SmarterDividends

CLIP vs PULS: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 5, 2026, PULS yields more: 4.76% (current yield) against 3.72% for CLIP. CLIP is cheaper to own at 0.07% a year vs 0.15%. Over the same 3 years (Jun 2023 to Oct 2026), PULS returned 5.4% a year with distributions reinvested, and CLIP 4.6%. CLIP's income is generally exempt from state income tax; PULS's is mostly taxable by states.

ComparedCLIPPULS
YieldCurrent yield3.72%4.76%
Expense ratio0.07%0.15%
Total return, 1 yr+3.8%+4.1%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+4.5%+5.3%
Total return, 5 yr (a year)—+4.4%
Worst drop since Jun 20230.0%0.0%
Share price since Jun 2023+0%+0%
PaysMonthlyMonthly
IssuerGlobal XPGIM
Assets$2.4B$19.6B
Started20232018
TypeTreasury ETFUltra-short bond ETF

Higher yield

PULS

4.76%

Lower cost

CLIP

0.07%

Better total return

PULS

5.4%/yr

Smaller worst drop

CLIP

0.0%

Key facts: CLIP vs PULS

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, CLIP yields 3.72% (current yield) and PULS yields 4.76% (current yield).
  • CLIP's expense ratio is 0.07% and PULS's is 0.15%: $7 vs $15 a year on $10,000.
  • From Jun 2023 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in CLIP grew to $11,607 (4.6% a year) and $10,000 in PULS to $11,900 (5.4% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: 0.0% for CLIP and 0.0% for PULS.
  • CLIP's income is generally exempt from state income tax, while PULS's is mostly taxable by states.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "CLIP vs PULS: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/clip-vs-puls

$10,000 in each, Jun 2023 to Oct 2026

Distributions reinvested, month-end values.

CLIP became

$11,607

4.6% a year

PULS became

$11,900

5.4% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Year by year

YearCLIPPULS
2025+4.2%+5.0%
2024+5.3%+6.1%

Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.

What each holds and how it's taxed

CLIP · Treasury ETF
Holds U.S. Treasury securities, so its income is generally exempt from state and local income tax (federal tax still applies).
PULS · 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.

CLIP

  1. Holdings not reported.

PULS

  1. PAAA PGIM AAA CLO ETF2.3%

CLIP vs PULS: questions

Is CLIP or PULS better?

It depends on the job. PULS pays more today (4.76% vs 3.72%), CLIP costs less, and PULS has the better total return over Jun 2023 to Oct 2026, with CLIP 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, CLIP or PULS?

PULS, at 4.76% against 3.72% for CLIP as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $476 vs $372 a year at today's rates.

Which has the better total return?

PULS. From Jun 2023 to Oct 2026, it returned 5.4% a year with distributions reinvested, against 4.6% for CLIP. $10,000 became $11,900 vs $11,607.

Which is cheaper, CLIP or PULS?

CLIP, with a 0.07% expense ratio against 0.15%.

How are CLIP and PULS taxed?

CLIP: Holds U.S. Treasury securities, so its income is generally exempt from state and local income tax (federal tax still applies). PULS: 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.

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