AGG vs RIGS
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF vs ALPS Strategic Income Fund
Which is better, AGG or RIGS?
Each has led over a different period.
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over the full window, RIGS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y.
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 | RIGS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.46% |
| AUM | $137.6B | $56M |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 5.02% |
| Holdings | 13,338 | 84 |
| YTD Return | -2.12% | -0.64%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.06% | -0.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.55% | +5.06%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.53% | +1.67%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.8% | 4.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4% | -18.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,738 | $10,863Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | ALPS Advisors |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Inception | Sep 22, 2003 | Oct 7, 2013 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight, Style.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 9, 2013 to Oct 14, 2026 (13 years).
AGG vs RIGS 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 13 years both funds cover.
AGG vs RIGS Performance
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and ALPS Strategic Income Fund (RIGS) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors. Over the past year AGG returned -2.06% while RIGS returned -0.44%. Year to date, AGG is down 2.12% versus a loss of 0.64% for RIGS.
Over three years, AGG compounded at +4.55% per year against +5.06% for RIGS; over five years the annualized figures are -0.53% and +1.67% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, AGG has the edge at +1.83% annualized vs +0.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AGG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 4.8% compared with 4.7% for RIGS. 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 -18.2% for RIGS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AGG charges 0.03% per year while RIGS charges 0.46%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $46 annually, a gap of $43 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AGG currently yields 4.19% against 5.02% for RIGS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11,115 holdings in AGG and 58 in RIGS, totalling 67.1% and 72.5% 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, 18 positions appear in both.
18 positions in common, counted across the 11,115 positions we hold weights for in AGG and 58 in RIGS, against full books of 13,338 and 84.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AGG | Weight in RIGS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| T 4.375 05/15/34United States Treasury Note/Bondus Treasury N/B | 0.40% | 4.73% | 4.33% |
| T 4.5 02/15/44U.S. Treasury Bonds | 0.14% | 4.72% | 4.58% |
| T 4.75 11/15/43Us Treas Bds 4.75% 11/15/43 | 0.14% | 4.03% | 3.89% |
| T 4 11/15/52United States Treasury Note/Bond | 0.18% | 3.98% | 3.80% |
| T 4.75 02/15/37Us Treasury N/B 02/37 4.75 | 0.02% | 2.53% | 2.51% |
| T 4.125 02/29/32Treasury Note (Otr) 4.13% Feb 29, 2032 | 0.11% | 2.16% | 2.05% |
| TXT 5.5 05/15/35Textron Inc. 5.50 05/15/2035 | 0.00% | 1.42% | 1.42% |
| CNXC 6.6 08/02/28Concentrix Corp. 6.60 08/02/2028 | 0.00% | 1.40% | 1.40% |
| LHX 5.4 07/31/33L3Harris Technologies Inc. 5.40 07/31/2033 | 0.00% | 1.21% | 1.21% |
| LVS 6 08/15/29Las Vegas Sands Co 6% 08/15/29 | 0.00% | 1.05% | 1.05% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AGG and RIGS 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 RIGS?
AGG has an expense ratio of 0.03% while RIGS charges 0.46%. AGG is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGG or RIGS?
Over the past year AGG returned -2.06% vs -0.44% for RIGS, so RIGS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), AGG annualized +1.83% vs +0.85% for RIGS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGG or RIGS?
AGG has been the more volatile fund at 4.8% annualized versus 4.7% for RIGS. Worst drawdown: AGG -18.4% vs RIGS -18.2%.
Should I hold both AGG and RIGS?
AGG and RIGS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 RIGS?
AGG yields 4.19% while RIGS yields 5.02%, so RIGS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RIGS better than AGG?
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over the full window, RIGS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.