iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF
The iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF is considered the largest fund in this category. The value of managed assets reaches an impressive $89 billion, with over 10,000 total positions. It includes US Treasury bonds and corporate bonds of such leading companies as JPMorgan Chase & Co. The iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF is an affordable one-stop place for bond exposure: annual expenses do not exceed 0.04%, while dividends remain high.
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF
The second largest bond ETF is Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond. It offers a higher yield than an aggregate bond fund and focuses mainly on top-tier corporate bonds of well-established companies that are perfect for long-term investment. These are bonds of such reputable blue-chip companies as Bank of America Corp., Allstate Corp., and UnitedHealth Group Inc. This $46 billion fund is one of the largest ETFs on Wall Street and looks like the best option for investment.
Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF
Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ranks third on our list. It specializes in investing in high-risk securities. The yield offered by Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond is less than that of the typical S&P 500 dividend stock. However, stability and decent profits make up for this disadvantage. The fund has $41 billion in assets.
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF is suitable for those who prefer a low-risk investment approach. Therefore, this fund cannot boast a high return. Yet, one of its advantages is associated with US government bond holdings, the most solid type of investment. iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF is an excellent financial instrument for investing in long-term US Treasuries that have maturities greater than 20 years.
Vanguard Total International Bond ETF
Vanguard Total International Bond closes the list of top 5 bond ETFs. This is another low-risk fund with a focus on international bonds. It includes debt securities of various categories: from foreign governments to Japanese transportation firms. A wide array of issuers makes this fund perfect for a long-term investment strategy. On the flip side, bond investors do not get much of a premium and the yield is among the lowest on the list.