOT vs. TLT - Dividend Comparison

BTOT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.12%, less than TLT's 4.57% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BTOT iShares Total USD Fixed Income Market ETF	2.12%	0.22%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF	4.57%	4.43%	4.30%	3.38%	2.67%	1.50%	1.50%	2.27%	2.63%	2.43%	2.60%	2.61%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BTOT and TLT in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.90, BTOT and TLT move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which ETF is better, BTOT or TLT?

On fees, BTOT is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, BTOT or TLT?

BTOT is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for TLT.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, BTOT or TLT?

TLT has the higher dividend yield at 4.57%, compared with 2.12% for BTOT.

What is the main difference between BTOT and TLT?

BTOT is categorized as Total Bond Market, while TLT is Government Bonds. BTOT tracks Bloomberg US Total Fixed Income Market Index, while TLT tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for BTOT and 0.15% for TLT.