AGG vs PTRB
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF vs PGIM Total Return Bond ETF
Which is better, AGG or PTRB?
Nearly the same fund. AGG costs less.
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over 1Y, PTRB over 3Y 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 | PTRB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.49% |
| AUM | $137.6B | $1.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 5.75% |
| Holdings | 13,338 | 2,659 |
| YTD Return | -2.12%Best | -2.27% |
| 1Y Return | -2.06%Best | -2.12% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.55% | +5.15%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.53% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.7%Best | 7.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.9%Best | -19.2% |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $9,767 | $9,847Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | PGIM Investments |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Inception | Sep 22, 2003 | Dec 2, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight, Style.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 8, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (4.8 years).
AGG vs PTRB 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
AGG vs PTRB Performance
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and PGIM Total Return Bond ETF (PTRB) is an ETF from PGIM Investments. Over the past year AGG returned -2.06% while PTRB returned -2.12%. Year to date, AGG is down 2.12% versus a loss of 2.27% for PTRB.
Over three years, AGG compounded at +4.55% per year against +5.15% for PTRB.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PTRB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 7.1% compared with 6.7% 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 -16.9% for AGG and -19.2% for PTRB. 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 PTRB charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $49 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AGG currently yields 4.19% against 5.75% for PTRB.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11,115 holdings in AGG and 675 in PTRB, totalling 67.1% and 52.1% 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, 262 positions appear in both.
262 positions in common, counted across the 11,115 positions we hold weights for in AGG and 675 in PTRB, against full books of 13,338 and 2,659.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AGG | Weight in PTRB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| T 4.125 08/15/44United States Treasury Bond 0.04% Aug 15/44 | 0.13% | 3.06% | 2.93% |
| T 4.625 11/15/44Treasury Bond (Otr) 4.63% Nov 15, 2044 | 0.13% | 2.57% | 2.44% |
| FNCL 5.5 10/11Fannie Mae Or Freddie Mac 2050-10-01 | 0.20% | 2.12% | 1.92% |
| T 4 11/15/42Us Treasury N/B 4 11/15/2042 | 0.14% | 0.88% | 0.74% |
| T 5 05/15/45Us Treas Bds 5% 05/15/45 | 0.10% | 0.68% | 0.58% |
| T 4.625 05/15/44U.S. Treasury Bonds 2044-05-15 | 0.14% | 0.62% | 0.48% |
| T 3 02/15/49Government Of The United States Of America 3.0% 15-Feb-2049 | 0.02% | 0.73% | 0.71% |
| T 3.25 05/15/42Us Treas Bds 3.25% 05/15/42 | 0.12% | 0.61% | 0.49% |
| T 4 02/15/34United States Treasury 4.00% 15-Feb-2034 | 0.37% | 0.30% | 0.07% |
| T 1.875 02/15/32Treasury Note (Otr) 1.88% Feb 15, 2032 | 0.28% | 0.33% | 0.05% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AGG and PTRB 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 PTRB?
AGG has an expense ratio of 0.03% while PTRB charges 0.49%. AGG is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGG or PTRB?
Over the past year AGG returned -2.06% vs -2.12% for PTRB, so AGG leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGG or PTRB?
PTRB has been the more volatile fund at 7.1% annualized versus 6.7% for AGG. Worst drawdown: AGG -16.9% vs PTRB -19.2%.
Should I hold both AGG and PTRB?
AGG and PTRB 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 PTRB?
AGG yields 4.19% while PTRB yields 5.75%, so PTRB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PTRB better than AGG?
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over 1Y, PTRB over 3Y 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.