VGLT vs TLT: Which Bond ETF Is the Better Value?

VGLT vs TLT: Which Bond ETF Is the Better Value? John Ballard, The Motley Fool Wed, August 19, 2026 at 1:41 PM EDT 4 min read TLT ^GSPC The Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (NASDAQ:VGLT) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:TLT) Both provide exposure to long-dated government debt, but the Vanguard fund offers a significantly lower cost structure. Fixed income investors often turn to long-term Treasuries to hedge against equity volatility or capture yields when interest rates fall. While TLT is the industry heavyweight with massive liquidity, VGLT tracks a slightly different maturity profile with a focus on fee efficiency for long-term holders. Snapshot (cost & size) Metric TLT VGLT Issuer iShares Vanguard Share price $82.59 (as of 2026-08-13) $53.05 (as of 2026-08-13) Expense ratio 0.15% 0.03% 1-yr return (as of Aug. 13, 2026) (-1.5%) (-0.7%) Dividend yield 4.72% 4.75% Beta 2.40 2.25 AUM $46 billion $15 billion Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield. The Vanguard is the more affordable option with an expense ratio of 0.03%, compared to 0.15% for the iShares fund. Both funds currently offer similar income levels, with the Vanguard fund providing a slightly higher payout. Performance & risk comparison Metric TLT VGLT Max drawdo…