VBIL ETF — Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF

Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL)

VBIL is a low-cost ETF. As of August 19, 2026, its distribution rate is 3.59%, its trailing-12-month yield is 3.58%, its expense ratio is 0.06%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 82/100 (Safe). Fund total return is 5.8% over the past 1.5 years, 23.2 points behind SPY at 29.0%.

At the current 3.59% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $359 per year, or $29.92 per month on an equivalent basis.

Vanguard's ETF tracks an index of U.S. Treasury bills with maturities of three months or less, holding at least 80% of assets in these short-term government securities. The fund offers a current distribution rate in the moderate range, paid monthly, with a very low expense ratio of 0.06%. This fund appeals to income investors seeking stability and liquidity through exposure to short-duration Treasury debt.

VBIL performance versus SPY

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Fund total return is 5.8% over the past 1.5 years, 23.2 points behind SPY at 29.0%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 0.3%.

VBIL key facts

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Distribution Safety Score™

82 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

2.94%

Issuer

Vanguard

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Fixed Income

Inception date

02/10/2025

Expense ratio

0.06%

Distribution rate

3.59%

Distribution frequency

Monthly

Trailing yield

3.58%

Last close

$75.62

AUM

$10,852,380,000

Average volume

2524689.0

Last dividend

$0.2260

Ex-dividend date

08/03/2026

Payment date

08/05/2026

Beta

-0.001

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (3.59%) 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 (3.58%) 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. We show a 30-day SEC yield when the fund publishes one. Schwab and other issuers may report a TTM distribution yield or SEC yield on a different date — all can be valid; they are not interchangeable. Fund total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is what the fund did, not your personal gain/loss. Figures below use Dividend Vision data as of August 19, 2026.

Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology · SEC yield

Sources and review

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Primary sources: Vanguard fund page; 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.

VBIL risks and drawbacks

VBIL'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 0.3%.

Who may consider VBIL — and who may not

VBIL 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.

Compare VBIL

VBIL vs similar funds:

• VBIL vs SGOV
• VBIL vs USFR

Frequently asked questions

More funds from Vanguard.