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IUSB iShares Core Total USD Bond Market ETF

Category: Total Bond Market

Inception: 2014-06-10 Issuer: BlackRock, Inc.
Net Assets
$33B
Expense Ratio
0.06 %
# of Holdings
16
Average Daily Volume
2.95M

Fund Overview

The iShares Core Total USD Bond Market ETF (IUSB) is designed to provide investors with broad exposure to U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade bonds. The fund seeks to track the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Universal Index, which includes a wide range of fixed-income securities such as government, corporate, and securitized bonds. IUSB offers a diversified approach to the U.S. bond market, making it suitable for investors seeking income and capital preservation. With a low expense ratio, it is an efficient way to gain exposure to the total U.S. bond market while maintaining liquidity and transparency.
Asset Class
Bond
Industry
Broad Financials
Annual Dividend Rate
Smart Beta
No
Leveraged / Inverse
N/A / No
Dividend Quality - Yield
 - 4.59 %
Currency Hedged
No
Portfolio Turnover
88 %
Dividend Date

Why Invest in the IUSB ETF?

Potential Benefits

  • Diversified exposure to the U.S. investment-grade bond market, including government, corporate, and securitized bonds.
  • Low expense ratio makes it a cost-effective option for long-term investors.
  • Provides steady income through regular coupon payments.
  • Liquidity and transparency due to its ETF structure.
  • Suitable for investors seeking capital preservation and moderate risk.

Potential Risks

  • Interest rate risk: Bond prices may decline if interest rates rise.
  • Credit risk: Potential for default by issuers of corporate or securitized bonds.
  • Inflation risk: Fixed income may lose purchasing power over time if inflation outpaces yields.
  • Market risk: General economic conditions can negatively impact bond prices.
  • Liquidity risk: Some bonds in the portfolio may be less liquid, especially during market stress.

Performance

1 Week 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years YTD 2025 2024 Since Inception
-0.67% -2.38% -1.86% +14.84% -1.52% -2.50% +7.38% +2.60% +26.08%

Performance


Monthly Returns (%)

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2026 +0.2% +1.5% -1.8% +0.4% +0.3% +0.3% -1.2% +0.4% -2.6% 0.0% - -
2025 +0.6% +2.1% 0.0% +0.3% -0.4% +1.5% -0.2% +1.2% +1.0% +0.6% +0.6% -0.2%
2024 +0.4% -1.8% +0.9% -2.4% +1.8% +0.8% +2.3% +1.5% +1.4% -2.4% +1.2% -1.5%
2023 +3.3% -2.6% +2.6% +0.5% -1.1% 0.0% 0.0% -0.6% -2.4% -1.6% +4.6% +3.7%
2022 -2.1% -1.3% -2.7% -3.9% +0.6% -1.9% +2.6% -2.8% -4.1% -1.1% +4.3% -1.2%
2021 -0.6% -1.5% -1.0% +0.8% +0.2% +0.8% +1.0% -0.1% -0.9% -0.1% +0.1% -0.1%
2020 +1.9% +1.2% -1.9% +1.8% +1.5% +0.8% +1.6% -0.8% -0.1% -0.4% +1.3% +0.4%
2019 +1.2% +0.2% +1.8% +0.2% +1.4% +1.4% +0.3% +2.4% -0.5% +0.3% 0.0% +0.1%
2018 -0.9% -1.2% +0.7% -0.9% +0.5% -0.1% +0.4% +0.4% -0.5% -0.8% +0.5% +1.5%
2017 -0.1% +0.9% +0.2% +0.9% +0.6% 0.0% +0.5% +0.8% -0.4% +0.2% -0.2% +0.3%
< -5% -5% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% 0% to +2% +2% to +5% > +5%

Top Holdings (by weight)

Symbol Company Name Weight
TMCXX BLACKROCK LIQUIDITY TEMPCASH INSTL 3.1 %
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 16 total holdings.

Related ETFs: IUSB vs Peers

ETF Full Name Expense Ratio Net Assets Holdings Asset Class
AGG iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF 0.03 % $125.2B 12 Bond
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF 0.03 % $355.2B 17 Bond
BNDX Vanguard Total International Bond ETF 0.07 % $100.6B 6 Bond
HYG iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 0.49 % $15.1B 1 Bond
JNK SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF 0.40 % $7.6B 1 Bond
LQD iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF 0.14 % $29.6B 2 Bond
MUB iShares National Muni Bond ETF 0.05 % $39.5B 5 Bond
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF 0.15 % $52.8B 48 Bond
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF 0.03 % $53.5B 2 Bond
VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF 0.03 % $41.4B 2 Bond
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.

Investment Strategy

IUSB aims to track the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Universal Index, which includes U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade bonds across government, corporate, and securitized sectors. The index is market-cap weighted, meaning larger issuances have a greater impact on the fund's performance. The ETF primarily holds physical bonds rather than derivatives, providing direct exposure to the underlying assets. The fund is rebalanced regularly to align with the index, ensuring consistency with its stated objectives. This passive approach helps keep costs low while maintaining broad market representation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of bonds does IUSB hold?

IUSB holds a diversified mix of U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade bonds, including government, corporate, and securitized debt.

How does IUSB differ from AGG?

IUSB tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Universal Index, which includes a broader range of bonds compared to AGG's focus on the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. This gives IUSB exposure to additional sectors like securitized debt.

What is the expense ratio of IUSB?

IUSB has a low expense ratio of 0.06%, making it a cost-effective option for bond market exposure.

Is IUSB suitable for income-focused investors?

Yes, IUSB provides regular coupon payments from its bond holdings, making it suitable for investors seeking steady income.

Does IUSB include high-yield bonds?

No, IUSB focuses on investment-grade bonds and does not include high-yield (junk) bonds, which carry higher credit risk.

Industry Overview

The iShares Core Total USD Bond Market ETF (IUSB) provides exposure to the broad U.S. investment-grade bond market, which includes government, corporate, and securitized debt. Investing in bonds can offer stability and income, making them a key component of a diversified portfolio. The U.S. bond market is one of the largest and most liquid in the world, with varying risk and return profiles depending on the type of bond. IUSB is particularly attractive for investors seeking a low-cost, diversified way to access this market while mitigating some of the risks associated with individual bond selection.

Alternative Comparison

Compared to its peers like AGG (iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF) and BND (Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF), IUSB offers a slightly broader exposure by including both investment-grade corporate bonds and securitized debt. While AGG and BND focus primarily on the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, IUSB's inclusion of additional sectors may provide marginally higher yields. However, this also introduces slightly higher credit risk. Expense ratios are competitive across these funds, making IUSB a viable alternative for investors seeking comprehensive bond market exposure.

Issuer Overview

iShares, a division of BlackRock, is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its low-cost, index-tracking funds. With a strong reputation for transparency and innovation, iShares offers a wide range of ETFs covering various asset classes, including fixed income. The firm's expertise in passive investing and its robust infrastructure make IUSB a reliable choice for investors seeking broad bond market exposure.

Conclusion

The iShares Core Total USD Bond Market ETF (IUSB) is a well-diversified, low-cost option for investors seeking broad exposure to the U.S. investment-grade bond market. Its inclusion of government, corporate, and securitized bonds provides a balanced approach to fixed income investing. While it carries typical bond market risks such as interest rate and credit risk, its passive strategy and low fees make it an attractive choice for long-term investors. IUSB is particularly suitable for those looking to add stability and income to their portfolios.

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ETF Profile for . Data intended for informational purposes only. © 2026