Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
TIP vs TLT: how they differ
TIP and TLT are both bond index funds, and over the year TIP returned more, −1.0% against −6.4%.
iShares TIPS Bond ETF and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF.
| TIP iShares TIPS Bond ETF | TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Core index fund |
| Issuer | iShares | iShares |
| What it is | TIPS 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 | 0.18% | 0.15% |
| Holdings | 48 | not filed |
TIP in plain words
TIP is a bond fund tracking the TIPS 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 0.18% a year.
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, TIP or TLT?
- In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, TIP returned −1.0% and TLT returned −6.4%, so TIP returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, TIP or TLT?
- TIP charges 0.18% a year and TLT charges 0.15%, so TLT 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.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, TIP against TLT, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/TIP-TLT Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources