AGG vs TOTR
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF vs T. Rowe Price Total Return ETF
Which is better, AGG or TOTR?
Nearly the same fund. AGG costs less.
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over 5Y and the full window, TOTR over 1Y and 3Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98.
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 | TOTR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.31% |
| AUM | $137.6B | $566M |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 5.48% |
| Holdings | 13,338 | 1,222 |
| YTD Return | -1.51%Best | -1.64% |
| 1Y Return | -1.41% | -1.25%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.76% | +5.23%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.36%Best | -0.70% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.5%Best | 6.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.3%Best | -19.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,821Best | $9,655 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | T.Rowe Price |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Inception | Sep 22, 2003 | Sep 28, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight, Style.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2021 to Oct 15, 2026 (5 years).
AGG vs TOTR 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 5 years both funds cover.
AGG vs TOTR Performance
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and T. Rowe Price Total Return ETF (TOTR) is an ETF from T.Rowe Price. Over the past year AGG returned -1.41% while TOTR returned -1.25%. Year to date, AGG is down 1.51% versus a loss of 1.64% for TOTR.
Over three years, AGG compounded at +4.76% per year against +5.23% for TOTR; over five years the annualized figures are -0.36% and -0.70% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TOTR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 6.6% compared with 6.5% 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 -17.3% for AGG and -19.6% for TOTR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.98. 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 TOTR charges 0.31%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $31 annually, a gap of $28 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AGG currently yields 4.19% against 5.48% for TOTR.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11,115 holdings in AGG and 522 in TOTR, totalling 67.1% and 55.1% 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, 173 positions appear in both.
173 positions in common, counted across the 11,115 positions we hold weights for in AGG and 522 in TOTR, against full books of 13,338 and 1,222.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AGG | Weight in TOTR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| T 4.125 08/15/44United States Treasury Bond 0.04% Aug 15/44 | 0.13% | 2.66% | 2.53% |
| T 4.375 01/31/32Treasury Note (Otr) 4.38% Jan 31, 2032 | 0.12% | 1.88% | 1.76% |
| T 4.25 08/15/54Treasury Bond (Otr) 4.25% Aug 15, 2054 | 0.18% | 1.80% | 1.62% |
| T 4.125 02/29/32Treasury Note (Otr) 4.13% Feb 29, 2032 | 0.11% | 1.85% | 1.74% |
| T 4.625 02/15/55Us Treasury N/B 4.63 2055-02-15 | 0.19% | 1.60% | 1.41% |
| T 4.75 02/15/45Us Treasury N/B 4.75 2/45 | 0.11% | 1.62% | 1.51% |
| T 4.5 12/31/31U.S. Treasury Note, 4.50%, Due 12/31/2031 | 0.16% | 1.30% | 1.14% |
| FN MA4492Fannie Mae Pool 2.0% 12/01/2051 | 0.12% | 1.02% | 0.90% |
| T 4.625 11/15/44Treasury Bond (Otr) 4.63% Nov 15, 2044 | 0.13% | 1.00% | 0.87% |
| FNCL 5.5 10/11Fannie Mae Or Freddie Mac 2050-10-01 | 0.20% | 0.86% | 0.66% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AGG and TOTR 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 TOTR?
AGG has an expense ratio of 0.03% while TOTR charges 0.31%. AGG is the cheaper option, by $28 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGG or TOTR?
Over the past year AGG returned -1.41% vs -1.25% for TOTR, so TOTR leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGG or TOTR?
TOTR has been the more volatile fund at 6.6% annualized versus 6.5% for AGG. Worst drawdown: AGG -17.3% vs TOTR -19.6%.
Should I hold both AGG and TOTR?
AGG and TOTR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, 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 TOTR?
AGG yields 4.19% while TOTR yields 5.48%, so TOTR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TOTR better than AGG?
AGG has a lower expense ratio. AGG led over 5Y and the full window, TOTR over 1Y and 3Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.