VBIL vs. SGOV

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

VBIL (Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF) and SGOV (iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF) are both Ultrashort Bond funds - VBIL tracks the Bloomberg US Treasury Bills 0-3 Months Index while SGOV tracks the ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, VBIL returned 3.93% vs 3.95% for SGOV. At a 0.44 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VBIL charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SGOV.

Performance

VBIL vs. SGOV - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL) and iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with VBIL having a 1.51% return and SGOV slightly higher at 1.52%.

VBIL

• 1D: 0.01%
• 1M: 0.30%
• YTD: 1.51%
• 6M: 1.81%
• 1Y: 3.93%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

SGOV

• 1D: 0.01%
• 1M: 0.29%
• YTD: 1.52%
• 6M: 1.79%
• 1Y: 3.95%
• 3Y*: 4.72%
• 5Y*: 3.54%
• 10Y*: —

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

VBIL vs. SGOV - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
VBIL Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF	1.51%	3.71%
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	1.52%	3.75%

Correlation

The correlation between VBIL and SGOV is 0.48, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.48
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 12, 2025	0.44

Return for Risk

VBIL vs. SGOV — Risk / Return Rank

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

VBIL

VBIL Risk / Return Rank: 100
VBIL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 100
VBIL Sortino Ratio Rank: 100
VBIL Omega Ratio Rank: 100
VBIL Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
VBIL Martin Ratio Rank: 100

SGOV

SGOV Risk / Return Rank: 100
SGOV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 100
SGOV Sortino Ratio Rank: 100
SGOV Omega Ratio Rank: 100
SGOV Calmar Ratio Rank: 100
SGOV 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.

VBIL vs. SGOV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL) and iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV). 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.

	VBIL	SGOV	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	15.14	20.28	-5.14
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	39.04	275.69	-236.64
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	21.07	195.55	-174.49
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	42.54	398.20	-355.66
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	531.60	4,462.00	-3,930.40
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VBIL vs. SGOV - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VBIL Sharpe Ratio is 15.14, which is comparable to the SGOV Sharpe Ratio of 20.28. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VBIL and SGOV, 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

	VBIL	SGOV	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.14	20.28	-5.14
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	14.74	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	13.45	12.49	+0.96

Drawdowns

VBIL vs. SGOV - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VBIL drawdown since its inception was -0.09%, which is greater than SGOV's maximum drawdown of -0.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBIL and SGOV.

Drawdown Indicators

	VBIL	SGOV	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.09%	-0.03%	-0.06%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.09%	-0.01%	-0.08%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-0.01%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-0.03%	—
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%	0.00%	+0.01%

Volatility

VBIL vs. SGOV - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL) has a higher volatility of 0.06% compared to iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) at 0.05%. This indicates that VBIL's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SGOV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VBIL	SGOV	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.06%	0.05%	+0.01%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.16%	0.13%	+0.03%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.26%	0.20%	+0.06%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	0.30%	0.24%	+0.06%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	0.30%	0.24%	+0.06%

VBIL vs. SGOV - Expense Ratio Comparison

VBIL has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than SGOV's 0.09% 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

VBIL vs. SGOV - Dividend Comparison

VBIL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.65%, less than SGOV's 3.86% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	3.86%	4.10%	5.10%	4.87%	1.45%	0.03%	0.05%
VBIL Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF	3.65%	3.12%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VBIL and SGOV in my portfolio?

VBIL and SGOV have a correlation of 0.48, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, VBIL or SGOV?

VBIL has higher volatility (0.06%) compared to SGOV (0.05%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VBIL dropped -0.09% vs SGOV's -0.03%.

Which ETF is better, VBIL or SGOV?

On 1-year performance, SGOV leads with 3.95% vs 3.93% for VBIL. On fees, VBIL is cheaper at 0.07% 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, VBIL or SGOV?

Over the 1-year period, SGOV has performed better with a 3.95% return vs 3.93%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, VBIL or SGOV?

VBIL is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.09% for SGOV.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, VBIL or SGOV?

SGOV has the higher dividend yield at 3.86%, compared with 3.65% for VBIL.

What is the main difference between VBIL and SGOV?

VBIL tracks Bloomberg US Treasury Bills 0-3 Months Index, while SGOV tracks ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for VBIL and 0.09% for SGOV.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SGOV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (20.28 vs 15.14), 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.