Dividend comparison

TFLO vs BOXX: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF and Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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TFLO vs BOXX: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. TFLO is cheaper at 0.15% a year versus 0.24% for BOXX. On $10,000 that is $9 a year less in fees.
  • Performance. Over the last 3 years, BOXX returned 14.5% versus 10.8% for TFLO, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $11,446 in BOXX and $11,084 in TFLO.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 3 years were similar: -0.6% for TFLO and -0.1% for BOXX from peak to trough.
  • Diversification. BOXX holds 18 positions and TFLO holds 8.

Bottom line: TFLO fits better if you care most about lower fees. BOXX fits better if you care most about stronger 3-year returns and broader diversification.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricTFLO
iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF
BOXX
Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)3.73%—
Dividend / share (TTM)$1.89—
Payout frequencyMonthly—
Last dividend$0.1596 on Oct 6, 2026$0.2906 on Aug 14, 2024
Ex-dividend dateOct 1, 2026Aug 13, 2024
Dividend growth (CAGR)573.2% over 4 yrs—
Price$50.62$118.68
Beta-0.02-0.00
Max drawdown (5Y)-0.6%-0.1%
Market cap$7.18B$14.26B
ExchangeAMEXCBOE
Expense ratio0.15%0.24%
Assets under management$7.18B$14.30B
Number of holdings818
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

TFLO

$31.05/mo

$373 /yr at 3.73% yield

BOXX

—/mo

Yield data unavailable

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year.
YearTFLOBOXX
2025$2.1013—
2024$2.6304—
2023$2.4648—
2022$0.8461—
2021$0.0010—
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.

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Dec 28, 2022 would now be worth $11,554 in TFLO and $11,897 in BOXX.
PeriodTFLOBOXX
1 month0.00%0.37%
3 months0.06%1.01%
Year to date0.32%3.11%
1 year0.84%4.02%
3 years10.84%14.46%
5 years17.75%—
  • TFLO
  • BOXX
9810912020222023202420252026116119

Both series indexed to 100 on 2022-12-28 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.
  • TFLO
  • BOXX
0%25%50%75%100%Cash & Others100.0%0.0%Treasuries100.0%Technology40.1%Financial Services11.3%Communication Services9.9%Healthcare9.4%Consumer Cyclical8.7%Industrials7.6%Consumer Defensive4.4%Energy3.4%Other5.2%

Quick verdict

TFLO fits better if you care most about lower fees. BOXX fits better if you care most about stronger 3-year returns and broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how TFLO vs BOXX fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
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Frequently asked questions

Is TFLO or BOXX better for dividend income?
Compare yield, payout sustainability, and how each fund or stock fits your income goals. Use Dividend Wealth to model both holdings inside a real portfolio forecast.
What is the difference between TFLO and BOXX?
iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF (TFLO) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF (BOXX) is an ETF listed on CBOE. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, TFLO or BOXX?
TFLO has the lower expense ratio. TFLO charges 0.15% a year and BOXX charges 0.24%, a difference of $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, TFLO or BOXX?
Over the last 3 years, BOXX has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: TFLO returned 10.8% and BOXX returned 14.5%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, TFLO or BOXX?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, TFLO has been riskier: TFLO fell as much as 0.6% and BOXX as much as 0.1%. Their betas are -0.02 and -0.00.
Can I hold both TFLO and BOXX?
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 TFLO vs BOXX with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how TFLO and BOXX 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.

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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.