TBIL vs. BILS

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

TBIL (US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF) and BILS (SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF) are both Ultrashort Bond funds - TBIL tracks the ICE BofA US Treasury Bill 3 Month Index while BILS tracks the Bloomberg 3-12 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, TBIL returned 4.64%/yr vs 4.66%/yr for BILS. At a 0.43 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. TBIL charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.14%/yr for BILS.

Performance

TBIL vs. BILS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF (TBIL) 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, TBIL achieves a 1.49% return, which is significantly higher than BILS's 1.40% return.

TBIL

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.30%
• YTD: 1.49%
• 6M: 1.78%
• 1Y: 3.93%
• 3Y*: 4.64%
• 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)

TBIL vs. BILS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
TBIL US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF	1.49%	4.19%	5.15%	5.12%	1.30%
BILS SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF	1.40%	4.23%	5.17%	4.92%	1.06%

Correlation

The correlation between TBIL and BILS is 0.54, 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	0.54
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.44
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 10, 2022	0.43

The correlation between TBIL and BILS shifts across timeframes, from 0.43 (all time) to 0.54 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

TBIL vs. BILS — Risk / Return Rank

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

TBIL

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

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.

TBIL vs. BILS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF (TBIL) 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.

	TBIL	BILS	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	13.78	16.80	-3.02
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	58.40	100.82	-42.43
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	17.16	42.08	-24.92
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	196.84	129.91	+66.93
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	934.41	1,442.41	-508.00
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

TBIL vs. BILS - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current TBIL Sharpe Ratio is 13.78, which is comparable to the BILS Sharpe Ratio of 16.80. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of TBIL and BILS, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	TBIL	BILS	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	13.78	16.80	-3.02
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	10.79	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	14.07	9.79	+4.27

Drawdowns

TBIL vs. BILS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum TBIL drawdown since its inception was -0.10%, smaller than the maximum BILS drawdown of -0.41%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TBIL and BILS.

Drawdown Indicators

	TBIL	BILS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.10%	-0.41%	+0.31%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.02%	-0.03%	+0.01%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-0.02%	-0.04%	+0.02%
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%	0.00%	0.00%

Volatility

TBIL vs. BILS - Volatility Comparison

US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF (TBIL) has a higher volatility of 0.08% compared to SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF (BILS) at 0.06%. This indicates that TBIL's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BILS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	TBIL	BILS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.08%	0.06%	+0.02%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.19%	0.14%	+0.05%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.29%	0.23%	+0.06%
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%

TBIL vs. BILS - Expense Ratio Comparison

TBIL has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than BILS's 0.14% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

TBIL vs. BILS - Dividend Comparison

TBIL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.82%, which matches 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%
TBIL US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF	3.82%	4.07%	5.02%	5.00%	1.10%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both TBIL and BILS in my portfolio?

TBIL and BILS have a correlation of 0.54, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, TBIL or BILS?

TBIL has higher volatility (0.08%) compared to BILS (0.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TBIL dropped -0.10% vs BILS's -0.41%.

Which ETF is better, TBIL or BILS?

On 3-year performance, BILS leads with 4.66% vs 4.64% for TBIL. On fees, BILS is cheaper at 0.14% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, TBIL or BILS?

Over the 3-year period, BILS has performed better with a 4.66% return vs 4.64%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, TBIL or BILS?

BILS is cheaper with a 0.14% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for TBIL.

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

TBIL and BILS have nearly identical dividend yields, around 3.82%.

What is the main difference between TBIL and BILS?

TBIL tracks ICE BofA US Treasury Bill 3 Month Index, while BILS tracks Bloomberg 3-12 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index. They also come from different issuers: US Benchmark Series and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for TBIL and 0.14% for BILS.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BILS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (16.80 vs 13.78), 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.