TLT vs AGG: which ETF is right for you?
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) and iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) compared on cost, size, returns, holdings and sector mix.
AGG has a 0.12% lower expense ratio than TLT
The iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) has a lower expense ratio of 0.03% compared to TLT's 0.15%. This can lead to lower costs for investors over time.
- AGG has an expense ratio of 0.03%, while TLT's is 0.15%.
- AGG has $139.94 billion in assets, compared to TLT's $47.52 billion.
- AGG's yield is 4.11%, whereas TLT's yield is 4.76%.
- AGG's 10-year return is 1.43%, while TLT's is -1.83%.
may suit investors looking for lower costs and more stability.
may suit investors seeking higher yield and are comfortable with more volatility.
Summary written from the figures below by an AI model. Past returns do not predict future results and this is educational, not advice.
Side-by-side
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | AGG iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.150% | 0.030%● |
| Fund size (assets) | $47.5B | $139.9B● |
| Dividend yield | 4.76%● | 4.11% |
| Return YTD | -2.92% | -0.48%● |
| Return 1 year | -5.16% | -0.10%● |
| 3 years (annualised) | 3.61% | 5.44%● |
| 5 years (annualised) | -7.88% | -0.15%● |
| 10 years (annualised) | -1.83% | 1.43%● |
| Volatility (5y std dev) | 14.8% | 6.6%● |
| Beta vs market (5y) | 2.17● | 1.00 |
| Issuer | iShares | iShares |
| Launched | 2002-07-22 | 2003-09-22 |
● marks the best value in a row (lowest cost or volatility, highest return, yield or size). Returns as of 2026-11-05; past performance does not predict future results.
What the fees cost you
A simple illustration: the same $0M growing at an assumed 7% a year before fees. Only the expense ratios differ. This is not a forecast.
Top holdings and overlap
Holdings not published for this fund type (for example commodity or bond funds).
- BISXXBlackRock Cash Funds Instl SL Agency2.9%
Sector mix
No sector breakdown for this fund type.
No sector breakdown for this fund type.
Common questions
Which has lower fees, TLT or AGG?
AGG has the lower expense ratio at 0.030% a year, against 0.150% for TLT. On $10,000 that is about $12 a year in fees.
Which is bigger, TLT or AGG?
AGG manages about $139.9 billion in assets, compared with $47.5 billion for TLT.
Do TLT and AGG hold the same stocks?
Their top holdings differ, so the two funds are exposed to different parts of the market. Compare the holdings and sector tables above.
Compare any ETFs
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Open the compare toolFund data comes from public fund filings and market data and is refreshed daily; returns are total returns and past performance does not predict future results. This page is educational and is not investment advice. Check the fund's official documents before investing.