SPTS vs. SCHQ
SPTS (SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF) and SCHQ (Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF) are both Government Bonds funds - SPTS tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index while SCHQ tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Long Treasury Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SPTS returned 1.81%/yr vs -5.29%/yr for SCHQ. A 0.57 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.03% expense ratio.
Performance
SPTS vs. SCHQ - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SPTS achieves a 0.45% return, which is significantly higher than SCHQ's -0.43% return.
SPTS
- 1D
- -0.07%
- 1M
- 0.05%
- YTD
- 0.45%
- 6M
- 0.77%
- 1Y
- 3.45%
- 3Y*
- 4.18%
- 5Y*
- 1.81%
- 10Y*
- 1.67%
SCHQ
- 1D
- -0.45%
- 1M
- 0.65%
- YTD
- -0.43%
- 6M
- -1.74%
- 1Y
- 5.22%
- 3Y*
- -0.72%
- 5Y*
- -5.29%
- 10Y*
- —
SPTS vs. SCHQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPTS SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF | 0.45% | 5.05% | 4.20% | 4.27% | -3.86% | -0.72% | 3.23% | 0.22% |
SCHQ Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | -0.43% | 5.50% | -6.44% | 3.43% | -29.44% | -4.86% | 17.73% | -4.02% |
Correlation
The correlation between SPTS and SCHQ is 0.67, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.67 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.62 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.61 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 11, 2019 | 0.57 |
The correlation between SPTS and SCHQ has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.57 to 0.67 - a consistent structural relationship.
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
SPTS vs. SCHQ — Risk / Return Rank
SPTS
SCHQ
SPTS vs. SCHQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF (SPTS) and Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHQ). 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.
| SPTS | SCHQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.05 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.56 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.55 | 1.10 | +0.45 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.13 | 0.75 | +3.38 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 16.52 | 1.94 | +14.59 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| SPTS | SCHQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.63 | 0.59 | +2.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.92 | -0.37 | +1.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.98 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.49 | -0.25 | +0.74 |
Drawdowns
SPTS vs. SCHQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SPTS drawdown since its inception was -5.83%, smaller than the maximum SCHQ drawdown of -46.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SPTS and SCHQ.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| SPTS | SCHQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -5.83% | -46.13% | +40.30% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.84% | -7.01% | +6.17% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.96% | -17.65% | +16.69% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -5.71% | -40.93% | +35.22% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -5.71% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.28% | -36.82% | +36.54% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.72% | -26.36% | +24.64% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.21% | 2.70% | -2.49% |
Volatility
SPTS vs. SCHQ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF (SPTS) is 0.34%, while Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHQ) has a volatility of 2.57%. This indicates that SPTS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SCHQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| SPTS | SCHQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.34% | 2.57% | -2.23% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.86% | 5.94% | -5.08% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.32% | 8.93% | -7.61% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.98% | 14.54% | -12.56% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.72% | 15.33% | -13.61% |
SPTS vs. SCHQ - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both SPTS and SCHQ have an expense ratio of 0.03%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SPTS vs. SCHQ - Dividend Comparison
SPTS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.91%, less than SCHQ's 4.79% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCHQ Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | 4.79% | 4.54% | 4.58% | 3.79% | 2.88% | 1.69% | 1.51% | 0.44% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SPTS SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF | 3.91% | 3.99% | 4.25% | 3.61% | 1.27% | 0.19% | 0.70% | 2.21% | 2.04% | 1.20% | 0.95% | 0.83% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SPTS and SCHQ have a correlation of 0.67, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SCHQ has higher volatility (2.57%) compared to SPTS (0.34%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SPTS dropped -5.83% vs SCHQ's -46.13%.
On 5-year performance, SPTS leads with 1.81% vs -5.29% for SCHQ. Both ETFs have the same 0.03% expense ratio. On volatility, SPTS has been the lower-risk option at 0.34%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, SPTS has performed better with a 1.81% return vs -5.29%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPTS and SCHQ have the same expense ratio: 0.03% per year.
SCHQ has the higher dividend yield at 4.79%, compared with 3.91% for SPTS.
SPTS tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index, while SCHQ tracks Bloomberg U.S. Long Treasury Index. They also come from different issuers: State Street and Charles Schwab.
SPTS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.63 vs 0.59), 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 SPTS and SCHQ
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