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

In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, TLT returned −6.4% and VPU returned +2.1%, so VPU returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.

Which is cheaper, TLT or VPU?

TLT charges 0.15% a year and VPU charges 0.09%, so VPU 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

TLT vs VPU: how they differ

TLT is a bond index fund and VPU an equity index fund, and over the year VPU returned more, +2.1% against −6.4%.

iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF and Vanguard Utilities Index Fund.

TLT and VPU on the fields both publish, as of Sep 12, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
	TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF	VPU Vanguard Utilities Index Fund
Where it sits	Core index fund	Core index fund
Issuer	iShares	Vanguard
What it is	20+ year Treasuries	Utilities
Total return, 1 year	−6.4%	+2.1%
S&P 500 over the same days	+17.5%	+17.5%
Gap to the S&P 500	−23.9 pts	−15.4 pts
Expense ratio	0.15%	0.09%
Holdings	not filed	66

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.

VPU in plain words

VPU is an index equity fund tracking the Utilities. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +2.1% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.09% a year. By its holdings filed for May 31, 2026, 90% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 66 positions, with the top ten at 52.7%. It sat 9.8% below its high of Feb 27, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.

Questions people ask

Which returned more over the last year, TLT or VPU?: In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, TLT returned −6.4% and VPU returned +2.1%, so VPU returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
Which is cheaper, TLT or VPU?: TLT charges 0.15% a year and VPU charges 0.09%, so VPU 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.

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

A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources