Two of the market's most popular income ETFs compared side-by-side. See which one fits your yield strategy.
What this means: Both BIL and SGOV fall intoTier 1: Cornerstone. This suggests they share a similar risk profile and volatility expectation.
| Metric | BIL | SGOV |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 4.59% | 3.76% |
| NAV Change (1Y) | -0.19% | -0.09% |
| Max Drawdown | -0.54% | -0.46% |
| Beta | - | - |
* Returns include dividend reinvestment. Drawdown calculates peak-to-trough decline over trailing 12 months.
BIL (SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF) is a conservative dividend growth fund managed by SPDR. It focuses on generating income through strategic holdings. With $42.7B in assets under management, this fund has been operational since its inception.
Strategy: Focuses on quality dividend-paying companies with strong balance sheets and consistent payout histories.
SGOV (iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF) is a conservative dividend growth fund managed by iShares. It focuses on generating income through strategic holdings. With $68.6B in assets under management, this fund has been operational since its inception.
Strategy: Focuses on quality dividend-paying companies with strong balance sheets and consistent payout histories.
In the head-to-head battle of BIL vs SGOV, the choice depends on your specific goal. BIL wins for Immediate Income with a 4.78% yield. However, BIL is the better choice for Long-Term Growth due to superior total return performance.
Which fund is safer for retirement income? We analyze the yield sustainability and structural risk.
The Bottom Line Question: If you invest $100,000 today, how much cash will you actually receive each month? Here's the exact math:
BIL
Annual Yield: 4.78%
$398/mo
($4,779/year)
Frequency: monthly
SGOV
Annual Yield: 3.85%
$321/mo
($3,850/year)
Frequency: monthly
Income Gap: BIL generates $929/year more than SGOV on the same $100k investment.
Over 20 years, that's $18,577 in additional cash flow (before reinvestment).
Context Matters: Higher income doesn't always mean better investment. Review the "Yield Trap" and "Total Return" sections above—you want income that's sustainable, not just headline-grabbing.
Historical data reveals how these funds behave during market stress. BIL has delivered a superior Total Return of 4.59% over the past year.
Every investor has a unique risk profile. Use our Portfolio Intelligence tool to see the impact of adding these ETFs to your holdings.