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SHV iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF

Category: Government Bonds

Inception: 2007-01-05 Issuer: BlackRock, Inc.
Net Assets
$20.1B
Expense Ratio
0.15 %
# of Holdings
52
Average Daily Volume
7.41M

Fund Overview

The iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF (SHV) is designed to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. Treasury bonds with remaining maturities of one year or less. SHV provides investors with exposure to short-term U.S. government debt, offering a low-risk investment option with high liquidity. The fund is ideal for investors seeking capital preservation and minimal interest rate risk, as its short duration makes it less sensitive to interest rate fluctuations compared to longer-term bonds. SHV is widely used as a cash alternative or a temporary holding place for investors awaiting better investment opportunities.
Asset Class
Bond
Industry
Treasury Bonds
Annual Dividend Rate
Smart Beta
No
Leveraged / Inverse
N/A / No
Dividend Quality - Yield
 - 4.10 %
Currency Hedged
No
Portfolio Turnover
62 %
Dividend Date

Why Invest in the SHV ETF?

Potential Benefits

  • Low credit risk due to exclusive holdings of U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
  • Minimal interest rate risk due to the short duration of the underlying bonds (one year or less).
  • High liquidity, making it easy to buy and sell shares with tight bid-ask spreads.
  • Competitive expense ratio compared to other short-term Treasury ETFs.
  • Suitable for capital preservation and as a cash alternative in volatile markets.

Potential Risks

  • Low yield compared to longer-term bonds or other fixed-income securities, which may not keep pace with inflation.
  • Sensitive to changes in short-term interest rates set by the Federal Reserve.
  • Opportunity cost of not investing in higher-yielding assets during periods of economic growth.
  • Limited potential for capital appreciation due to the short duration of holdings.

Performance

1 Week 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years YTD 2025 2024 Since Inception
+0.07% +0.24% +3.60% +13.90% +19.16% +2.61% +4.19% +5.13% +36.94%

Performance


Monthly Returns (%)

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2026 +0.3% +0.3% +0.3% +0.3% +0.3% +0.3% +0.3% +0.3% +0.3% +0.1% - -
2025 +0.4% +0.3% +0.3% +0.3% +0.3% +0.3% +0.3% +0.4% +0.4% +0.3% +0.3% +0.4%
2024 +0.4% +0.4% +0.4% +0.4% +0.5% +0.4% +0.5% +0.5% +0.5% +0.3% +0.4% +0.4%
2023 +0.3% +0.3% +0.5% +0.3% +0.3% +0.5% +0.4% +0.5% +0.4% +0.4% +0.5% +0.5%
2022 -0.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% +0.1% -0.1% +0.1% +0.1% 0.0% +0.2% +0.3% +0.4%
2021 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
2020 +0.2% +0.2% +0.4% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
2019 +0.2% +0.2% +0.2% +0.2% +0.2% +0.2% +0.2% +0.2% +0.1% +0.3% +0.1% +0.2%
2018 +0.1% 0.0% +0.2% +0.1% +0.2% +0.2% +0.1% +0.2% +0.1% +0.2% +0.2% +0.2%
2017 +0.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% +0.1% +0.1% +0.1% +0.1% +0.1% 0.0% +0.1% +0.1%
< -5% -5% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% 0% to +2% +2% to +5% > +5%

Top Holdings (by weight)

Symbol Company Name Weight
No holdings data available.

Related ETFs: SHV vs Peers

ETF Full Name Expense Ratio Net Assets Holdings Asset Class
BIL SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF 0.14 % $41.1B 18 Bond
GBIL ACCESS TREASURY 0-1 YEAR ETF 0.12 % $6.3B 40 Bond
SCHO Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF 0.03 % $11B 97 Bond
SPTS SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF 0.03 % $6B 97 Bond
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF 0.03 % $26.9B 98 Bond
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.

Investment Strategy

SHV seeks to track the performance of the ICE Short US Treasury Securities Index, which includes U.S. Treasury bonds with remaining maturities between one month and one year. The fund employs a passive management strategy, aiming to replicate the index by holding a representative sample of the securities in the index. The index is market-cap weighted, meaning larger issuances of Treasury securities have a greater impact on the index. SHV primarily holds physical Treasury bills and notes, avoiding derivatives or leverage. The fund is rebalanced monthly to align with the index composition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average maturity of SHV's holdings?

SHV holds U.S. Treasury securities with remaining maturities of one year or less, with an average maturity typically under 12 months.

How does SHV compare to a money market fund?

SHV offers similar safety and liquidity to a money market fund but may provide slightly higher yields due to its focus on very short-term Treasury securities. Unlike money market funds, SHV trades like a stock on exchanges.

Is SHV a good option for emergency savings?

Yes, SHV can be a suitable option for emergency savings due to its low risk, high liquidity, and stability. However, investors should consider their personal liquidity needs and tax implications.

Does SHV pay dividends?

Yes, SHV pays monthly dividends derived from the interest income of its underlying Treasury securities. The dividend yield fluctuates with short-term interest rates.

Industry Overview

The iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF (SHV) is part of the short-term fixed-income ETF category, which focuses on U.S. Treasury securities with maturities of one year or less. These funds are popular among conservative investors seeking stability and liquidity, particularly during periods of market uncertainty. Short-term Treasury ETFs like SHV are often used as a safe haven or a temporary parking place for cash, offering minimal credit risk and low volatility. The short duration of these bonds makes them less sensitive to interest rate changes compared to intermediate or long-term bonds, providing a defensive position in a diversified portfolio.

Alternative Comparison

Compared to its closest peers, such as BIL (SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF) and VGSH (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF), SHV stands out for its focus on the very shortest end of the Treasury yield curve (one year or less). While BIL also targets ultra-short maturities (1-3 months), SHV offers a slightly broader maturity range. VGSH, on the other hand, extends into slightly longer maturities (1-3 years), which may introduce marginally more interest rate risk. SHV's expense ratio is competitive with these peers, making it a cost-effective choice for short-term Treasury exposure.

Issuer Overview

iShares, a division of BlackRock, is the largest ETF provider globally, known for its extensive range of index-tracking funds. With a strong reputation for liquidity, transparency, and low costs, iShares ETFs are widely used by both individual and institutional investors. SHV is one of many fixed-income ETFs offered by iShares, catering to investors seeking short-term, low-risk exposure to U.S. Treasury securities.

Conclusion

The iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF (SHV) is a low-risk, highly liquid investment option for investors seeking stability and capital preservation. Its focus on short-term U.S. Treasury securities minimizes credit and interest rate risk, making it an ideal cash alternative or defensive position in a portfolio. While the yield is modest, SHV's primary appeal lies in its safety and liquidity, particularly during periods of market volatility. Investors should weigh the trade-off between safety and potential returns when considering SHV as part of their fixed-income allocation.

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ETF Profile for . Data intended for informational purposes only. © 2026