SmarterDividends

PULS vs TBIL: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 5, 2026, PULS yields more: 4.76% (current yield) against 3.97% for TBIL. PULS is cheaper to own at 0.15% a year vs 0.15%. Over the same 4 years (Aug 2022 to Oct 2026), PULS returned 5.3% a year with distributions reinvested, and TBIL 4.5%. PULS's income is mostly taxable by states; TBIL's is generally exempt from state income tax.

ComparedPULSTBIL
YieldCurrent yield4.76%3.97%
Expense ratio0.15%0.15%
Total return, 1 yr+4.1%+3.7%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+5.3%+4.4%
Total return, 5 yr (a year)+4.4%—
Worst drop since Aug 20220.0%0.0%
Share price since Aug 2022+1%+0%
PaysMonthlyMonthly
IssuerPGIMF/m Investments LLC
Assets$19.6B$7.5B
Started20182022
TypeUltra-short bond ETFTreasury ETF

Higher yield

PULS

4.76%

Lower cost

PULS

0.15%

Better total return

PULS

5.3%/yr

Smaller worst drop

PULS

0.0%

Key facts: PULS vs TBIL

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, PULS yields 4.76% (current yield) and TBIL yields 3.97% (current yield).
  • PULS's expense ratio is 0.15% and TBIL's is 0.15%: $15 vs $15 a year on $10,000.
  • From Aug 2022 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in PULS grew to $12,395 (5.3% a year) and $10,000 in TBIL to $12,012 (4.5% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: 0.0% for PULS and 0.0% for TBIL.
  • PULS's income is mostly taxable by states, while TBIL's is generally exempt from state income tax.
Cite this page

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

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

Distributions reinvested, month-end values.

PULS became

$12,395

5.3% a year

TBIL became

$12,012

4.5% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Year by year

YearPULSTBIL
2025+5.0%+4.2%
2024+6.1%+5.1%
2023+6.3%+5.1%

Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.

What each holds and how it's taxed

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

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

Top holdings

No overlap in the top ten.

PULS

  1. PAAA PGIM AAA CLO ETF2.3%

TBIL

  1. Holdings not reported.

PULS vs TBIL: questions

Is PULS or TBIL better?

It depends on the job. PULS pays more today (4.76% vs 3.97%), PULS costs less, and PULS has the better total return over Aug 2022 to Oct 2026, with PULS 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, PULS or TBIL?

PULS, at 4.76% against 3.97% for TBIL as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $476 vs $397 a year at today's rates.

Which has the better total return?

PULS. From Aug 2022 to Oct 2026, it returned 5.3% a year with distributions reinvested, against 4.5% for TBIL. $10,000 became $12,395 vs $12,012.

Which is cheaper, PULS or TBIL?

PULS, with a 0.15% expense ratio against 0.15%.

How are PULS and TBIL taxed?

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. TBIL: Holds U.S. Treasury securities, so its income is generally exempt from state and local income tax (federal tax still applies). 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. PULS leads on 3 of 3 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.