SmarterDividends

SGOV vs VMFXX: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 5, 2026, VMFXX yields more: 3.96% (7-day yield) against 3.64% for SGOV. SGOV's income is generally exempt from state income tax; VMFXX's is only partly exempt from state income tax. SGOV trades like a stock at any broker; VMFXX is Vanguard's money market fund, usually held in a Vanguard account.

ComparedSGOVVMFXX
YieldSGOV: current yield; VMFXX: 7-day yield3.64%3.96%
Expense ratio0.09%In the yield
Total return, 1 yr+3.7%—
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+4.5%—
Total return, 5 yr (a year)+3.8%—
PaysMonthlyMonthly
IssueriSharesVanguard
Assets$116.8B$375.6B
Started2020—
TypeTreasury ETFGovernment money market

Higher yield

VMFXX

3.96%

Lighter state tax

SGOV

exempt from state income tax

$10,000 earns

$396

a year in VMFXX

Key facts: SGOV vs VMFXX

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, SGOV yields 3.64% (current yield) and VMFXX yields 3.96% (7-day yield).
  • SGOV's income is generally exempt from state income tax, while VMFXX's is only partly exempt from state income tax.
  • SGOV trades like a stock at any broker; VMFXX is Vanguard's money market fund, usually held in a Vanguard account.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "SGOV vs VMFXX: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/sgov-vs-vmfxx

What each holds and how it's taxed

SGOV · Treasury ETF
Holds U.S. Treasury securities, so its income is generally exempt from state and local income tax (federal tax still applies).
VMFXX · Government money market
A government money market fund: Treasuries, agency debt and repurchase agreements. Only the part earned from Treasuries is exempt from state tax, which the fund reports each year.

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

SGOV vs VMFXX: questions

Is SGOV or VMFXX better?

It depends on the job. VMFXX pays more today (3.96% vs 3.64%). 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, SGOV or VMFXX?

VMFXX, at 3.96% against 3.64% for SGOV as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $396 vs $364 a year at today's rates.

How are SGOV and VMFXX taxed?

SGOV: Holds U.S. Treasury securities, so its income is generally exempt from state and local income tax (federal tax still applies). VMFXX: A government money market fund: Treasuries, agency debt and repurchase agreements. Only the part earned from Treasuries is exempt from state tax, which the fund reports each year. 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. VMFXX leads on 1 of 1 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.