SPTU vs. VGUS

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

SPTU (State Street SPDR Portfolio Ultra Short T-Bill ETF) and VGUS (Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF) are both Ultrashort Bond funds - SPTU tracks the ICE BofA US Treasury Bill Index while VGUS tracks the Bloomberg Short Treasury Index. Both are passively managed. At a 0.27 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SPTU charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for VGUS.

Performance

SPTU vs. VGUS - 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 Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF (VGUS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with SPTU having a 1.48% return and VGUS slightly lower at 1.44%.

SPTU

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

VGUS

• 1D: 0.01%
• 1M: 0.28%
• YTD: 1.44%
• 6M: 1.76%
• 1Y: 3.95%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

SPTU vs. VGUS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
SPTU State Street SPDR Portfolio Ultra Short T-Bill ETF	1.48%	0.92%
VGUS Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF	1.44%	0.93%

Correlation

The correlation between SPTU and VGUS is 0.27, 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	0.27

Return for Risk

SPTU vs. VGUS — Risk / Return Rank

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

VGUS

VGUS Risk / Return Rank: 100
VGUS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 100
VGUS Sortino Ratio Rank: 100
VGUS Omega Ratio Rank: 100
VGUS Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
VGUS 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. VGUS - 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 Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF (VGUS). 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	VGUS	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	—	12.10	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	11.82	11.72	+0.10

Drawdowns

SPTU vs. VGUS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SPTU drawdown since its inception was -0.04%, smaller than the maximum VGUS drawdown of -0.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SPTU and VGUS.

Drawdown Indicators

	SPTU	VGUS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.04%	-0.07%	+0.03%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-0.07%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.00%	-0.00%	0.00%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	0.01%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	SPTU	VGUS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	0.11%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	0.18%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.32%	0.33%	-0.01%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	0.32%	0.34%	-0.02%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	0.32%	0.34%	-0.02%

SPTU vs. VGUS - Expense Ratio Comparison

SPTU has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than VGUS's 0.07% 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. VGUS - Dividend Comparison

SPTU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.36%, less than VGUS's 3.61% yield.

Position	TTM	2025
SPTU State Street SPDR Portfolio Ultra Short T-Bill ETF	2.36%	0.89%
VGUS Vanguard Ultra-Short Treasury ETF	3.61%	3.12%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SPTU and VGUS in my portfolio?

SPTU and VGUS have a correlation of 0.27, 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 VGUS?

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 VGUS?

SPTU is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.07% for VGUS.

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

VGUS has the higher dividend yield at 3.61%, compared with 2.36% for SPTU.

What is the main difference between SPTU and VGUS?

SPTU tracks ICE BofA US Treasury Bill Index, while VGUS tracks Bloomberg Short Treasury Index. They also come from different issuers: State Street and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.05% for SPTU and 0.07% for VGUS.