DES vs. BIL
DES (WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund) and BIL (SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - DES is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the WisdomTree SmallCap Dividend (TR), while BIL is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, DES returned 8.59%/yr vs 2.20%/yr for BIL. At a correlation of -0.03, they often move in opposite directions. DES charges 0.38%/yr vs 0.14%/yr for BIL.
Performance
DES vs. BIL - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DES achieves a 20.48% return, which is significantly higher than BIL's 1.60% return. Over the past 10 years, DES has outperformed BIL with an annualized return of 8.59%, while BIL has yielded a comparatively lower 2.20% annualized return.
DES
- 1D
- 0.98%
- 1M
- 5.05%
- YTD
- 20.48%
- 6M
- 17.29%
- 1Y
- 31.80%
- 3Y*
- 14.46%
- 5Y*
- 6.81%
- 10Y*
- 8.59%
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%
DES vs. BIL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DES WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund | 20.48% | 0.25% | 9.93% | 16.50% | -10.96% | 26.51% | -4.26% | 20.26% | -12.85% | 8.64% |
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% |
Correlation
The correlation between DES and BIL is -0.08, 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 | -0.08 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.07 |
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 | -0.03 |
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
DES vs. BIL — Risk / Return Rank
DES
BIL
DES vs. BIL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund (DES) and SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL). 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.
| DES | BIL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -17.84 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -172.51 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 88.41 | -87.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.87 | 357.44 | -353.57 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.13 | 2,834.34 | -2,823.21 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
DES vs. BIL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DES drawdown since its inception was -65.48%, which is greater than BIL's maximum drawdown of -0.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DES and BIL.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| DES | BIL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -65.48% | -0.78% | -64.70% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.64% | -0.01% | -7.63% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.16% | -0.01% | -25.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.16% | -0.09% | -25.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -45.65% | -0.21% | -45.44% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.67% | -0.26% | -9.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.66% | 0.00% | +2.66% |
Volatility
DES vs. BIL - Volatility Comparison
WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund (DES) has a higher volatility of 4.28% compared to SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) at 0.06%. This indicates that DES's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BIL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| DES | BIL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.28% | 0.06% | +4.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.97% | 0.14% | +10.83% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.48% | 0.20% | +16.28% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.58% | 0.26% | +19.32% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.97% | 0.26% | +21.71% |
DES vs. BIL - Expense Ratio Comparison
DES has a 0.38% expense ratio, which is higher than BIL's 0.14% expense ratio.
Dividends
DES vs. BIL - Dividend Comparison
DES's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.29%, less than BIL's 3.86% 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% |
DES WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund | 2.29% | 2.85% | 2.81% | 2.65% | 2.89% | 2.31% | 2.75% | 2.68% | 3.65% | 2.89% | 2.70% | 3.09% |
Frequently Asked Questions
DES and BIL have a correlation of -0.08, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
DES has higher volatility (4.28%) compared to BIL (0.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DES dropped -65.48% vs BIL's -0.78%.
On 10-year performance, DES leads with 8.59% vs 2.20% 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 10-year period, DES has performed better with a 8.59% return vs 2.20%. 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 0.38% for DES.
BIL has the higher dividend yield at 3.86%, compared with 2.29% for DES.
DES is categorized as Small Cap Blend Equities, while BIL is Government Bonds. DES tracks WisdomTree SmallCap Dividend (TR), while BIL tracks Bloomberg 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index. They also come from different issuers: WisdomTree and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.38% for DES and 0.14% for BIL.
BIL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (19.63 vs 1.79), 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 DES and BIL
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