AGG vs RFCI
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF vs ALPS Dynamic Core Income ETF
Which is better, AGG or RFCI?
Nearly the same fund. AGG costs less.
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over the full window, RFCI over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95.
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 | RFCI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.51% |
| AUM | $137.6B | $13M |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 4.76% |
| Holdings | 13,338 | 48 |
| YTD Return | -2.12% | -1.66%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.06% | -1.45%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.55% | +4.92%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.53% | +1.12%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.2% | 4.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4% | -13.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,738 | $10,573Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | ALPS Advisors |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Inception | Sep 22, 2003 | Jun 13, 2016 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight, Style.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 17, 2016 to Oct 14, 2026 (10.3 years).
AGG vs RFCI 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 10.3 years both funds cover.
AGG vs RFCI Performance
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and ALPS Dynamic Core Income ETF (RFCI) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors. Over the past year AGG returned -2.06% while RFCI returned -1.45%. Year to date, AGG is down 2.12% versus a loss of 1.66% for RFCI.
Over three years, AGG compounded at +4.55% per year against +4.92% for RFCI; over five years the annualized figures are -0.53% and +1.12% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, AGG has the edge at +1.24% annualized vs +0.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AGG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 5.2% compared with 4.3% for RFCI. 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 -13.2% for RFCI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.95. 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 RFCI charges 0.51%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $51 annually, a gap of $48 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AGG currently yields 4.19% against 4.76% for RFCI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11,115 holdings in AGG and 37 in RFCI, totalling 67.1% and 83.6% 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, 28 positions appear in both.
28 positions in common, counted across the 11,115 positions we hold weights for in AGG and 37 in RFCI, against full books of 13,338 and 48.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AGG | Weight in RFCI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| T 4.75 11/15/43Us Treas Bds 4.75% 11/15/43 | 0.14% | 11.02% | 10.88% |
| T 4 11/15/52United States Treasury Note/Bond | 0.18% | 4.11% | 3.93% |
| T 4.375 05/15/34United States Treasury Note/Bondus Treasury N/B | 0.40% | 3.85% | 3.45% |
| T 4.75 02/15/37Us Treasury N/B 02/37 4.75 | 0.02% | 3.86% | 3.84% |
| GM 6.4 01/09/33Gen Motors Fin 6.4 01/09/2033 | 0.00% | 3.40% | 3.40% |
| H 5.75 04/23/30Hyatt Hotels Corp | 0.00% | 3.36% | 3.36% |
| IR 5.7 08/14/33Ingersoll Rand Inc 5.7% 14Aug2033 | 0.00% | 3.32% | 3.32% |
| CNXC 6.85 08/02/33Concentrix Corp 6.85 08/02/2033 | 0.00% | 3.06% | 3.06% |
| T 3.625 05/15/53United States Treasury Note/Bo 3.6250% Mat 05/15/2053 | 0.17% | 2.40% | 2.23% |
| F 7.35 11/04/27Ford Motor Cred 7.35% 11/04/27 | 0.01% | 2.28% | 2.27% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AGG and RFCI 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 RFCI?
AGG has an expense ratio of 0.03% while RFCI charges 0.51%. AGG is the cheaper option, by $48 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGG or RFCI?
Over the past year AGG returned -2.06% vs -1.45% for RFCI, so RFCI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), AGG annualized +1.24% vs +0.87% for RFCI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGG or RFCI?
AGG has been the more volatile fund at 5.2% annualized versus 4.3% for RFCI. Worst drawdown: AGG -18.4% vs RFCI -13.2%.
Should I hold both AGG and RFCI?
AGG and RFCI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, 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 RFCI?
AGG yields 4.19% while RFCI yields 4.76%, so RFCI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RFCI better than AGG?
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over the full window, RFCI over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.