SPLB vs. TLT
SPLB (SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF) and TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SPLB is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg Barclays Long U.S. Corporate Index, while TLT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SPLB returned 2.19%/yr vs -1.75%/yr for TLT. A 0.79 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. SPLB charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for TLT.
Performance
SPLB vs. TLT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SPLB achieves a 1.28% return, which is significantly higher than TLT's 0.64% return. Over the past 10 years, SPLB has outperformed TLT with an annualized return of 2.19%, while TLT has yielded a comparatively lower -1.75% annualized return.
SPLB
- 1D
- -0.40%
- 1M
- 1.36%
- YTD
- 1.28%
- 6M
- 1.33%
- 1Y
- 6.30%
- 3Y*
- 4.12%
- 5Y*
- -2.19%
- 10Y*
- 2.19%
TLT
- 1D
- -0.76%
- 1M
- 2.06%
- YTD
- 0.64%
- 6M
- 0.41%
- 1Y
- 4.08%
- 3Y*
- -1.93%
- 5Y*
- -6.59%
- 10Y*
- -1.75%
SPLB vs. TLT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPLB SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF | 1.28% | 7.05% | -1.74% | 11.20% | -25.68% | -1.99% | 13.47% | 23.49% | -7.35% | 12.26% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 0.64% | 4.25% | -8.05% | 2.77% | -31.23% | -4.60% | 18.15% | 14.12% | -1.61% | 9.18% |
Correlation
The correlation between SPLB and TLT is 0.91, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.83 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 11, 2009 | 0.79 |
The correlation between SPLB and TLT shifts across timeframes, from 0.79 (all time) to 0.94 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
SPLB vs. TLT — Risk / Return Rank
SPLB
TLT
SPLB vs. TLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF (SPLB) 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.
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.
| SPLB | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.36 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.49 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.14 | 1.08 | +0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.17 | 0.54 | +0.63 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.84 | 1.29 | +1.55 |
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Drawdowns
SPLB vs. TLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SPLB drawdown since its inception was -34.46%, smaller than the maximum TLT drawdown of -48.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SPLB and TLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SPLB | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.46% | -48.35% | +13.89% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.42% | -7.58% | +2.16% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.91% | -19.18% | +6.27% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.46% | -43.70% | +9.24% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.46% | -48.35% | +13.89% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -14.23% | -39.89% | +25.66% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.02% | -13.87% | +5.85% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.22% | 3.17% | -0.95% |
Volatility
SPLB vs. TLT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF (SPLB) is 1.94%, while iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) has a volatility of 2.21%. This indicates that SPLB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than TLT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SPLB | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.94% | 2.21% | -0.27% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.92% | 6.63% | -0.71% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.96% | 9.50% | -1.54% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.69% | 15.82% | -3.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 12.96% | 14.91% | -1.95% |
SPLB vs. TLT - Expense Ratio Comparison
SPLB has a 0.07% 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
SPLB vs. TLT - Dividend Comparison
SPLB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.36%, more than TLT's 4.55% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPLB SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF | 5.36% | 5.25% | 5.20% | 4.60% | 4.53% | 3.00% | 3.01% | 3.79% | 4.50% | 4.06% | 4.34% | 4.70% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 4.55% | 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
With a correlation of 0.91, SPLB 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.
TLT has higher volatility (2.21%) compared to SPLB (1.94%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SPLB dropped -34.46% vs TLT's -48.35%.
On 10-year performance, SPLB leads with 2.19% vs -1.75% for TLT. On fees, SPLB is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, SPLB has been the lower-risk option at 1.94%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, SPLB has performed better with a 2.19% return vs -1.75%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPLB is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for TLT.
SPLB has the higher dividend yield at 5.36%, compared with 4.55% for TLT.
SPLB is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while TLT is Government Bonds. SPLB tracks Bloomberg Barclays Long U.S. Corporate Index, while TLT tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: State Street and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for SPLB and 0.15% for TLT.
SPLB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.80 vs 0.43), 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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