the gap between themBND ahead by $3,246
BND solid · TLT dashed · weekly closes, dividends reinvested
BND wins 4 of 4. Which matters depends on what you need it for.
- Grew more over five yearsBND −3% · TLT −35%
BND
- Fell less at its worstBND −17% · TLT −43%
- Calmer rideBND 6% vol · TLT 15% vol
- Cheaper to holdBND 0.03% a year · TLT 0.15% a year
move together · correlation 0.93
Side by side, line by line
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | $71.20 | $81.25 |
| Fund size | $398.83B | $47.05B |
| 1-year return | −0.5% (ahead) | −4.5% |
| 3-year return, a year | +4.0% (ahead) | −0.3% |
| 5-year return, a year | −0.5% (ahead) | −8.3% |
| Volatility, a year | 6% (ahead) | 15% |
| Worst drawdown | −17% (ahead) | −43% |
| Worst week | −2.4% (ahead)Apr 2025 | −6.4%Apr 2025 |
| Beta | 0.98 | 2.39 |
| Dividend yield | 4.04% | 4.73% |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% (ahead) | 0.15% |
Do BND and TLT move together?
Correlation compares BND’s and TLT’s weekly returns from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026. Two holdings near +1 fall on the same weeks, so owning both doesn’t cushion anything. Your portfolio has more than two lines, and Portfolio Terminal runs this check across every pair you hold.
How far each one fell
BND
−17%
From its Sep 2021 high to Oct 2022. Back at that high by Feb 2026.
TLT
−43%
From its Nov 2021 high to Oct 2023. Still 37% below it today.
Worst peak-to-trough fall on weekly closes · dividends reinvested
BND vs TLT: what people ask
Is BND better than TLT?
Over the past five years, BND delivered the higher return: −0.5% a year against −8.3% for TLT, dividends reinvested. Its worst fall was also shallower (−17% against −43%). Which is better depends on the job it does in your portfolio, and past returns don’t predict future ones.
What is the difference between BND and TLT?
BND is Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF, a fund with $398.83B in assets. TLT is iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF, a fund with $47.05B in assets. BND charges 0.03% a year and TLT 0.15%.
Should I own both BND and TLT?
Their weekly returns had a correlation of 0.93 over the past five years. Most weeks they go the same way. Owning both spreads company risk, not market risk. Whether that suits you depends on everything else you hold, which is the check Portfolio Terminal runs across a whole portfolio.
Which is riskier, BND or TLT?
TLT swung more: 15% annual volatility against 6% for BND. At their worst, BND fell 17% and TLT 43% from a previous high. Against the broad market, their betas are 0.98 and 2.39.
Which pays a higher dividend, BND or TLT?
TLT currently yields 4.73%, against 4.04% for BND. Yields move with price, so a higher yield can also mean a falling price.
Which is cheaper to hold, BND or TLT?
BND charges 0.03% a year and TLT 0.15%. On $10,000, that is $12.00 a year in favor of BND.
Compare something else
Any two stocks or ETFs. Keep BND or swap both.
Returns use weekly closes adjusted for dividends and splits, from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026. Quotes, fees and holdings come from public market data and refresh hourly. This page describes what happened; it is not investment advice, and past performance doesn’t predict future returns.