GOVT ETF — iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF

iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT)

Updated October 2, 2026.

GOVT is a low-cost ETF linked to U.S. Treasury bonds across the maturity curve. its distribution rate is 3.88%, its trailing-12-month yield is 3.82%, its expense ratio is 0.05%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 97/100 (Safe). Total return is 15.3% over the past 14.6 years, 610.0 points behind SPY at 625.3%.

At the current 3.88% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $388 per year, or $32.33 per month.

iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF is an ETF that tracks a broad index of publicly-issued U.S. Treasury securities with maturities between one and thirty years, providing diversified exposure across the Treasury yield curve. The fund carries a low expense ratio of 0.05% and distributes income monthly at a modest current rate. The ETF appeals to income-focused investors seeking low-risk exposure to U.S. government debt.

GOVT performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-02.

Total return is 15.3% over the past 14.6 years, 610.0 points behind SPY at 625.3%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is -2.1%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 4.4%.

GOVT key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

97 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

3.76%

Issuer

iShares

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Fixed Income

Inception date

02/14/2012

Expense ratio

0.05%

Distribution rate

3.88%

Distribution frequency

Monthly

Trailing yield

3.82%

Last close

$21.81 (as of 2026-10-02)

AUM

$41,553,214,605

Average volume

16123100.0

Next dividend

$0.07059

Last ex-dividend date

10/01/2026

Next payment date

10/06/2026 (as of 2026-10-06)

Beta

0.87

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (3.88%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield (3.82%) is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: iShares or company page; Index: U.S. Treasury bonds across the maturity curve; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

GOVT risks and drawbacks

GOVT's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 4.4%.

Who may consider GOVT — and who may not

GOVT may suit someone looking for low-cost broad dividend exposure, a high Distribution Safety Score, moderate current income with a quality tilt. It is a weaker fit for investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Frequently asked questions

More securities from iShares.