Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF

VGSH

Market cap $29B

VGSH and SCHO share identical expenses and similar short-term U.S. Treasury bond strategies Both funds posted a -0.2% total return over the past year, with nearly matching risk and drawdown profiles VGSH commands a larger assets under management (AUM), while SCHO holds slightly more positions and is nearly as liquid

SMB has a higher expense ratio and lower asset size than VGSH. VGSH has a higher trailing 12-month yield.

Both funds charge an identical ultra-low expense ratio, but Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF offers a slightly higher yield. VCSH has outperformed VGSH over the past year but carries a higher maximum drawdown and volatility.

ISTB charges a slightly higher expense ratio but offers broader bond diversification and a marginally higher yield. VGSH experienced a milder max drawdown and holds more in U.S. Treasury securities, while ISTB includes some credit and sector exposure.

IGSB charges a slightly higher expense ratio but offers a higher yield and broader bond diversification. VGSH has shown smaller drawdowns and less volatility, reflecting its focus on short-term U.S. Treasuries.

After a three-year bull market in U.S. stocks, it's worthwhile to consider different ways to protect some of those gains. Investing in bonds and low-volatility stocks are two common ways to reduce broader portfolio risk.

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The Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF is reliable safe haven in today's market dynamics. The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF provides exposure to 11,444 government and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Both ETFs offer identical ultra-low expense ratios, but Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF edges out a slightly higher yield VGSH is larger by assets under management, while SCHO shows slightly lower volatility and a similar recent performance track record Portfolio holdings and sector exposures are nearly identical, with minimal quirks or hidden tilts in either fund We're bullish on these 10 stocks ›

Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund ETF remains a HOLD for capital preservation and steady carry, with low volatility due to its 2-year effective duration. VGSH benefits from a minimal 0.03% expense ratio and monthly distributions, making it an attractive defensive allocation in fixed income portfolios. Fed rate cuts are unlikely before mid-year; VGSH could benefit from price appreciation if employment data deteriorates and the Fed eases policy in H2 2026.