SPTU vs. BILS

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

SPTU (State Street SPDR Portfolio Ultra Short T-Bill ETF) and BILS (SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF) are both Ultrashort Bond funds from State Street - SPTU tracks the ICE BofA US Treasury Bill Index while BILS tracks the Bloomberg 3-12 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index. Both are passively managed. At a 0.44 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SPTU charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.14%/yr for BILS.

Performance

SPTU vs. BILS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in State Street SPDR Portfolio Ultra Short T-Bill ETF (SPTU) and SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF (BILS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SPTU achieves a 1.48% return, which is significantly higher than BILS's 1.40% return.

SPTU

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.31%
• YTD: 1.48%
• 6M: 1.81%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

BILS

• 1D: -0.01%
• 1M: 0.28%
• YTD: 1.40%
• 6M: 1.73%
• 1Y: 3.90%
• 3Y*: 4.66%
• 5Y*: 3.29%
• 10Y*: —

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

SPTU vs. BILS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
SPTU State Street SPDR Portfolio Ultra Short T-Bill ETF	1.48%	0.92%
BILS SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF	1.40%	0.93%

Correlation

The correlation between SPTU and BILS is 0.44, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 9, 2025	0.44

Return for Risk

SPTU vs. BILS — Risk / Return Rank

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

BILS

BILS Risk / Return Rank: 100
BILS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 100
BILS Sortino Ratio Rank: 100
BILS Omega Ratio Rank: 100
BILS Calmar Ratio Rank: 100
BILS Martin Ratio Rank: 100

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.

SPTU vs. BILS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street SPDR Portfolio Ultra Short T-Bill ETF (SPTU) and SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF (BILS). 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

	SPTU	BILS	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	—	16.80	—
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	10.79	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	11.82	9.79	+2.03

Drawdowns

SPTU vs. BILS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SPTU drawdown since its inception was -0.04%, smaller than the maximum BILS drawdown of -0.41%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SPTU and BILS.

Drawdown Indicators

	SPTU	BILS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.04%	-0.41%	+0.37%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-0.03%	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-0.04%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-0.38%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-0.01%	+0.01%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.00%	-0.04%	+0.04%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	0.00%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	SPTU	BILS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	0.06%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	0.14%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.32%	0.23%	+0.09%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	0.32%	0.31%	+0.01%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	0.32%	0.30%	+0.02%

SPTU vs. BILS - Expense Ratio Comparison

SPTU has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than BILS's 0.14% 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

SPTU vs. BILS - Dividend Comparison

SPTU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.36%, less than BILS's 3.81% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
BILS SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF	3.81%	4.08%	5.01%	4.98%	1.61%
SPTU State Street SPDR Portfolio Ultra Short T-Bill ETF	2.36%	0.89%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SPTU and BILS in my portfolio?

SPTU and BILS have a correlation of 0.44, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, SPTU or BILS?

On fees, SPTU is cheaper at 0.05% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, SPTU or BILS?

SPTU is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.14% for BILS.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, SPTU or BILS?

BILS has the higher dividend yield at 3.81%, compared with 2.36% for SPTU.

What is the main difference between SPTU and BILS?

SPTU tracks ICE BofA US Treasury Bill Index, while BILS tracks Bloomberg 3-12 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index. Their fees differ too: 0.05% for SPTU and 0.14% for BILS.