Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
SGOV has lagged VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 3.74% total return against 16.19%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: VOO has compounded at 13.48% a year, against 3.78% for SGOV. SGOV has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 0.2% against 14.9% for VOO. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 30, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since May 2020” measures every fund from May 28, 2020 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Short T-bill ETFs, from our catalog
SGOV tracks ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index and pays monthly at a forward distribution rate of 3.66% with an expense ratio of 0.09%.
BIL, another short Treasury ETF in this catalog, tracks Bloomberg 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index at a forward distribution rate of 3.66% (Monthly) with an expense ratio of 0.1353%.
These are interest-like cash rates, not equity dividends. A covered-call or dividend ETF can pay more, and it can also lose principal.
Side-by-side snapshot
Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric;
each column is one fund.
Bottom lineChoose SGOV if you want higher current income (3.66% vs 1.04% for VOO). Choose VOO if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SGOV.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VOO.
SGOV (iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF) and VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
SGOV offers the higher yield at 3.66% vs 1.04% for VOO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
VOO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.09%.
They have different reference exposures: SGOV is linked to ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index while VOO is linked to S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
VOO is the larger fund by assets ($1041B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose SGOV
iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF
Want higher current income — SGOV yields 3.66% vs 1.04% for VOO.
Want fixed-income ballast that cushions equity drawdowns.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of -0.0 vs 1.0 for VOO.
Choose VOO
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Want simple, diversified core exposure as a portfolio building block.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.03% expense ratio vs 0.09% for SGOV.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Still deciding? Track SGOV & VOO for free
Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.
On a $10,000 investment, SGOV would generate roughly $30.50 cash per distribution, while VOO would produce $26.00 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.
SGOV yield3.66%
VOO yield1.04%
Cash diff on $10K$4.50
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, SGOV would cost approximately $90 in fees vs $30 for VOO (simplified, not compounded). The $60.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
SGOV ER0.09%
VOO ER0.03%
Strategy & risk
SGOV tracks ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index with a bonds approach, while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. Beta is -0.0029 for SGOV and 1.0 for VOO, making SGOV the less volatile of the two by this measure.
SGOV beta-0.0029
VOO beta1.0
Fund details
SGOV is managed by iShares (launched 05/26/2020) with $112B in assets. VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1041B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is SGOV a substitute for VOO?
They answer different questions. VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks the S&P 500 Index, so its value rises and falls with the US stock market and its payout is whatever those companies declare — 1.04%, paid quarterly. SGOV (iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF) tracks the ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index — bills maturing within about three months — so the share price barely moves and the payout follows policy rates, currently 3.66%, paid monthly. Beta is -0.0029 against 1.0 — the clearest statement of the difference. Cost is 0.09% versus 0.03%. Figures as of September 2026.
What is the current distribution rate for SGOV and VOO?
SGOV currently distributes 3.66% and VOO 1.04%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is SGOV or VOO better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SGOV currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
Can I hold both SGOV and VOO?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is SGOV or VOO safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — VOO scores 100, SGOV scores 78, so VOO's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. SGOV has also shown lower price volatility (beta -0.00 vs 1.00 for VOO). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
Which has lower fees, SGOV or VOO?
SGOV has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VOO charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in SGOV vs VOO generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in SGOV would generate roughly $30.50 cash per distribution ($366.00 annually). The same in VOO would produce about $26.00 cash per distribution ($104.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, SGOV or VOO?
SGOV has lagged VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 3.74% total return against 16.19%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: VOO has compounded at 13.48% a year, against 3.78% for SGOV. SGOV has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 0.2% against 14.9% for VOO. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
SGOV and VOO are both broad-market index ETFs from major issuers, but they track entirely different asset classes. SGOV holds U.S. Treasury securities maturing within three months and yields 3.66%, while VOO holds the 500 largest U.S. stocks and yields 1.04%. The comparison is fundamentally about choosing between cash-like stability and equity growth potential. This creates a massive gap in yield and volatility.
Who each is best for
SGOV: Fits investors who want stable principal preservation and monthly income from current rates, with tolerance for minimal returns if Treasury yields stay low, and who may use short-duration Treasury exposure as a portfolio anchor or cash-management tool.
VOO: Fits investors with a multi-year or longer time horizon who can accept quarterly distributions, stock-price fluctuations, and years of potential negative returns in exchange for the possibility of long-term capital appreciation and dividend growth.
Key risks to know
Interest rate risk for SGOV: Rising short-term Treasury yields will cause the fund's price to fall, though the effect is much smaller than for longer-duration bonds because the securities mature so quickly.
Market drawdown risk for VOO: The S&P 500 experiences extended periods of 20% or deeper declines; investors with short time horizons or those who may need to sell at inopportune times face the risk of locking in losses.
Inflation erosion for SGOV: If inflation climbs above the fund's 3.66% yield, the real purchasing power of distributions and principal will decay. The real choice is whether your time horizon and near-term capital needs match the risk-return profile of Treasury bills or stocks. Past performance does not predict future results.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
Learn the method
The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.
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