Bond ETFs for Almost Any Financial Goal

Investors comparing Bond Exchange-traded funds
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As an investor, if you're interested in adding bonds to your portfolio, bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can offer you several advantages over buying individual bonds. Much like a mutual fund, the ETF is a collection or basket of individuals bonds that have specific characteristics such as being foreign bonds, government bonds, or multi-sector bonds. The fund can be actively managed or follow a benchmark, and it will carry management expenses.

Key Takeaways

  • A bond ETF is a collection of individuals bonds that share specific characteristics such as being foreign bonds, government bonds, or multi-sector bonds.
  • Bond ETFs can be more affordable, provide more consistent risk characteristics, and quickly increase your portfolio's diversification.
  • To research ETFs, type the ticker symbol into your brokerage website to access the fund's history, holdings, expenses, and other information.

Advantages of Bond ETFs

For starters, you'll save money, as bond ETFs tend to have a lower cost of entry than an individual bond would entail. Bond ETFs can provide more consistent characteristics in terms of risk, and you'll be able to increase your diversification because you'll be investing in a group of bonds within each fund.

It's easier to get into and out of bond ETFs, as you can trade them on the market just as you would stock. Their liquidity and transparency can save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to reinvesting your capital.

No matter what your objective, there’s bound to be a bond ETF that meets your needs. The following list of bond exchange-traded funds is sorted by category, from short-term bond ETFs to leveraged bond ETFs and everything in between.

To research individual funds and find out if they make sense for your portfolio and investment objectives, take note of the ticker symbol in parenthesis at the end of each fund's name. Type this ticker symbol into your brokerage website or your favorite internet browser to access sources that provide the given ETF's history, holdings, expenses, and other information.

Multi-Sector Bond ETFs

  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)
  • Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (SCHZ)
  • iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG)
  • iShares Core Total USD Bond Market ETF (IUSB)
  • PIMCO Active Bond ETF (BOND)
  • iShares Government/Credit Bond Fund (GBF)
  • AdvisorShares Newfleet Multi-Sector Income ETF (MINC)
  • iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB)
  • Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (BSV)
  • Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF (BIV)
  • iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF (GVI)
  • Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV)
  • iShares Core 10+ Year USD Bond ETF (ILTB)
  • AdvisorShares FolioBeyond Smart Core Bond ETF (FWDB)
  • RiverFront Strategic Income Fund (RIGS)
  • Fidelity Total Bond ETF (FBND)
  • Fidelity Limited Term Bond ETF (FLTB)

Hedged Investment Grade ETFs

  • WisdomTree Interest Rate Hedged U.S. Aggregate Bond Fund (AGZD)
  • WisdomTree Negative Duration U.S. Aggregate Bond Fund (AGND)

Ultra Short-Term Bond ETFs

  • FlexShares Ready Access Variable Income Fund (RAVI)
  • iShares Short Maturity Bond ETF (NEAR)
  • PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ETF (MINT)
  • SPDR SSGA Ultra Short Term Bond ETF (ULST)
  • Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF (GSY)
  • SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL)
  • AdvisorShares Sage Core Reserves ETF (HOLD)

Short-Term Government Bond ETFs

  • SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF (SPTS)
  • iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY)
  • iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF (SHV)
  • Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO)
  • Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH)

Intermediate-Term Government Bond ETFs

  • iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI)
  • iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF)
  • iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT)
  • Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHR)
  • SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Treasury ETF (SPTI)
  • Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT)

Long-Term Government Bond ETFs

  • iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT)
  • Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury ETF (EDV)
  • SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF (SPTL)
  • iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLH)
  • Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT)

U.S. TIPS ETFs

  • iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP)
  • Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF (VTIP)
  • iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond ETF (STIP)
  • FlexShares iBoxx 3-Year Target Duration TIPS Index Fund (TDTT)
  • FlexShares iBoxx 5-Year Target Duration TIPS Index Fund (TDTF)
  • PIMCO 1-5 Year U.S. TIPS Index ETF (STPZ)
  • PIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index ETF (LTPZ)
  • PIMCO Broad U.S. TIPS Index ETF (TIPZ)
  • Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF (SCHP)
  • SPDR Portfolio TIPS ETF (IPE)
  • SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF (TIPX)

Mortgage-Backed Securities ETFs

  • iShares Agency Bond ETF (AGZ)
  • iShares MBS ETF (MBB)
  • Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (VMBS)
  • iShares GNMA Bond ETF (GNMA)
  • SPDR Portfolio Mortgage Backed Bond ETF (SPMB)
  • iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS)

Municipal Bond ETFs

  • iShares National Muni Bond ETF (MUB)
  • SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF (TFI)
  • VanEck Vectors Short Muni ETF (SMB)
  • PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Active ETF (SMMU)
  • iShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF (SUB)
  • VanEck Vectors AMT-Free Intermediate Municipal Index ETF (ITM)
  • PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Active ETF (MUNI)
  • VanEck Vectors Long Muni ETF (MLN)
  • SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond ETF (HYMB)
  • VanEck Vectors High Yield Muni ETF (HYD)
  • VanEck Vectors Short High Yield Muni ETF (SHYD)
  • Invesco National AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF (PZA)
  • VanEck Vectors CEF Municipal Income ETF (XMPT)
  • Invesco Taxable Municipal Bond ETF (BAB)
  • Invesco VRDO Tax-Free Weekly ETF (PVI)
  • Deutsche Bank Xtrackers Municipal Infrastructure Revenue Bond ETF (RVNU)
  • First Trust Managed Municipal ETF (FMB)

California Municipal Bond ETFs

  • Invesco California AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF (PWZ)
  • iShares California Muni Bond ETF (CMF)

New York Municipal Bond ETFs

  • Invesco New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF (PZT)
  • iShares New York Muni Bond ETF (NYF)

Corporate Bonds

  • iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD)
  • iShares 0-5 Years Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (SLQD)
  • iShares Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (IGSB)
  • iShares Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (IGLB)
  • iShares Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (IGIB)
  • SPDR Portfolio Short Term Corporate Bond ETF (SPSB)
  • SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF (SPIB)
  • SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF (SPLB)
  • Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH)
  • Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT)
  • Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT)
  • PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund (CORP)
  • SPDR® Portfolio Corporate Bond ETF (SPBO)
  • Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (PFIG)
  • iShares Aaa – A Rated Corporate Bond ETF (QLTA)
  • Fidelity Corporate Bond ETF (FCOR)

Target Maturity Corporate Bond ETFs

  • Invesco BulletShares 2020 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCK)
  • Invesco BulletShares 2021 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCL)
  • Invesco BulletShares 2022 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCM)
  • iShares iBonds Mar 2023 Term Corporate ex-Financials ETF (IBCE)
  • iShares iBonds Mar 2023 Term Corporate ETF (IBDD)

Hedged Corporate Bond ETFs

  • iShares Interest Rate Hedged Corporate Bond ETF (LQDH)

Floating Rate Note ETFs

  • iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (FLOT)
  • VanEck Vectors Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF (FLTR)
  • SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF (FLRN)
  • WisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund (USFR)
  • iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF (TFLO)

High-Yield Bond ETFs

  • iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG)
  • SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (JNK)
  • SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF (SJNK)
  • iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (SHYG)
  • PIMCO 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index ETF (HYS)
  • Invesco Fundamental High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (PHB)
  • Peritus High Yield ETF (HYLD)
  • VanEck Vectors Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF (ANGL)

Target Maturity High-Yield Bond ETFs

  • Invesco BulletShares 2020 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (BSJK)

Hedged High Yield Bond ETFs

  • First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF (HYLS)
  • ProShares High Yield-Interest Rate Hedged ETF (HYHG)
  • iShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF (HYGH)
  • WisdomTree Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond Fund (HYZD)

Senior Loans

  • The Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN)
  • Highland iBoxx Senior Loan ETF (SNLN)
  • SPDR Blackstone/GSO Senior Loan ETF (SRLN)
  • First Trust Senior Loan Fund (FTSL)

Developed Market International Government Bond ETFs

  • Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX)
  • SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF (BWX)
  • SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Capital Short-Term International Treasury Bond ETF (BWZ)
  • iShares International Treasury Bond ETF (IGOV)
  • iShares 1-3 Year International Treasury Bond ETF (ISHG)

Global TIPS

  • SPDR FTSE International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF (WIP)

Developed Market International Corporate Bond ETFs

  • Invesco International Corporate Bond ETF (PICB)
  • SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF (IBND)
  • ProShares Investment Grade-Interest Rate Hedged ETF (IGHG)

Developed Market International High-Yield Bond ETFs

  • iShares Global High Yield Corporate Bond UCITS ETF (GHYG)
  • VanEck Vectors International High Yield Bond ETF (IHY)
  • iShares International High Yield Bond ETF (HYXU)
  • Invesco Global Short Term High Yield Bond (PGHY)

Emerging Market Bond ETFs

  • iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMB)
  • VanEck Vectors Emerging Markets Aggregate Bond ETF (EMAG)
  • Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (PCY)
  • ProShares Short Term USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMSH)
  • Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF (VWOB)
  • WisdomTree Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund (ELD)
  • VanEck Vectors J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF (EMLC)
  • iShares J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF (LEMB)
  • SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF (EBND)
  • WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund (EMCB)
  • iShares J.P. Morgan EM Corporate Bond ETF (CEMB)
  • VanEck Vectors® Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF (HYEM)
  • iShares J.P. Morgan EM High Yield Bond ETF (EMHY)
  • VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF (CBON)

Specialty Bond ETFs

  • Invesco 1-30 Laddered Treasury ETF (PLW)
  • iPath US Treasury Flattener ETN (FLAT)
  • iPath US Treasury Steepener ETN (STPP)
  • iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF (BYLD)
  • ProShares CDS Short North American HY Credit ETF (WYDE)

Leveraged Long ETFs

  • Direxion Daily 7-10 Year Treasury Bull (TYD)
  • Direxion Daily 20+ Year Treasury Bull (TMF)
  • iPath US Treasury Long Bond Bull ETN (DLBL)
  • ProShares Ultra 20+ Year Treasury ETF (UBT)
  • ProShares Ultra 7-10 Year Treasury ETF (UST)
  • ProShares Ultra High Yield (UJB)

Short Treasury ETFs That Bet Against the Market

  • ProShares Short 20+ Year Treasury ETF (TBF)
  • Direxion Daily 20+ Year Treasury Bear 1x Shares (TYBS)
  • iPath Series B US Treasury 10-year Bear ETN (DTYS)
  • ProShares Short 7-10 Year Treasury (TBX)
  • iPath US Treasury 5-year Bear ETN (DFVS)
  • ProShares UltraShort 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (PST)
  • ProShares UltraPro Short 20+ Year Treasury (TTT)
  • Direxion Daily 7-10 Year Treasury Bear 3X Shares (TYO)
  • Direxion Daily 20+ Yr Treasury Bear 3X Shares (TMV)

Non-Treasury Short ETFs

  • ProShares Short High Yield (SJB)
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