DBC ETF guide. Cost, commodity mix and tax form in one place.
DBC holds futures contracts on 27 commodities in the DBIQ Optimum Yield index and fills the rest of the fund with Treasury bills and cash. See what it costs to hold each year, what it pays, what sits inside and how it has returned.
One ticker.
What DBC is, in plain words.
DBC holds futures contracts on 27 commodities in the DBIQ Optimum Yield index and fills the rest of the fund with Treasury bills and cash. The fund is managed by Invesco, trades on NYSE Arca in U.S. dollars and launched on Feb 3, 2006. On Nov 9, 2026 it held $1.77B in net assets and its expense ratio was 0.82%. DBC is a passive fund of 27 commodity futures that issues a Schedule K-1.
Investors search for DBC ETF because they want a clear answer to four practical questions. What does it cost to hold each year, what does it pay, what is actually inside, and how does it fit in a Roth IRA, a traditional IRA or 401(k), or a taxable account. This guide answers each one with dated figures from the issuer, and marks anything the issuer page does not publish as Not captured.
Key takeaways
- What it is. DBC holds futures contracts on 27 commodities in the DBIQ Optimum Yield index and fills the rest of the fund with Treasury bills and cash.
- Cost. Expense ratio 0.82%, about $82 a year on $10,000.
- Income. Trailing yield 2.36%, paid annually.
- Risk. Commodity prices can fall sharply in a weak year.
It suits you if
- You want exposure to commodity prices as a diversifier next to stocks and bonds.
- You accept large price swings and little or no income.
- You are comfortable with a fund that holds futures contracts, not companies.
Look elsewhere if
- You want regular income from your holdings.
- You cannot accept large swings in value.
- You want long term growth from a single fund, since commodity prices can move sideways or lower for long stretches.
What DBC holds.
The 10 largest commodity positions inside DBC, as of Nov 9, 2026. Pick a number to see how much of the fund they make up.
The largest positions and the group split are shown below. The fund holds futures contracts, not companies, so the table lists commodities, and each weight is that commodity share of the fund futures exposure rather than a share of net assets.
Weights basis: DBC weights are computed from the Nov 9, 2026 futures holdings by adding contracts on the same commodity and dividing by total futures exposure.
DBC yield and distributions.
DBC pays distributions once a year in Dec, which makes it an annual payer. The issuer page showed a trailing yield of 2.36% dated Nov 6, 2026. The most recent payment in the log was $0.7442 per share with an ex-date of Dec 22, 2025.
A yield is a snapshot, not a promise. The payment moves each period with the interest the fund earns on its cash and Treasury bills, and some years include capital gains or return of capital that do not repeat. Read the year by year table below before building a plan around a single payment. If you reinvest distributions, the payment still counts as income for tax purposes in a taxable account.
Recent distributions per share
Total distribution per share is shown on each bar. A tinted bar includes a reinvested year end amount.
Income estimate at the current yield
Uses the 2.36% yield dated Nov 6, 2026. Actual payments move each period.
Every payment, and the year by year record.
The ex-date is the cut-off, so you must hold shares before it to receive that payment. Amounts are per share in U.S. dollars from the issuer page.
Payment log
| Ex-date | Payable | Cash | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 22, 2025 | Dec 26, 2025 | $0.74424 | $0.74424 |
| Dec 23, 2024 | Dec 27, 2024 | $1.11582 | $1.11582 |
The issuer reports the tax character of each payout after year end. Use the Schedule K-1 from the fund for your own return.
What DBC costs to hold each year.
The expense ratio of 0.82% means the fund keeps about $82 a year for every $10,000 you hold. That cost is taken out of the fund price in small daily amounts, so you never see a bill, but it lowers your return every year. Over ten years on a flat $10,000 the expense ratio adds up to roughly $820, before any growth.
Two other costs sit outside the expense ratio. Trading commissions depend on your brokerage, and most large U.S. brokerages now charge nothing to buy ETFs. The bid and ask spread is a small cost you pay each time you trade, and for the largest funds it is usually tiny.
Expense ratio cost at common amounts
| Amount held | Per month | Per year | Over 10 years, flat | Hypothetical 2.00% fund, per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $0.68 | $8.20 | $82 | $20 |
| $5,000 | $3.42 | $41.00 | $410 | $100 |
| $10,000 | $6.83 | $82.00 | $820 | $200 |
| $25,000 | $17.08 | $205.00 | $2,050 | $500 |
| $50,000 | $34.17 | $410.00 | $4,100 | $1,000 |
| $100,000 | $68.33 | $820.00 | $8,200 | $2,000 |
| $250,000 | $170.83 | $2,050.00 | $20,500 | $5,000 |
Flat estimates at the current expense ratio with no growth and no change in fee. Trading commissions depend on your brokerage and are not included. The 2.00% fund is a hypothetical used for scale.
Where the cost shows up
- Not as a bill. The share price and returns are already lower by the expense ratio.
- Trading cost shows up as the bid and ask spread each time you buy or sell, and as a commission if your broker charges one.
- In a taxable account, the fund reports your share of gains and income on a Schedule K-1 and you pay tax in the year it is earned, even if you do not sell.
Expense ratio cost calculator
Flat estimate at an expense ratio of 0.82% with no growth and no change in fee. It shows scale only, not a forecast.
How DBC has returned.
Calendar year returns were Not captured from the issuer page for this fund, so this guide shows the period returns the issuer publishes. Returns include fees. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and a single period tells you little about the next one.
Annualised NAV returns from the issuer, as of Oct 31, 2026. They include fees.
Past performance does not guarantee future results. Gaps are shown as Not captured because the issuer page did not publish that period.
What $10,000 became over 5 years
Using the annualised NAV return from the issuer, with distributions reinvested.
An illustration of past figures, not a forecast. It ignores taxes and trading costs.
What $10,000 became, by starting point
Each row starts a different number of years before Oct 31, 2026 and uses the issuer annualised NAV return for that period.
DBC fund facts in one place.
Every figure comes from the issuer for the date shown. A line reads Not captured when it is not published on the pages we use.
What the fund is exposed to.
Commodity group exposure
What the ride can look like.
DBC can lose value, and the period returns from the issuer show the range so far.
- Commodity price risk. The fund falls when the prices of the commodities it holds fall, and those prices can swing sharply.
- Roll cost. When later futures cost more than the nearby one, which is called contango, rolling the contracts costs money and the fund can trail the spot price.
- Little income. The fund pays little or no regular income, so a loss is not cushioned by payouts.
- Concentration. Energy can carry a large share of the weight, so oil and gas prices can drive the result.
- Tax reporting. The fund sends a Schedule K-1, and the tax rules for futures gains differ from those for stock funds.
- Fund specifics. DBC files a Schedule K-1, and the issuer page characterised its Dec 2025 and Dec 2024 payouts as return of capital.
How investors use DBC.
DBC is most often used as a small satellite holding next to stocks and bonds. An investor who owns it is choosing exposure to commodity prices, which can move differently from shares and bonds but not always, and which can fall for long periods.
Compare commodity funds on what they hold and how they roll their futures, not only on the fee. Two funds with similar names can hold quite different mixes, and the comparison pages on this site show the overlap.
Before buying DBC, check four things on the issuer page. First, confirm the expense ratio matches the figure on this page, since fees can change when an issuer cuts costs. Second, confirm the fund is eligible for the account you plan to use. Third, read the latest tax breakdown if you hold it in a taxable account. Fourth, look at the bid and ask spread on the day you trade, since a wide spread is a cost that the expense ratio does not show.
Several comparable funds exist, with expense ratios of PDBC at 0.59%, GSG at 0.75%, USCI at 1.05%, BCI at 0.26%, so weigh cost together with what each fund holds, how it pays and the account you use.
No single fund is right for everyone, and this guide describes the product rather than recommending it. The figures come from the issuer and are dated. Distribution amounts, yields and holdings change, and past returns do not predict future returns. For a decision with large amounts of money, read the prospectus and the shareholder reports, and consider speaking with a licensed adviser about your own situation.
DBC against similar funds.
The same fund type from other issuers. Open a comparison for holdings overlap and returns.
| Fund | Issuer | Expense ratio | Net assets | Trailing yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBC (this fund) | Invesco | 0.82% | $1.77B | 2.36% |
| PDBC | Invesco | 0.59% | $7.4B | 2.71% |
| GSG | iShares | 0.75% | $961.7M | Not captured |
| USCI | USCF | 1.05% | $401.0M | Not captured |
| BCI | abrdn | 0.26% | $3.28B | Not captured |
| COMT | iShares | 0.48% | $1.29B | 4.96% |
DBC is part of the Commodity ETFs category on this site, grouped here with PDBC, GSG, USCI. Each comparison page lines up two funds on cost, holdings overlap, yield and returns, so you can see what separates them.
Where DBC fits.
Qualified withdrawals from a Roth IRA are tax free, so dividends and gains compound without a yearly tax bill and the expense ratio is the main drag you carry. DBC is an exchange traded fund, so many brokerages let you hold it in a Roth IRA. A fund that sends a Schedule K-1 can add paperwork, so confirm how your brokerage handles it.
Tax is deferred until you withdraw, and withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income. A 401(k) offers only the funds on its menu, so check whether DBC or a similar fund is in your plan.
DBC is a commodity pool that issues a Schedule K-1 each year, and futures gains in a K-1 fund are generally taxed under the 60/40 rule, with 60% treated as long-term and 40% as short-term regardless of how long you hold. The fund sends a Schedule K-1 after year end instead of a Form 1099, and the figures on it are what count on your return. A K-1 can arrive later than a 1099, so filing may take longer.
General education, not tax advice. Rules change, so confirm with the issuer tax documents or an adviser.
Buying DBC in five steps.
- Pick the account. Roth IRA, traditional IRA, 401(k) or taxable. Most brokerages let IRAs hold ETFs like this one.
- Search the ticker. Type DBC in your brokerage and choose the U.S. listing, priced in U.S. dollars.
- Use a limit order. It sets the most you will pay and avoids surprises at the open.
- Check the cost. Most large U.S. brokerages charge no commission on ETFs, and some charge a small fee per trade.
- Set a routine. Add money on a schedule and decide whether to reinvest distributions.
Terms used on this page.
Where to go next from DBC.
Every DBC link in one place. Start with the category, then the head to head comparisons, then the guides for other funds and the tools.
CategoryCommodity ETFsEvery fund in this category, with a comparison page for every pair.Open the category →DBC comparison pages 5
Guides for similar funds
More U.S. fund guides
Calculators for DBC investors
Other ETF categories
Guides and research
Common questions about DBC.
What is DBC?
DBC holds futures contracts on 27 commodities in the DBIQ Optimum Yield index and fills the rest of the fund with Treasury bills and cash. It is managed by Invesco, trades on NYSE Arca in U.S. dollars and launched on Feb 3, 2006.
What is the expense ratio of DBC?
The expense ratio of DBC on the issuer page is 0.82%, or about $82 a year per $10,000 invested.
What is the DBC distribution rate?
The issuer page showed a trailing yield of 2.36% on Nov 6, 2026 for DBC. Yields change, so check the issuer page for the current figure.
How often does DBC pay a distribution?
DBC pays distributions once a year in Dec. The latest payment in the log was $0.7442 per share.
What does DBC hold?
DBC gives exposure to 27 commodities. Its largest positions are Brent crude, WTI crude, Gold.
Can I hold DBC in a Roth IRA or 401(k)?
Yes for IRAs. DBC is an exchange traded fund, so many brokerages let you hold it in a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA. A fund that sends a Schedule K-1 can add paperwork, so confirm how your brokerage handles it. Whether it is available in a 401(k) depends on the funds your plan offers.
How has DBC performed?
The issuer period returns are shown in the returns section. Returns include fees, and past performance does not guarantee future results.
DBC or BCI, what is the difference?
The two funds do a similar job and differ in cost, issuer and holdings. DBC has an expense ratio of 0.82% and BCI has an expense ratio of 0.26%. Open the DBC vs BCI comparison for holdings overlap, yield and returns side by side.
How is DBC taxed?
DBC is a commodity pool that issues a Schedule K-1 each year, and futures gains in a K-1 fund are generally taxed under the 60/40 rule, with 60% treated as long-term and 40% as short-term regardless of how long you hold. Use the tax form your fund sends after year end for your own return.
Source, Invesco fund page. All figures are dated as shown. This guide is for education and is not personal advice or an offer to sell.