## [# How Are the 5 Biggest Fixed-Income ETFs Performing in 2025?](/sections/features/how-are-5-biggest-fixed-income-etfs-performing-2025)
# How Are the 5 Biggest Fixed-Income ETFs Performing in 2025?
### Big bond ETFs have eked out TK gains this year as yields surged.
[](/contributors/ron-day)
[By Ron Day](/contributors/ron-day)
Jun 20, 2025
Edited by: David Tony
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## Top Fixed-Income Performers
*Editor's note: This is the last in a series of articles running all week on fixed-income ETFs.*
Big fixed-income ETFs have largely done TK their jobs this year, shielding investors’ money from the wild fluctuations of a stock market reacting to surprises in President Donald Trump’s economic agenda.
The biggest fixed-income exchange traded fund, the $132.6 billion [**Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)**](https://www.etf.com/BND) has returned 4.7% through Aug. 4. While that lags the 8.4% gain in the [**Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO)**](https://www.etf.com/VOO), one can make the case that BND has provided a solid gain while protecting investors from whiplashing equities, which briefly dropped into bear market territory before rocketing back into a bull market. Where it goes next is anyone’s guess.
With markets uncertain about the future and the Trump agenda—some experts fear [inflation](https://www.bls.gov/cpi/) while others worry about stocks spinning downward—bonds are maintaining their safe-haven appeal.
## BND
The $129 billion [**Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)**](https://www.etf.com/BND) may not have set the investing world on fire with its 4.7% gain so far in 2025, and that’s how it should be.
Investors have poured $9.4 billion into the fund, which owns more than 11,000 issues, according to FactSet data. It pays a monthly dividend of around 24 cents a share, which has generally increased in the past two years.
## AGG
The second-largest fixed income ETF, the $127.9 billion [**iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG)**](https://www.etf.com/AGG), runs neck and neck with BND, recording a 4.8% gain so far this year. It’s pulled in $6.1 billion in 2025 as it tracks an index of U.S. investment-grade bonds. The index is market-weighted and includes government as well as investment-grade corporate bonds. Its monthly dividend is much more generous than BND, paying around 31 cents a share.
## BNDX
Investors looking for exposure to non-U.S. fixed income may seek out the No. 3 bond ETF, the $68.3 billion [**Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX)**](https://www.etf.com/BNDX). They would have been rewarded with a modest 2.4% gain this year.
Still, it found plenty of buyers, with the ETF pulling in net inflows every session this year except one, hitting a net $5.9 billion. It pays around a dime per share monthly from investments in mostly European bonds.
## VCIT
The $53.9 billion [**Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT)**](https://www.etf.com/VCIT) performed the best among the big five, gaining 6.5%.
Its biggest holdings are [Bank of America Corp. (BAC)](https://www.etf.com/stock/bac) and [Pfizer Inc. (PFE)](/pfe) notes, and it has a 5.3% yield. It’s had net inflows of $3.7 billion this year and pays a monthly dividend of approximately 34 cents a share.
## TLT
It’s been a twisting 2025 for the $47.5 billion [**iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT)**](https://www.etf.com/TLT), which is among the best-known bond ETFs. Tracking the far end of the yield curve, Treasurys with maturities of 20 years or more, TLT has gained 3.4% this year, after being little-changed for much of the year. Investors have shown their displeasure by pulling $3.2 billion from the fund.
Still, the fund has paid a dividend that’s recently ranged from 29 cents to 35 cents a share.
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[ Ron Day Contributing Editor ](/contributors/ron-day)
Ron Day is Contributing Editor at etf.com. He joined the company in October 2022 and has served as Managing Editor, deputy managing editor and… [View Bio](/contributors/ron-day)
Related Topics [Fixed Income Series](http://www.etf.com/topics/fixed-income-series)
[Bond](http://www.etf.com/topics/bond)
[International](http://www.etf.com/topics/international)