SHY vs TLT
iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF vs iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-02
iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to short-duration U.S. Treasury bonds with low interest rate risk. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.15%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.76%. Launched in 2002, the fund has a 24-year track record.
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to long-duration U.S. Treasury bonds with high interest rate sensitivity. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.15%. The fund offers a high dividend yield of 4.51%. Launched in 2002, the fund has a 24-year track record.
Quick Verdict
Over the past year, SHY has significantly outperformed with a -0.2% return vs -5.7%. Income investors may prefer TLT for its higher yield (4.5% vs 3.8%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose SHY if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose TLT if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.