Dividend comparison

SGOV vs XHLF: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF and BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

Start freeOpen interactive compareSee pricing
SGOV vs XHLF: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. XHLF is cheaper at 0.03% a year versus 0.09% for SGOV. On $10,000 that is $6 a year less in fees.
  • Income. XHLF pays more income, yielding 3.76% over the last twelve months versus 3.64% for SGOV. That is about $11 more a year on $10,000. Both pay monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 3 years, SGOV returned 10.8% versus 10.3% for XHLF, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $11,076 in SGOV and $11,031 in XHLF.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 3 years were similar: -0.6% for SGOV and -0.7% for XHLF from peak to trough.
  • Diversification. XHLF holds 51 positions and SGOV holds 24.
  • Dividend growth. SGOV grew its yearly payout 238.5% a year over the last 2 years, versus -4.0% for XHLF.
  • Size. SGOV is the larger fund with $116.3 billion in assets, against $2.0 billion for XHLF.

Bottom line: SGOV fits better if you care most about faster dividend growth. XHLF fits better if you care most about lower fees and broader diversification.

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
XHLF
BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)3.64%3.76%
Dividend / share (TTM)$3.67$1.89
Payout frequencyMonthlyMonthly
Last dividend$0.3005 on Oct 6, 2026$0.1547 on Oct 6, 2026
Ex-dividend dateOct 1, 2026Oct 1, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)238.5% over 4 yrs-4.0% over 2 yrs
Price$100.61$50.20
Beta0.000.03
Max drawdown (5Y)-0.6%-0.7%
Market cap$96.06B$2.02B
ExchangeNYSEAMEX
Expense ratio0.09%0.03%
Assets under management$116.27B$2.02B
Number of holdings2451
Top 10 concentration—0.0%
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

XHLF

$31.31/mo

$376 /yr at 3.76% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SGOV pays monthly; XHLF pays monthly.
YearSGOVXHLF
2025$4.1157$2.0332
2024$5.1151$2.5327
2023$4.8826$2.2066
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 XHLF 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 Sep 15, 2022 would now be worth $11,639 in SGOV and $11,543 in XHLF.
PeriodSGOVXHLF
1 month0.02%0.00%
3 months0.03%-0.08%
Year to date0.23%-0.10%
1 year0.69%0.36%
3 years10.76%10.31%
5 years17.07%—
  • SGOV
  • XHLF
9910811820222023202420252026116115

Both series indexed to 100 on 2022-09-15 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
  • XHLF
0%25%50%75%100%Cash & Others100.0%98.5%U.S. Treasury Debt99.5%Basic Materials92.3%Financial Services1.5%Investment Company0.5%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

XHLF51 holdings total

NameWeight
USDCASHUSD0.02%

Quick verdict

SGOV fits better if you care most about faster dividend growth. XHLF fits better if you care most about lower fees and broader diversification. 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 XHLF 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 XHLF better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SGOV currently yields 3.64% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while XHLF yields 3.76%. 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 XHLF?
iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) is an ETF listed on NYSE. BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XHLF) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, SGOV or XHLF?
XHLF has the lower expense ratio. SGOV charges 0.09% a year and XHLF charges 0.03%, a difference of $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SGOV or XHLF?
Over the last 3 years, SGOV has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SGOV returned 10.8% and XHLF returned 10.3%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SGOV or XHLF?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, XHLF has been riskier: SGOV fell as much as 0.6% and XHLF as much as 0.7%. Their betas are 0.00 and 0.03.
How often do SGOV and XHLF pay dividends?
Both pay monthly. The most recent payments were $0.3005 for SGOV and $0.1547 for XHLF.
How much income does $10,000 in SGOV vs XHLF generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SGOV would generate roughly $30.36 per month ($364 annually). The same amount in XHLF would produce about $31.31 per month ($376 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SGOV and XHLF?
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 XHLF with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SGOV and XHLF 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.