Which returned more over the last year, GOVT or TLT?

In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, GOVT returned −1.0% and TLT returned −6.4%, so GOVT returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.

Which is cheaper, GOVT or TLT?

GOVT charges 0.05% a year and TLT charges 0.15%, so GOVT is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

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 TLT: how they differ

GOVT and TLT are both bond index funds, and over the year GOVT returned more, −1.0% against −6.4%.

iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF.

GOVT and TLT on the fields both publish, as of Sep 12, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
	GOVT iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF	TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
Where it sits	Core index fund	Core index fund
Issuer	iShares	iShares
What it is	U.S. Treasury Bond	20+ year Treasuries
Total return, 1 year	−1.0%	−6.4%
S&P 500 over the same days	+17.5%	+17.5%
Gap to the S&P 500	−18.5 pts	−23.9 pts
Expense ratio	0.05%	0.15%
Holdings	223	not 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.

TLT in plain words

TLT is a bond fund tracking the 20+ year Treasuries. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned −6.4% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.15% a year. It sat 42.9% below its high of Aug 4, 2020 on Sep 11, 2026.

Questions people ask

Which returned more over the last year, GOVT or TLT?: In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, GOVT returned −1.0% and TLT returned −6.4%, so GOVT returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
Which is cheaper, GOVT or TLT?: GOVT charges 0.05% a year and TLT charges 0.15%, so GOVT is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

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

A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources