ETF Versus

BNDX vs SGOV

Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund vs iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF

Last updated: 2026-04-02

BNDX

Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund (BNDX) is an exchange-traded fund that provides exposure to international bond securities. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.07%. The fund offers a high dividend yield of 4.46%. Launched in 2013, the fund has a 13-year track record.

AUM: $76.8B ER: 0.07% Yield: 4.46% Since: Jun 4, 2013
SGOV

iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) is an exchange-traded fund that provides exposure to short-duration U.S. Treasury bonds with low interest rate risk. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.09%. The fund offers a high dividend yield of 4.01%. Launched in 2020, the fund has a 6-year track record.

AUM: $83.3B ER: 0.09% Yield: 4.01% Since: May 26, 2020

Quick Verdict

BNDX has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.07% vs 0.09%), saving about $40 per $10,000 over 10 years. SGOV has edged ahead over the past year (0.0% vs -1.7%).

Key Metrics

Metric BNDX SGOV
Expense Ratio 0.07% 0.09%
Dividend Yield 4.5% 4.0%
Fund Family N/A N/A
Category International Bond US Short-Term Treasury

Performance Chart

Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)

80 85 90 95 100 105 2021-04 2022-06 2023-09 2024-12 2026-04
BNDX -15.9%
SGOV +0.4%

Performance Comparison

Period BNDX SGOV Difference
1 Month -1.88% +0.01% -1.89%
3 Months -0.62% -0.02% -0.60%
6 Months -2.83% -0.03% -2.80%
YTD -0.62% -0.02% -0.60%
1 Year -1.68% +0.04% -1.72%
3 Years -1.88% +0.16% -2.04%
5 Years -15.89% +0.37% -16.26%

Fee Impact Over Time

Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns

Investment Period BNDX Fees SGOV Fees You Save
$10.000 10 years $140 $179 $40
$10.000 20 years $600 $771 $170
$10.000 30 years $1.938 $2.486 $547
$50.000 10 years $698 $896 $199
$50.000 30 years $9.692 $12.428 $2.736
$100.000 30 years $19.383 $24.855 $5.472

Risk Metrics

Based on 5 years of daily returns

Metric BNDX SGOV
Annualized Volatility 5.3% 1.1%
Max Drawdown -19.1% -0.7%
Sharpe Ratio -1.48 -4.13

Dividend Comparison

Metric BNDX SGOV
Annual Dividend (per share) $2.14 $4.02
Dividend Yield 4.45% 4.00%
Distribution Frequency Monthly Monthly

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose BNDX if...

you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.

Choose BNDX if...

you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.

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