AGG vs HCRB
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF vs Hartford Core Bond ETF
Which is better, AGG or HCRB?
Nearly the same fund. AGG costs less.
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
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 | HCRB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.29% |
| AUM | $137.6B | $437M |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 4.22% |
| Holdings | 13,338 | 1,642 |
| YTD Return | -2.12%Best | -5.38% |
| 1Y Return | -2.06%Best | -5.81% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.55%Best | +3.63% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.53%Best | -1.26% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.9%Best | 6.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4%Best | -19.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,738Best | $9,386 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Hartford Funds |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Inception | Sep 22, 2003 | Feb 19, 2020 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight, Style.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 20, 2020 to Oct 14, 2026 (6.6 years).
AGG vs HCRB 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 6.6 years both funds cover.
AGG vs HCRB Performance
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Hartford Core Bond ETF (HCRB) is an ETF from Hartford Funds. Over the past year AGG returned -2.06% while HCRB returned -5.81%. Year to date, AGG is down 2.12% versus a loss of 5.38% for HCRB.
Over three years, AGG compounded at +4.55% per year against +3.63% for HCRB; over five years the annualized figures are -0.53% and -1.26% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, AGG has the edge at +0.12% annualized vs -0.21%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HCRB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 6.3% compared with 5.9% 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 -19.9% for HCRB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. 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 HCRB charges 0.29%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $29 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AGG currently yields 4.19% against 4.22% for HCRB.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11,115 holdings in AGG and 493 in HCRB, totalling 67.1% and 65.2% 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, 266 positions appear in both.
266 positions in common, counted across the 11,115 positions we hold weights for in AGG and 493 in HCRB, against full books of 13,338 and 1,642.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AGG | Weight in HCRB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| T 6.125 08/15/29Us Treasury N/B 08/29 6.125 | 0.02% | 3.26% | 3.24% |
| T 4.25 11/15/34Us Treas Nts 4.25% 11/15/34 | 0.40% | 1.86% | 1.46% |
| T 4.375 05/15/34United States Treasury Note/Bondus Treasury N/B | 0.40% | 1.62% | 1.22% |
| FNCL 6 10/11Fannie Mae Or Freddie Mac 6 | 0.18% | 1.69% | 1.51% |
| T 4.625 05/31/31Us Treas Nts 4.625% 05/31/31 | 0.15% | 1.63% | 1.48% |
| T 4.375 01/31/32Treasury Note (Otr) 4.38% Jan 31, 2032 | 0.12% | 1.56% | 1.44% |
| T 3.625 08/31/29United States Treasury Note/Bond - When Issued 3.63% 31Aug2029 | 0.19% | 1.33% | 1.14% |
| T 4.5 11/15/54Treasury Bond (Otr) 4.5% Nov 15, 2054 | 0.19% | 1.32% | 1.13% |
| T 3.75 05/31/30Treasury Note (Otr) 3.75% May 31, 2030 | 0.13% | 1.37% | 1.24% |
| FNCL 5 10/11Fncl 5 10/26 | 0.15% | 1.28% | 1.13% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AGG and HCRB 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 HCRB?
AGG has an expense ratio of 0.03% while HCRB charges 0.29%. AGG is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGG or HCRB?
Over the past year AGG returned -2.06% vs -5.81% for HCRB, so AGG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AGG annualized +0.12% vs -0.21% for HCRB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGG or HCRB?
HCRB has been the more volatile fund at 6.3% annualized versus 5.9% for AGG. Worst drawdown: AGG -18.4% vs HCRB -19.9%.
Should I hold both AGG and HCRB?
AGG and HCRB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, 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 HCRB?
AGG yields 4.19% while HCRB yields 4.22%, so HCRB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is HCRB better than AGG?
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.