Dividend comparison

SGOV vs VBIL: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF and Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

Start freeOpen interactive compareSee pricing
SGOV vs VBIL: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. VBIL is cheaper at 0.06% a year versus 0.09% for SGOV. On $10,000 that is $3 a year less in fees.
  • Income. SGOV pays more income, yielding 3.64% over the last twelve months versus 3.50% for VBIL. That is about $14 more a year on $10,000. Both pay monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 1 year, VBIL returned 0.8% versus 0.7% for SGOV, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $10,080 in VBIL and $10,069 in SGOV.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 1 year were similar: -0.6% for SGOV and -0.6% for VBIL from peak to trough.
  • Diversification. VBIL holds 27 positions and SGOV holds 24.
  • Size. SGOV is the larger fund with $116.3 billion in assets, against $12.8 billion for VBIL.

Bottom line: VBIL has the edge on these figures, with lower fees. SGOV does not lead on any of the measures compared here.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricSGOV
iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF
VBIL
Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)3.64%3.50%
Dividend / share (TTM)$3.67$2.65
Payout frequencyMonthlyMonthly
Last dividend$0.3005 on Oct 6, 2026$0.2177 on Oct 5, 2026
Ex-dividend dateOct 1, 2026Oct 1, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)238.5% over 4 yrs—
Price$100.61$75.66
Beta0.00-0.01
Max drawdown (5Y)-0.6%-0.6%
Market cap$96.06B$9.41B
ExchangeNYSENASDAQ
Expense ratio0.09%0.06%
Assets under management$116.27B$12.80B
Number of holdings2427
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

SGOV

$30.36/mo

$364 /yr at 3.64% yield

VBIL

$29.17/mo

$350 /yr at 3.50% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SGOV pays monthly; VBIL pays monthly.
YearSGOVVBIL
2025$4.1157—
2024$5.1151—
2023$4.8826—
2022$1.4546—
2021$0.0313—
Strategy: Cash equivalent
Funds holding short-dated US government paper, where the objective is that the principal is there when you need it. Yield follows short-term interest rates with a short lag rather than being locked in, so income falls when the central bank cuts and rises when it hikes. Because the underlying holdings are nearly identical across providers, the expense ratio comes almost directly out of what you receive.

There is no growth here by design, and purchasing power erodes whenever the after-tax yield sits below inflation.

What SGOV vs VBIL actually do

SGOV
An iShares fund holding US Treasury bills maturing within three months, used as a parking place for cash.

It tracks an ICE index of 0 to 3 month Treasury securities, so the entire portfolio rolls over every quarter and its yield tracks short-term rates with a short lag rather than being locked in. Interest accrues into the share price through the month and is paid out monthly, which is why the price ratchets up and then drops back by the distribution amount instead of trending. Because the holdings are direct Treasury obligations, the income is generally exempt from state and local tax.

Suits an emergency fund, a savings goal with a near-term date, or the cash sleeve of a portfolio waiting to be deployed. It is not an investment in any growth sense, and it will lose purchasing power to inflation whenever short rates sit below it.

Capital preservation

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Feb 11, 2025 would now be worth $10,366 in SGOV and $10,370 in VBIL.
PeriodSGOVVBIL
1 month0.02%0.03%
3 months0.03%0.05%
Year to date0.23%0.30%
1 year0.69%0.80%
3 years10.76%—
5 years17.07%—
  • SGOV
  • VBIL
10010210420252026104104

Both series indexed to 100 on 2025-02-11 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • SGOV
  • VBIL
0%25%50%75%100%Cash & Others100.0%100.0%Financial Services100.0%U.S. Treasury Debt99.5%Investment Company0.5%

Quick verdict

VBIL has the edge on these figures, with lower fees. SGOV does not lead on any of the measures compared here. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how SGOV vs VBIL fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Start freeInteractive DRIP compare

Frequently asked questions

Is SGOV or VBIL better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SGOV currently yields 3.64% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while VBIL yields 3.50%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between SGOV and VBIL?
iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) is an ETF listed on NYSE. Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, SGOV or VBIL?
VBIL has the lower expense ratio. SGOV charges 0.09% a year and VBIL charges 0.06%, a difference of $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SGOV or VBIL?
Over the last 1 year, VBIL has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SGOV returned 0.7% and VBIL returned 0.8%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SGOV or VBIL?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, SGOV has been riskier: SGOV fell as much as 0.6% and VBIL as much as 0.6%. Their betas are 0.00 and -0.01.
How often do SGOV and VBIL pay dividends?
Both pay monthly. The most recent payments were $0.3005 for SGOV and $0.2177 for VBIL.
How much income does $10,000 in SGOV vs VBIL generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SGOV would generate roughly $30.36 per month ($364 annually). The same amount in VBIL would produce about $29.17 per month ($350 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SGOV and VBIL?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare SGOV vs VBIL with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SGOV and VBIL fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

Related comparisons

For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.