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Interested in Bond ETFs? SCHQ and SPLB Offer Different Ways to Play Long-Duration Loans.
The Motley Fool· 2026-02-07 12:34
Core Viewpoint - The State Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF (SPLB) and Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHQ) differ significantly in yield, sector exposure, and risk, with SPLB focusing on corporate bonds for higher income potential while SCHQ offers a Treasury focus at a slightly lower cost [1][2]. Cost and Size Comparison - SPLB has an expense ratio of 0.04% while SCHQ is slightly lower at 0.03% - The one-year return for SPLB is 6.47% compared to SCHQ's 4.17% - SPLB offers a higher dividend yield of 5.2% versus SCHQ's 4.6% - SPLB has a total assets under management (AUM) of $1.2 billion, while SCHQ has $902.5 million [3]. Performance and Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, SPLB experienced a maximum drawdown of 34.40%, while SCHQ faced a larger drawdown of 46.13% - An investment of $1,000 would have grown to $706 in SPLB and $599 in SCHQ over the same period [4]. Fund Composition - SCHQ primarily tracks the long-term U.S. Treasury bond market, holding 98 positions with 91% in government securities, indicating low exposure to corporate credit risk [5]. - SPLB invests in nearly 3,000 long-term, investment-grade U.S. corporate bonds, providing broad issuer diversification and higher credit risk, with top holdings including Anheuser Busch InBev, Meta Platforms, and CVS Health [7]. Investment Implications - Investing in SCHQ offers high credit quality and serves as a hedge against equity market volatility, making it suitable for safety and capital preservation [9][10]. - SPLB, while riskier due to its corporate bond holdings, provides higher income potential, making it attractive for those seeking diversity and income generation [11][12].