SmarterDividends

BND vs SPAB: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 5, 2026, BND yields more: 3.76% (dividend yield) against 3.49% for SPAB. BND is cheaper to own at 0.03% a year vs 0.03%. Over the same 18 years (Dec 2007 to Oct 2026), SPAB returned 2.8% a year with distributions reinvested, and BND 2.8%.

ComparedBNDSPAB
YieldDividend yield3.76%3.49%
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
Total return, 1 yr−0.1%−0.2%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+5.4%+5.4%
Total return, 5 yr (a year)−0.1%−0.2%
Total return, 10 yr (a year)+1.5%+1.4%
Worst drop since Dec 2007-17.1%-17.2%
Share price since Dec 2007−8%−7%
PaysMonthlyMonthly
IssuerVanguardState Street Investment Management
Assets$395.2B$10.4B
Started20072007
TypeIntermediate Core BondIntermediate Core Bond

Higher yield

BND

3.76%

Lower cost

BND

0.03%

Better total return

SPAB

2.8%/yr

Smaller worst drop

BND

-17.1%

Key facts: BND vs SPAB

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, BND yields 3.76% (dividend yield) and SPAB yields 3.49% (dividend yield).
  • BND's expense ratio is 0.03% and SPAB's is 0.03%: $3 vs $3 a year on $10,000.
  • From Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in BND grew to $16,741 (2.8% a year) and $10,000 in SPAB to $16,786 (2.8% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: -17.1% for BND and -17.2% for SPAB.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "BND vs SPAB: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/bnd-vs-spab

$10,000 in each, Dec 2007 to Oct 2026

Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.

BND became

$16,741

2.8% a year

SPAB became

$16,786

2.8% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Year by year

YearBNDSPAB
2025+7.1%+7.2%
2024+1.4%+1.2%
2023+5.6%+5.6%
2022−12.9%−13.1%
2021−1.9%−1.8%
2020+7.7%+7.4%
2019+8.8%+8.7%
2018+0.3%−0.2%
2017+3.6%+3.7%
2016+2.5%+2.3%
2015+0.6%+0.4%
2014+5.8%+6.0%
2013−2.1%−2.2%
2012+3.9%+3.9%
2011+7.9%+7.9%
2010+6.2%+6.3%
2009+3.6%+3.6%
2008+6.9%+8.4%

Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.

Top holdings

No overlap in the top ten.

BND

  1. Holdings not reported.

SPAB

  1. GVMXX State Street Instl US Govt MMkt Premier3.3%

BND vs SPAB: questions

Is BND or SPAB better?

It depends on the job. BND pays more today (3.76% vs 3.49%), BND costs less, and SPAB has the better total return over Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, with BND holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.

Which pays a higher dividend, BND or SPAB?

BND, at 3.76% against 3.49% for SPAB as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $376 vs $349 a year at today's rates.

Which has the better total return?

SPAB. From Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, it returned 2.8% a year with distributions reinvested, against 2.8% for BND. $10,000 became $16,786 vs $16,741.

Which is cheaper, BND or SPAB?

BND, with a 0.03% expense ratio against 0.03%.

Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. BND leads on 5 of 7 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.