IEF vs TLT
iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF compared with iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
IEF
iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF
TTM yield · Monthly
TLT
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
TTM yield · Monthly
Quick take
- TLT yields more today: 4.78% vs 4.08% (forward).
- Both pay every month.
- Over the last year IEF delivered the higher total return: -1.8% vs -4.6% (price change plus payouts).
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | IEF | TLT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $91.05 | $81.34 |
| TTM yield | 4.08% | 4.78% |
| Forward yield | 4.08% | 4.78% |
| Annual payout per share | $3.714 | $3.892 |
| Payment frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Next ex-date | Oct 31, 2026 (est.) | Oct 31, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | 0.15% | 0.15% |
| 1-year payout growth | — | — |
| 5-year payout CAGR | — | — |
| Consecutive years of increases | — | — |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 96/100 | 96/100 |
| 1-year total return | -1.8% | -4.6% |
| 1-year price return | -5.6% | -9.0% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 41.6B | 46.2B |
| Years paying | 24.1 | 24.1 |
| Sector / category | Long Government | Long Government |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| IEF | TLT | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 109.8 | 122.9 |
| Income per year | $408 | $478 |
| Income per month (avg) | $34 | $40 |
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IEF Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | $0.3095 | Est. |
| IEF Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 3, 2026 | $0.3095 | Est. |
| IEF Dec 30, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | $0.3095 | Est. |
| TLT Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | $0.3243 | Est. |
| TLT Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 3, 2026 | $0.3243 | Est. |
| TLT Dec 30, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | $0.3243 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
IEFTLT
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, IEF or TLT?
TLT currently has the higher trailing yield: IEF yields 4.08% and TLT yields 4.78%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do IEF and TLT pay?
IEF pays every month and TLT pays every month. IEF's next ex-date is Oct 31, 2026 and TLT's is Oct 31, 2026.
Is IEF or TLT better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. IEF and TLT differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.