AGG vs BSCT
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF vs Invesco BulletShares 2029 Corporate Bond ETF
Which is better, AGG or BSCT?
BSCT has been ahead.
AGG has a lower expense ratio. BSCT led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AGG | BSCT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.10% |
| AUM | $137.6B | $3.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 4.59% |
| Holdings | 13,338 | 981 |
| YTD Return | -2.12% | +0.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.06% | +1.06%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.55% | +6.23%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.53% | +0.98%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.8%Best | 7.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4%Best | -19.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,738 | $10,500Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Inception | Sep 22, 2003 | Sep 12, 2019 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight, Style.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 12, 2019 to Oct 14, 2026 (7.1 years).
AGG vs BSCT growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 7.1 years both funds cover.
AGG vs BSCT Performance
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Invesco BulletShares 2029 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCT) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year AGG returned -2.06% while BSCT returned +1.06%. Year to date, AGG is down 2.12% versus a gain of 0.29% for BSCT.
Over three years, AGG compounded at +4.55% per year against +6.23% for BSCT; over five years the annualized figures are -0.53% and +0.98% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, BSCT has the edge at +1.69% annualized vs +0.54%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BSCT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 7.1% compared with 5.8% for AGG. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -18.4% for AGG and -19.5% for BSCT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AGG charges 0.03% per year while BSCT charges 0.10%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $10 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AGG currently yields 4.19% against 4.59% for BSCT.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11,115 holdings in AGG and 408 in BSCT, totalling 67.1% and 81.7% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 391 positions appear in both.
391 positions in common, counted across the 11,115 positions we hold weights for in AGG and 408 in BSCT, against full books of 13,338 and 981.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AGG | Weight in BSCT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABBV 3.2 11/21/29Abbvie Inc 3.2 11/21/2029 | 0.02% | 1.19% | 1.17% |
| IBM 3.5 05/15/29International Business Machines Corp 3.5 05/15/2029 | 0.01% | 0.74% | 0.73% |
| VZ 4.016 12/03/29Verizon Communications Inc 4.016% 12/03/2029 | 0.01% | 0.67% | 0.66% |
| T 4.35 03/01/29At&T, Inc., Senior, Unsecured, Notes, Callable, 4.350% Mar 1, 2029 | 0.01% | 0.67% | 0.66% |
| FI 3.5 07/01/29Fiserv Inc 3.5% 07/01/2029 | 0.01% | 0.67% | 0.66% |
| ABIBB 4.75 01/23/29Anheuser-Busch Inbev Worldwide Inc. 4.75% | 0.01% | 0.66% | 0.65% |
| CSCO 4.85 02/26/29Cisco Systems Inc 4.85 02/26/2029 | 0.01% | 0.59% | 0.58% |
| ABBV 4.8 03/15/29Abbvie Inc Corp. Note 2029-03-15 | 0.01% | 0.58% | 0.57% |
| WFC 4.15 01/24/29 MTWells Fargo & Co 4.15% 01/24/2029 | 0.01% | 0.58% | 0.57% |
| SUMIBK 3.04 07/16/29Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. 3.04% 07/16/2029 | 0.01% | 0.55% | 0.54% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AGG and BSCT you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AGG or BSCT?
AGG has an expense ratio of 0.03% while BSCT charges 0.10%. AGG is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGG or BSCT?
Over the past year AGG returned -2.06% vs +1.06% for BSCT, so BSCT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AGG annualized +0.54% vs +1.69% for BSCT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGG or BSCT?
BSCT has been the more volatile fund at 7.1% annualized versus 5.8% for AGG. Worst drawdown: AGG -18.4% vs BSCT -19.5%.
Should I hold both AGG and BSCT?
AGG and BSCT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AGG or BSCT?
AGG yields 4.19% while BSCT yields 4.59%, so BSCT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is BSCT better than AGG?
AGG has a lower expense ratio. BSCT led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.