SmarterDividends

BOXX vs JPST: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 5, 2026, JPST yields more: 4.13% (current yield) against 0.00% for BOXX. JPST is cheaper to own at 0.18% a year vs 0.19%. Over the same 3 years (Dec 2022 to Oct 2026), JPST returned 4.8% a year with distributions reinvested, and BOXX 4.6%. BOXX's income is not paid out at all (it builds up in the price and is taxed when you sell); JPST's is mostly taxable by states.

ComparedBOXXJPST
YieldCurrent yield0.00%4.13%
Expense ratio0.19%0.18%
Total return, 1 yr+4.1%+3.5%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+4.6%+4.9%
Total return, 5 yr (a year)—+3.9%
Worst drop since Dec 20220.0%0.0%
Share price since Dec 2022+19%+1%
PaysAnnualMonthly
IssuerAlpha ArchitectJPMorgan
Assets$14.4B$42.5B
Started20222017
TypeBox-spread ETFUltra-short bond ETF

Higher yield

JPST

4.13%

Lower cost

JPST

0.18%

Better total return

JPST

4.8%/yr

Smaller worst drop

BOXX

0.0%

Key facts: BOXX vs JPST

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, BOXX yields 0.00% (current yield) and JPST yields 4.13% (current yield).
  • BOXX's expense ratio is 0.19% and JPST's is 0.18%: $19 vs $18 a year on $10,000.
  • From Dec 2022 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in BOXX grew to $11,902 (4.6% a year) and $10,000 in JPST to $11,976 (4.8% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: 0.0% for BOXX and 0.0% for JPST.
  • BOXX's income is not paid out at all (it builds up in the price and is taxed when you sell), while JPST's is mostly taxable by states.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "BOXX vs JPST: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/boxx-vs-jpst

$10,000 in each, Dec 2022 to Oct 2026

Distributions reinvested, month-end values.

BOXX became

$11,902

4.6% a year

JPST became

$11,976

4.8% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Year by year

YearBOXXJPST
2025+4.4%+5.0%
2024+5.2%+5.6%
2023+5.0%+5.1%

Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.

What each holds and how it's taxed

BOXX · Box-spread ETF
Earns a T-bill-like return from options box spreads and pays no distributions: the return shows up in the share price and is taxed when you sell.
JPST · Ultra-short bond ETF
Holds short-term bonds, which can include corporate or asset-backed debt, for a little more yield than T-bills and a little more price movement.

General information, not tax advice. Every cash fund by yield →

Top holdings

No overlap in the top ten.

BOXX

  1. Holdings not reported.

JPST

  1. MGMXX JPMorgan US Government MMkt IM2.9%

BOXX vs JPST: questions

Is BOXX or JPST better?

It depends on the job. JPST pays more today (4.13% vs 0.00%), JPST costs less, and JPST has the better total return over Dec 2022 to Oct 2026, with BOXX holding up better in its worst stretch. For cash you may need soon, yield after tax and how easily you can get the money out matter more than past returns.

Which pays a higher dividend, BOXX or JPST?

JPST, at 4.13% against 0.00% for BOXX as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $413 vs $0 a year at today's rates.

Which has the better total return?

JPST. From Dec 2022 to Oct 2026, it returned 4.8% a year with distributions reinvested, against 4.6% for BOXX. $10,000 became $11,976 vs $11,902.

Which is cheaper, BOXX or JPST?

JPST, with a 0.18% expense ratio against 0.19%.

How are BOXX and JPST taxed?

BOXX: Earns a T-bill-like return from options box spreads and pays no distributions: the return shows up in the share price and is taxed when you sell. JPST: Holds short-term bonds, which can include corporate or asset-backed debt, for a little more yield than T-bills and a little more price movement. General information, not tax advice.

Related comparisons

Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. JPST leads on 3 of 4 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.