VUSB vs. SGOV
VUSB (Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF) and SGOV (iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF) are both Ultrashort Bond funds. VUSB is actively managed, while SGOV is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VUSB returned 3.44%/yr vs 3.54%/yr for SGOV. At a 0.20 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VUSB charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SGOV.
Performance
VUSB vs. SGOV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VUSB achieves a 1.42% return, which is significantly lower than SGOV's 1.52% return.
VUSB
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- 0.34%
- YTD
- 1.42%
- 6M
- 1.80%
- 1Y
- 4.52%
- 3Y*
- 5.36%
- 5Y*
- 3.44%
- 10Y*
- —
SGOV
- 1D
- 0.01%
- 1M
- 0.29%
- YTD
- 1.52%
- 6M
- 1.79%
- 1Y
- 3.95%
- 3Y*
- 4.72%
- 5Y*
- 3.54%
- 10Y*
- —
VUSB vs. SGOV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUSB Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF | 1.42% | 5.20% | 5.68% | 5.52% | -0.36% | 0.00% |
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | 1.52% | 4.24% | 5.27% | 5.12% | 1.58% | 0.03% |
Correlation
The correlation between VUSB and SGOV is 0.02, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 8, 2021 | 0.20 |
The correlation between VUSB and SGOV shifts across timeframes, from 0.02 (1 year) to 0.20 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VUSB vs. SGOV — Risk / Return Rank
VUSB
SGOV
VUSB vs. SGOV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF (VUSB) 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.
| VUSB | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -13.24 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -262.70 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 3.40 | 195.55 | -192.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 12.26 | 398.20 | -385.94 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 71.22 | 4,462.00 | -4,390.78 |
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
| VUSB | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.04 | 20.28 | -13.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 4.15 | 14.74 | -10.59 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 4.10 | 12.49 | -8.39 |
Drawdowns
VUSB vs. SGOV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VUSB drawdown since its inception was -1.79%, which is greater than SGOV's maximum drawdown of -0.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUSB and SGOV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VUSB | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -1.79% | -0.03% | -1.76% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.37% | -0.01% | -0.36% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.46% | -0.01% | -0.45% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -1.79% | -0.03% | -1.76% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.27% | -0.00% | -0.27% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.06% | 0.00% | +0.06% |
Volatility
VUSB vs. SGOV - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF (VUSB) has a higher volatility of 0.17% compared to iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) at 0.05%. This indicates that VUSB'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.
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Volatility by Period
| VUSB | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.17% | 0.05% | +0.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.52% | 0.13% | +0.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.65% | 0.20% | +0.45% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.83% | 0.24% | +0.59% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.82% | 0.24% | +0.58% |
VUSB vs. SGOV - Expense Ratio Comparison
VUSB has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is higher than SGOV's 0.09% 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
VUSB vs. SGOV - Dividend Comparison
VUSB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.39%, more 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% |
VUSB Vanguard Ultra-Short Bond ETF | 4.39% | 4.63% | 5.16% | 4.45% | 1.56% | 0.26% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VUSB and SGOV have a correlation of 0.02, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VUSB has higher volatility (0.17%) compared to SGOV (0.05%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VUSB dropped -1.79% vs SGOV's -0.03%.
On 5-year performance, SGOV leads with 3.54% vs 3.44% for VUSB. On fees, SGOV is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, SGOV has been the lower-risk option at 0.05%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, SGOV has performed better with a 3.54% return vs 3.44%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SGOV is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.10% for VUSB.
VUSB has the higher dividend yield at 4.39%, compared with 3.86% for SGOV.
They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.10% for VUSB and 0.09% for SGOV.
SGOV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (20.28 vs 7.04), 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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