SGOV vs SPTL ETF Comparison
Compare SGOV and SPTL across fund costs, diversification, holdings, performance, income, risk and current AlgovestIQ evidence.
What is the main difference between SGOV and SPTL?
SGOV is iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF, while SPTL is State Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF. SGOV is tied to Fixed Income; SPTL is tied to Fixed Income. SPTL is broader by holdings count, with 110 positions versus 24 for SGOV. SPTL has the lower expense ratio in the current fund profile.
| Metric | SGOV | SPTL | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.09% | 0.03% | Fund |
| Assets under management | $106.7B | $11.0B | Fund |
| Holdings | 24 | 110 | Fund |
| Average volume | 12,231,857 | 4,390,760 | Fund |
| Underlying exposure | Fixed Income | Fixed Income | Fund |
| Annualized volatility | 1% | 8.7% | Risk |
| Max drawdown | -0.4% | -10% | Risk |
| Beta | -0.01 | 0.17 | Risk |
| Sharpe ratio | -3.79 | -0.92 | Risk |
| Sortino ratio | -3.14 | -1.43 | Risk |
| AIQ Score | 53/100 | 49/100 | AlgovestIQ |
| AIQ Edge Score | 5/10 | 3/10 | AlgovestIQ |
| Momentum | 29/100 | 42/100 | AlgovestIQ |
| Risk Resilience | 66/100 | 56/100 | AlgovestIQ |
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF
SGOV leads
SGOV leads by 4 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Risk Resilience, but the lead has narrowed from 7 points over 30 sessions.
Fragile: 4 of 4 evidence groups support SGOV, its lead is narrowing, and its current signal state is conflicted.
iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF
State Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors SGOV over SPTL, 53 versus 49 as of Sep 5, 2026. SGOV's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and risk resilience, while SPTL holds the stronger momentum profile. SGOV also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 4 of 4 covered evidence groups favor SGOV today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. SGOV lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 7 to 4 points over 30 sessions.
Compare iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF and State Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF across performance, expense ratio, dividend yield, drawdown, volatility and the Algovestiq AIQ Score.
Compare SGOV and SPTL against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Momentum25%29 vs 42SPTL +13
- Quality30%76 vs 65SGOV +11
- Risk Resilience15%66 vs 56SGOV +10
- Value30%45 vs 36SGOV +9
4 of 4 evidence groups favor SGOV. SGOV’s edge is concentrated in quality and risk resilience; SPTL keeps a meaningful momentum edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-03, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-02.
Largest factor move: Momentum -2
No new signals fired.
Largest factor move: Momentum +5
No new signals fired.
SGOV's lead narrowed by 2 AIQ points in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — SGOV and SPTL both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
SGOV (iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and risk resilience.
SPTL (State Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF): the counter-case, on momentum — but at materially higher volatility, 9.7% against 1%.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
SGOVSGOV on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value at 30% each.
Growth
EvenGrowth figures are not covered for both names.
Value
SGOVSGOV on the peer-relative Value factor, by 9 points.
Momentum
SPTLSPTL on the Momentum factor, by 13 points.
Lower downside
SGOVSGOV on Risk Resilience, by 10 points.
Analyst upside
EvenAnalyst targets are level or not covered for both names.
Fund facts, side by side
Two funds tracking overlapping universes are separated by cost and risk far more than by holdings. Those lead here.
| Measure | SGOV | SPTL | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.09% | 0.03% | Lower is better — it compounds against you every year you hold. |
| Assets under management | $106.7B | $11.0B | Larger funds generally carry tighter spreads. |
| Holdings | 24 | 110 | More holdings means broader diversification, not better returns. |
| Average volume | 12,231,857 | 4,390,760 | Liquidity — matters most if you trade size. |
| Annualized volatility | 1% | 8.7% | Lower is a steadier ride for the same exposure. |
| Max drawdown | -0.4% | -10% | The worst peak-to-trough loss on record for the fund. |
| Sharpe ratio | -3.79 | -0.92 | Return per unit of risk. Higher is better. |
| Beta | -0.01 | 0.17 | Sensitivity to the broad market. Neither direction is better — it depends on the role in your portfolio. |
Where the exposure actually sits
Sector exposure for each fund, ordered by the size of the difference.
Weighted holdings overlap is not available for this pair. Sector exposure above is a related but different measure — it says how much of each fund sits in the same parts of the market, not how much of the same securities they hold.
ETF comparison questions
Short answers to the fund-specific questions behind this comparison.
Which ETF is more diversified, SGOV or SPTL?
SPTL currently has more reported holdings, with 110 positions versus 24.
Which has the lower expense ratio?
SPTL has the lower reported expense ratio in the current fund profile.
Which ETF has the higher distribution yield?
The current dataset does not show a higher-yield winner.
Which ETF has been more volatile?
SPTL has the higher annualized volatility in the current risk snapshot.
Which ETF has had the smaller drawdown?
SGOV has the less severe max drawdown in the current risk snapshot.
Which ETF has the stronger current AlgovestIQ evidence?
SGOV currently leads on supporting AlgovestIQ evidence, 53 to 49.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
4 of 4 covered evidence groups favor SGOV. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | SGOV | 53 vs 49 |
| Fundamentals | Not covered | Not covered |
| Valuation | SGOV | Value 45 vs 36 |
| Technicals | SGOV | Price vs 50-day -0.1% vs -1.3%; vs 200-day -0.1% vs -4.3% |
| Risk Resilience | SGOV | Risk Resilience 66 vs 56 |
| Analyst expectations | Not covered | Not covered |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of SGOV and SPTL and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- 4 of 4 covered evidence groups point the same way. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on SGOV.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Apr 22 – Sep 3SGOV lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 7 to 4 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- SGOV +4
- 53 vs 49
- 7 sessions ago
- SGOV +16
- 66 vs 50
- 30 sessions ago
- SGOV +7
- 55 vs 48
- 90 sessions ago
- SGOV +11
- 66 vs 55
The lead changed hands 2 times in this window, most recently on Jun 12 when SGOV moved ahead of SPTL.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
2 bullish / 3 bearish / 2 neutral, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (0.03%)
- Keltner Channel Breakdown — bearish, volatility, short horizon
- 52-Week High Proximity — bullish, risk, long horizon (0.3%)
1 bullish / 3 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (2.88%)
- 52-Week Low Proximity — bearish, risk, long horizon (0.9%)
- Downtrend Structure Active — bearish, trend, long horizon
SGOV leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +0.04%, AIQ -1 points).
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +0.2%, AIQ +1 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1SPTL closes the Quality gap — currently 11 points behind, the largest single contributor to SGOV's edge.
- 2SPTL's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it.
- 3SGOV's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 3 bearish rules at once.
- 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 3 points over 30 sessions, and a further 4-point move would eliminate SGOV's advantage entirely.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Technicals
SGOV has the stronger structure| Metric | SGOV | SPTL |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 35 | 50 |
| ADX (14) | 24.8 | 15.7 |
| Price vs 50-day | -0.1% | -1.3% |
| Price vs 200-day | -0.1% | -4.3% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 1% | 9.7% |
Risk
SGOV is the more resilient| Metric | SGOV | SPTL |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | -0.01 | 0.17 |
| Sharpe ratio | -3.79 | -0.92 |
| Sortino ratio | -3.14 | -1.43 |
| Max drawdown | -0.4% | -10% |
| Current drawdown | -0.3% | -9.4% |
| Annualized volatility | 1% | 8.7% |
| Value at risk (95%) | 0% | -0.9% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, SGOV or SPTL?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, SGOV is the stronger of the two as of Sep 5, 2026, scoring 53 against SPTL's 49. The edge comes from quality and risk resilience. SPTL is not without a case — it holds the better momentum profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is SGOV or SPTL the better buy right now?
SGOV carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 5, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 4 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor SGOV over SPTL?
The composite weights Quality at 30%, Value at 30%, Momentum at 25% and Risk Resilience at 15%. SPTL leads Momentum by 13 points; SGOV leads Quality by 11 points; SGOV leads Risk Resilience by 10 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which is better value, SGOV or SPTL?
SGOV is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. SGOV on the peer-relative Value factor, by 9 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, SGOV or SPTL?
Growth figures are not covered for both names. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, SGOV or SPTL?
SPTL on the Momentum factor, by 13 points. Momentum carries 25% of the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, SGOV or SPTL?
SGOV is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. SGOV on Risk Resilience, by 10 points. The Risk Resilience factor weights 15% of the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is SGOV more profitable than SPTL?
Margin data is not comparable for both names in the current snapshot.
Is SGOV's lead over SPTL getting stronger or weaker?
SGOV lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 7 to 4 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-04-22 and 2026-09-03. The lead has changed hands 2 times in that window, most recently on 2026-06-12, when SGOV moved ahead of SPTL.
What would change the SGOV vs SPTL verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: SPTL closes the Quality gap — currently 11 points behind, the largest single contributor to SGOV's edge; SPTL's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it; SGOV's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 3 bearish rules at once; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 3 points over 30 sessions, and a further 4-point move would eliminate SGOV's advantage entirely.
What do the current signals say about SGOV and SPTL?
SGOV: 2 bullish / 3 bearish / 2 neutral, conflicted. SPTL: 1 bullish / 3 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on SGOV is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On SPTL it is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon).
Compare SGOV and SPTL with others
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality (30%), Value (30%), Momentum (25%) and Risk (15%). Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.