Get the weekly note

Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.

ETFIQetfiq.com · independent ETF data

BOXX vs MBB: how they differ

BOXX is a short-term Treasury fund and MBB a bond index fund, and over the year BOXX returned more, +4.0% against −0.1%.

Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF and iShares MBS ETF.

BOXX and MBB on the fields both publish, as of Sep 12, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
BOXX
Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF
MBB
iShares MBS ETF
Where it sitsCore index fundCore index fund
IssuerAlphaiShares
What it is1-3 Month BoxMbs
Total return, 1 year+4.0%−0.1%
S&P 500 over the same days+17.5%+17.5%
Gap to the S&P 500−13.5 pts−17.6 pts
Expense ratio0.19%0.04%
Holdingsnot filed11144

BOXX in plain words

BOXX is a cash and treasury bills tracking the 1-3 Month Box. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +4.0% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.19% a year.

MBB in plain words

MBB is a bond fund tracking the Mbs. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned −0.1% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.04% a year. It sat 3.3% below its high of Feb 27, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.

Questions people ask

Which returned more over the last year, BOXX or MBB?
In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, BOXX returned +4.0% and MBB returned −0.1%, so BOXX returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
Which is cheaper, BOXX or MBB?
BOXX charges 0.19% a year and MBB charges 0.04%, so MBB is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Other comparisons

Where to next

Where these figures came from

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.

BOXX against MBB, ETFIQ, data as of Sep 12, 2026. Every figure is arithmetic on a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page. ETFIQ, BOXX against MBB, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/BOXX-MBB Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.

A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources