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

GOVT vs HYG: how they differ

GOVT and HYG are both bond index funds, and over the year HYG returned more, +2.9% against −1.0%.

iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF and iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF.

GOVT and HYG on the fields both publish, as of Sep 12, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
GOVT
iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF
HYG
iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF
Where it sitsCore index fundCore index fund
IssueriSharesiShares
What it isU.S. Treasury BondUS high yield bonds
Total return, 1 year−1.0%+2.9%
S&P 500 over the same days+17.5%+17.5%
Gap to the S&P 500−18.5 pts−14.6 pts
Expense ratio0.05%0.49%
Holdings223not filed

GOVT in plain words

GOVT is a bond fund tracking the U.S. Treasury Bond. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned −1.0% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.05% a year. It sat 8.4% below its high of Aug 4, 2020 on Sep 11, 2026.

HYG in plain words

HYG is a bond fund tracking the US high yield bonds. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +2.9% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.49% a year.

Questions people ask

Which returned more over the last year, GOVT or HYG?
In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, GOVT returned −1.0% and HYG returned +2.9%, so HYG returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
Which is cheaper, GOVT or HYG?
GOVT charges 0.05% a year and HYG charges 0.49%, so GOVT 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.

GOVT against HYG, 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, GOVT against HYG, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/GOVT-HYG Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.

A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources