SPTS vs. VGIT
SPTS (SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF) and VGIT (Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF) are both Government Bonds funds - SPTS tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index while VGIT tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 3-10 Year Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SPTS returned 1.66%/yr vs 1.26%/yr for VGIT. A 0.68 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.03% expense ratio.
Performance
SPTS vs. VGIT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SPTS achieves a 0.52% return, which is significantly higher than VGIT's -0.32% return. Over the past 10 years, SPTS has outperformed VGIT with an annualized return of 1.66%, while VGIT has yielded a comparatively lower 1.26% annualized return.
SPTS
- 1D
- 0.07%
- 1M
- 0.08%
- YTD
- 0.52%
- 6M
- 0.91%
- 1Y
- 3.31%
- 3Y*
- 4.20%
- 5Y*
- 1.83%
- 10Y*
- 1.66%
VGIT
- 1D
- 0.14%
- 1M
- -0.08%
- YTD
- -0.32%
- 6M
- -0.27%
- 1Y
- 3.19%
- 3Y*
- 3.44%
- 5Y*
- 0.07%
- 10Y*
- 1.26%
SPTS vs. VGIT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPTS SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF | 0.52% | 5.05% | 4.20% | 4.27% | -3.86% | -0.72% | 3.23% | 3.56% | 1.08% | 0.59% |
VGIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF | -0.32% | 7.34% | 1.39% | 4.28% | -10.53% | -2.64% | 7.71% | 6.19% | 1.35% | 1.70% |
Correlation
The correlation between SPTS and VGIT is 0.89, 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 | 0.89 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.86 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.85 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.80 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 2, 2011 | 0.68 |
Over the past year, SPTS and VGIT have become more correlated (0.89) than their long-term average of 0.68, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
SPTS vs. VGIT — Risk / Return Rank
SPTS
VGIT
SPTS vs. VGIT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF (SPTS) and Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT). 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 | VGIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.59 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.84 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.53 | 1.17 | +0.36 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.96 | 1.13 | +2.83 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 15.95 | 3.36 | +12.58 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| SPTS | VGIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.55 | 0.96 | +1.59 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.93 | 0.01 | +0.91 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.97 | 0.28 | +0.69 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.49 | 0.50 | 0.00 |
Drawdowns
SPTS vs. VGIT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SPTS drawdown since its inception was -5.83%, smaller than the maximum VGIT drawdown of -16.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SPTS and VGIT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SPTS | VGIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -5.83% | -16.05% | +10.22% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.84% | -2.83% | +1.99% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.96% | -4.34% | +3.38% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -5.71% | -15.02% | +9.31% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -5.71% | -16.05% | +10.34% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.21% | -2.26% | +2.05% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.72% | -3.52% | +1.80% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.21% | 0.95% | -0.74% |
Volatility
SPTS vs. VGIT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF (SPTS) is 0.34%, while Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT) has a volatility of 1.06%. This indicates that SPTS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VGIT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SPTS | VGIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.34% | 1.06% | -0.72% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.86% | 2.33% | -1.47% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.32% | 3.38% | -2.06% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.98% | 5.38% | -3.40% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.72% | 4.50% | -2.78% |
SPTS vs. VGIT - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both SPTS and VGIT 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. VGIT - Dividend Comparison
SPTS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.91%, more than VGIT's 3.86% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
VGIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF | 3.86% | 3.79% | 3.67% | 2.73% | 1.74% | 1.69% | 2.23% | 2.24% | 2.05% | 1.67% | 1.69% | 1.69% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SPTS and VGIT have a correlation of 0.89, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VGIT has higher volatility (1.06%) compared to SPTS (0.34%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SPTS dropped -5.83% vs VGIT's -16.05%.
On 10-year performance, SPTS leads with 1.66% vs 1.26% for VGIT. 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 10-year period, SPTS has performed better with a 1.66% return vs 1.26%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPTS and VGIT have the same expense ratio: 0.03% per year.
SPTS has the higher dividend yield at 3.91%, compared with 3.86% for VGIT.
SPTS tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index, while VGIT tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 3-10 Year Index. They also come from different issuers: State Street and Vanguard.
SPTS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.55 vs 0.96), 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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