Compare/Updated Oct 26, 2026, refreshed every trading day
VGSH vs SGOV
Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF against iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF: 4 years of returns, risk and today’s technical read, from Kavout’s own data.
SGOV did better over the period: $1,000 invested on October 28, 2022 grew to $1,193, versus $1,158 for VGSH, a 19.3% versus 15.8% total return. SGOV also led over three years, 13.9% versus 13.1%, and won 29 of the last 48 months. The advantage came with lower risk: SGOV’s 12-month volatility was 0.3% versus 1.4% for VGSH, while its worst drawdown was only 0.3% versus VGSH’s 1.6%. VGSH was cheaper, with a 0.03% expense ratio versus SGOV’s 0.09%, but its longer short-term Treasury exposure produced greater fluctuation and weaker results over this period. SGOV’s higher return and materially lower volatility made it the stronger overall performer, while VGSH may appeal primarily to investors prioritizing the lower expense ratio.
- Price is above its 200-day average ($58); 50-day at $58.
- RSI 66, neutral. Supertrend says buy. ADX 20, so the trend is developing.
- Price is above its 200-day average ($99); 50-day at $100.
- RSI 72, overbought. Supertrend says buy. ADX 44, so the trend is strong.
Head to head
Which has returned more, VGSH or SGOV?
VGSH beat SGOV in 19 of the last 48 months; SGOV won the other 29. The typical monthly gap was 0.27 points.
Total return by period
Which is riskier?
VGSH: May 4, 2023 to Jul 6, 2023; SGOV: Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 1, 2026
- 0.076
- correlation of daily moves, 4 years
- 0.53
- VGSH move per 1% in SGOV
- -0.130
- correlation, last 12 months
Month by month
Of the last 48 months. The typical gap was 0.27 points.
When did they diverge?
| Month | VGSH | SGOV | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2023 | +1.7% | +0.4% | +1.24 pts |
| September 2026 | -0.9% | +0.3% | -1.16 pts |
| February 2023 | -0.7% | +0.4% | -1.09 pts |
| October 2024 | -0.6% | +0.4% | -0.98 pts |
Where the numbers come from. 1000 daily adjusted closes per fund from the Kavout market-data API, dividends included. Signals and indicators are Kavout’s own, refreshed nightly. Every figure is calculated from those adjusted closes.
Holdings and fees
What do you actually own with VGSH and SGOV?
Go deeper
Ask InvestGPT which one fits your portfolio.
Eight research agents read your holdings, the overlap and the tax side, then answer in plain words. Free accounts get one report a month.
More comparisons
Find another comparison.
Track both, get told when something changes.
Add VGSH and SGOV to a watchlist and Kavout emails you when a signal flips or a price target is hit.
Free account, no card