---
title: "Bond ETF Comparison: AGG vs BND vs LQD"
description: "Reference table comparing major U.S. bond ETFs by category: aggregate (AGG, BND), corporate investment-grade (LQD), high-yield (HYG, JNK), Treasury (TLT, SHY)."
canonical: https://www.getswoopr.com/tables/etf/bond-etf-comparison/
source: "Swoopr Investment: https://www.getswoopr.com"
---

## Direct Answer



> The major bond ETF categories are investment-grade aggregate (AGG, BND), corporate investment-grade (LQD), high-yield (HYG, JNK), Treasury-focused (TLT, SHY), and short-term (VCSH, SPSB). AGG and BND are the most common core bond holdings, both tracking the total U.S. investment-grade bond market at 0.03% expense ratio.








# Bond ETF Comparison



## Bond ETF Comparison by Category



| Ticker | Category | Expense Ratio | Duration | Yield-to-Maturity (approx) | AUM |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AGG | US Agg Bond | 0.03% | ~6.5 yr | ~4.8% | ~$105B |
| BND | US Total Bond Market | 0.03% | ~6.7 yr | ~4.8% | ~$120B |
| LQD | Investment-Grade Corp | 0.14% | ~8.5 yr | ~5.2% | ~$32B |
| HYG | High-Yield Corp | 0.48% | ~3.5 yr | ~7.5% | ~$18B |
| JNK | High-Yield Corp | 0.40% | ~3.8 yr | ~7.3% | ~$8B |
| TLT | Long Treasury (20+ yr) | 0.15% | ~17 yr | ~4.5% | ~$55B |
| SHY | Short Treasury (1-3 yr) | 0.15% | ~1.9 yr | ~4.6% | ~$22B |
| VCSH | Short-Term Corp | 0.04% | ~2.8 yr | ~5.0% | ~$40B |
| TIPS | US TIPS | 0.19% | ~7 yr | ~1.8% real | ~$18B |



Source: [iShares: AGG ETF](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239458/ISHARES-CORE-US-AGGREGATE-BOND-ETF). Last verified: September 2026.



## Frequently asked questions



What is duration and why does it matter for bond ETFs?

Duration measures a bond ETF's sensitivity to interest rate changes. A duration of 6.5 years means a 1% rise in rates causes approximately 6.5% price decline. AGG's duration of ~6.5 years means it would lose about 6.5% if rates rose 1% suddenly. Long-duration ETFs like TLT (~17 yr duration) are extremely sensitive: they gained dramatically when rates fell 2008-2021, but lost 39% in 2022 when rates rose sharply. Short-duration ETFs like SHY (1.9 yr) are much more stable: 1% rate change causes only 1.9% price movement.



Is HYG/JNK better than LQD?

High-yield ETFs (HYG, JNK) yield more than investment-grade (LQD) because they hold riskier bonds (below BBB-rated) with higher default probability. HYG/JNK behave more like equities during market stress: they fell 23% in March 2020 alongside stocks, while LQD held up better. For bond diversification versus stocks, investment-grade bonds (AGG, BND, LQD) historically provide better portfolio protection during stock market downturns. High-yield bonds are often classified as a separate asset class and not a true substitute for investment-grade bonds in a portfolio context.



Why does BND hold more bonds than AGG?

BND tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index (approximately 10,000+ bonds), while AGG tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (approximately 10,000 bonds as well). The differences are minor: BND explicitly floats-adjusts its weights (excluding Fed and foreign-held bonds), while AGG has evolved to do similarly. Both cover the same universe: U.S. investment-grade bonds with at least 1 year to maturity across Treasuries, agencies, corporate bonds, and mortgage-backed securities. For practical purposes, AGG and BND are nearly identical funds that can be used interchangeably.







## Cite This Page



If you reference this table in your own work, use the following citation format and add the date you accessed it:



> Swoopr Editorial Team. (2026). *Bond ETF Comparison*. Swoopr Investment. [https://www.getswoopr.com/tables/etf/bond-etf-comparison/](https://www.getswoopr.com/tables/etf/bond-etf-comparison/)



Check the figures against the primary sources listed under References before you rely on or republish them; the series they come from are revised.







## References



- [iShares: AGG ETF](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239458/ISHARES-CORE-US-AGGREGATE-BOND-ETF)







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