AGG vs BSCU
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF vs Invesco BulletShares 2030 Corporate Bond ETF
Which is better, AGG or BSCU?
Nearly the same fund. AGG costs less.
AGG has a lower expense ratio. BSCU led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96.
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 | BSCU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.10% |
| AUM | $137.6B | $2.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 4.71% |
| Holdings | 13,338 | 901 |
| YTD Return | -2.12% | -0.80%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.06% | -0.09%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.55% | +6.31%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.53% | +0.34%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.1%Best | 7.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.1%Best | -22.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,738 | $10,171Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Inception | Sep 22, 2003 | Sep 16, 2020 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight, Style.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 17, 2020 to Oct 14, 2026 (6.1 years).
AGG vs BSCU 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 6.1 years both funds cover.
AGG vs BSCU Performance
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Invesco BulletShares 2030 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCU) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year AGG returned -2.06% while BSCU returned -0.09%. Year to date, AGG is down 2.12% versus a loss of 0.80% for BSCU.
Over three years, AGG compounded at +4.55% per year against +6.31% for BSCU; over five years the annualized figures are -0.53% and +0.34% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, BSCU has the edge at +0.10% annualized vs -0.60%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BSCU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 7.3% compared with 6.1% 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 -18.1% for AGG and -22.5% for BSCU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AGG charges 0.03% per year while BSCU 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 4.71% for BSCU.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11,115 holdings in AGG and 401 in BSCU, totalling 67.1% and 87.6% 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, 384 positions appear in both.
384 positions in common, counted across the 11,115 positions we hold weights for in AGG and 401 in BSCU, against full books of 13,338 and 901.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AGG | Weight in BSCU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA 5.15 05/01/30The Boeing Co 5.150 May 01 30 | 0.01% | 1.23% | 1.22% |
| PCG 4.55 07/01/30Pacific Gas & Electric 4.55 07/01/2030 | 0.01% | 0.81% | 0.80% |
| AMGN 5.25 03/02/30Amgen Inc 5.25 03/02/2030 | 0.01% | 0.74% | 0.73% |
| C 4.914 05/29/30 .Citibank Na 4.91% May 29, 2030 | 0.01% | 0.68% | 0.67% |
| TACHEM 2.05 03/31/30Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd 2.05 Mar 31, 2030 | 0.01% | 0.61% | 0.60% |
| PM 5.125 02/15/30Philip Morris International Inc 5.13% 02/15/2030 | 0.00% | 0.59% | 0.59% |
| SNPS 4.85 04/01/30Synopsys Inc 4.85% | 0.01% | 0.54% | 0.53% |
| GOOGL 1.1 08/15/30Alphabet Inc 1.1 Aug 15, 2030 | 0.01% | 0.52% | 0.51% |
| XOM 2.61 10/15/30Exxon Mobil Corp 2.61% Oct 15, 2030 | 0.01% | 0.50% | 0.49% |
| AMZN 1.5 06/03/30Amazon.com Inc 01.5000 06/03/2030 | 0.01% | 0.47% | 0.46% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AGG and BSCU 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 BSCU?
AGG has an expense ratio of 0.03% while BSCU charges 0.10%. AGG is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGG or BSCU?
Over the past year AGG returned -2.06% vs -0.09% for BSCU, so BSCU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), AGG annualized -0.60% vs +0.10% for BSCU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGG or BSCU?
BSCU has been the more volatile fund at 7.3% annualized versus 6.1% for AGG. Worst drawdown: AGG -18.1% vs BSCU -22.5%.
Should I hold both AGG and BSCU?
AGG and BSCU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AGG or BSCU?
AGG yields 4.19% while BSCU yields 4.71%, so BSCU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is BSCU better than AGG?
AGG has a lower expense ratio. BSCU led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.