iShares Agency Bond ETF (AGZ) Performance
AGZ total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −0.2% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +0.3% total return
- 5 years
- +1.1% a year
- 10 years
- +1.7% a year
- Since first price
- +2.3% a year since 2008
AGZ trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | AGZ total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.5% | +0.2% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | −0.3% | −1.1% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −0.7% | −2.5% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | −0.2% | −2.8% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | +0.3% | −3.3% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +13.2%+4.2%/yr | +1.6% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | +5.5%+1.1%/yr | −9.1% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | +18.5%+1.7%/yr | −6.9% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +29.6%+1.7%/yr | −4.5% | +32.2%+1.9%/yr | +9.9%+0.6%/yr | +696.0%+14.8%/yr |
| Since inceptionNov 7, 2008 | +50.2%+2.3%/yr | +4.6% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: AGZ vs AGG
From Nov 7, 2008: AGZ grew to $15,018, AGG to $16,601.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
AGZ returns by calendar year
14 of 17 full years positive. Best 2025 (+6.0%), worst 2022 (−7.8%). 2026 is year to date.
AGZ annual returns table
| Year | AGZ | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −0.2% | −2.1% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +6.0% | −1.3% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +3.1% | −1.7% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +5.2% | −2.4% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −7.8% | −9.3% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | −1.3% | −1.5% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +5.8% | −2.2% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +5.5% | −1.5% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | +1.3% | −1.5% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +2.0% | −1.0% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +1.0% | −2.9% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | +1.3% | −1.8% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +3.7% | −0.8% | +6.0% | +27.3% | +13.5% |
| 2013 | −1.3% | −3.3% | −2.0% | −13.4% | +32.3% |
| 2012 | +1.5% | −1.1% | +3.8% | +2.6% | +16.0% |
| 2011 | +4.9% | −1.3% | +7.7% | +34.0% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | +3.7% | −2.2% | +6.4% | +9.0% | +15.1% |
| 2009 | +1.5% | −2.2% | +3.0% | −21.8% | +26.4% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
AGZ largest drawdowns
Now 1.1% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 2020 | −11.2% | Oct 20, 2022 | Mar 31, 2025 | 2.1 years | 4.6 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
AGZ risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +3.9% | +0.8% | +1.6% | +2.1% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.8% | 3.5% | 3.0% | 2.7% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.19 | -0.82 | -0.22 | 0.33 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.24 | -0.95 | -0.29 | 0.49 |
| Best month | +1.9% | +1.9% | +2.1% | +3.9% |
| Worst month | −1.4% | −2.4% | −2.4% | −2.4% |
| Best 12 months | +8.0% | +8.0% | +8.8% | +8.8% |
| Worst 12 months | +0.1% | −9.5% | −9.5% | −9.5% |
| Positive months | 72% | 58% | 61% | 64% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.09 | 0.12 | 0.03 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.41 | 0.52 | 0.18 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
AGZ rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 204 | −9.5% | +2.5% | +8.8% | 76% |
| 3-year (a year) | 180 | −2.6% | +1.8% | +5.0% | 84% |
| 5-year (a year) | 156 | +0.3% | +1.5% | +3.3% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 96 | +0.8% | +1.8% | +2.7% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2008. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
AGZ performance overview
iShares Agency Bond ETF (AGZ) returned +0.3% over the past year and +1.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2008 it has returned +2.3% a year, turning $10,000 into about $15,018. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −11.2%, from Sep 3, 2020 to Oct 20, 2022, and it took 2.4 years to get back to the old high. AGZ finished 14 of its 17 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+6.0%) and the worst 2022 (−7.8%). Volatility has been 2.7% a year.
Related: AGZ chart, AGZ dividends, AGZ bond profile. See the AGZ overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
AGZ performance FAQ
What is the AGZ return over the past year?
AGZ returned +0.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 3.3%.
What is the average annual return of AGZ?
AGZ has returned +1.1% a year over 5 years, +1.7% a year over 10 years, +2.3% a year since November 7, 2008 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in AGZ be worth?
$10,000 invested in AGZ at its first recorded close on November 7, 2008 would be worth about $15,018 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for AGZ?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −7.8%. The best was 2025 at +6.0%.
What is the biggest drawdown of AGZ?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −11.2% between September 3, 2020 and October 20, 2022. It recovered to the old high on March 31, 2025, 2.4 years after the bottom.
How volatile is AGZ?
Over the past 3 years AGZ had an annualized volatility of 2.8% and a Sharpe ratio of -0.19 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).