iSHARES iBONDS ETFs

Discover fixed maturity ETFs

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WHAT ARE iBONDS ETFs?

iBonds exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) are an innovative suite of bond funds that hold a diversified portfolio of bonds with similar maturity dates. Each ETF provides regular interest payments and distributes a final payout in its stated maturity year, similar to traditional bond laddering strategies. However, the funds’ unique structure is designed to help investors easily build bond ladders with only a handful of funds

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iBONDS: DISCOVER FIXED MATURITY ETFs

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Marketing material 

 

iBonds: Discover fixed maturity ETFs 
Vasiliki Pachatouridi, Head of iShares Fixed Income Product Strategy EMEA

What are iBonds ETFs?
iBonds ETFs are an innovative suite of bond ETFs that have a fixed maturity date. An iBond ETF holds a diversified basket of bonds with similar maturity dates, and distributes a final pay out at maturity. 

Risk: Diversification and asset allocation may not fully protect you from market risk.

Why iBonds ETFs?
Traditional bond ETFs do not have a maturity date, as bonds within the ETF mature, and new bonds are being added. This gives a continuous, rolling exposure to bond markets.

In contrast, like individual bonds, iBonds ETFs have a fixed maturity date. So, there is less exposure to interest rate risk as maturity approaches. This means investors can expect a final repayment at maturity, in addition to regular income.

What are the benefits of iBonds ETFs? 
Risk: When interest rates rise, there is usually a decline in the market value of bonds, and the issuer of the bond may not be able to repay and make interest payments.

There are a number of benefits of iBonds ETFs.

Firstly, iBonds ETFs give easy access to the bond market. Generally, bonds are difficult to trade, as they are not listed on an exchange. With iBonds ETFs, you gain exposure to a basket of bonds with the click of a button – traded on an exchange, just like a stock.

 Second, iBonds ETFs offer diversification. iBonds track an underlying index and provide exposure to hundreds of bonds, across various sectors and countries.

Finally, iBonds ETFs have a fixed maturity date. You can choose your time horizon and invest for a period which works for your needs. iBonds ETFs are available in a range of maturities, meaning you can choose how long you want to invest your money for.

 In summary, iBonds ETFs allow you to access bond markets in an efficient way, giving exposure to a diversified set of bonds, while incorporating a fixed maturity date.

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WHAT ARE iBONDS ETFs DESIGNED TO DO?

  

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Mature like a bond

iBonds have a specified maturity date. The ETFs distribute the final pay out at maturity, similar to traditional bonds.

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Trade like a stock

iBonds can be bought and sold like a share, giving flexibility to trade in and out over time.

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Diversify like a fund

iBonds provide a diversified bond exposure to a desired asset class in a single trade. Diversification and asset allocation may not fully protect you from market risk.

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The unique features of iBonds ETFs can help you easily access bond markets, pick points in time or even match expected cash flow needs in the future.

  • Build bond ladders: iBonds ETFs make it is easy to create scalable bond ladders with only a few ETFs, rather than trading numerous bonds.
  • Provide access: iBonds trade on an exchange, giving all investors access to bond markets, traditionally a market difficult to navigate, while maintaining diversification.
  • Pick points in time: iBonds ETFs offer diversified exposure to bonds that mature in the calendar year of the fund's name, allowing you to target specific points on the yield curve.
  • Match expected cash flows: iBonds ETFs offer a defined maturity date that can help match against a liability.

During the holding period of an iBonds ETF

iBonds ETFs are designed to provide a yield-to-maturity ("YTM") profile comparable to that of the underlying bond portfolio. The funds seek to preserve an investor’s anticipated yield-to-maturity through a combination of regular distributions and a final end-date distribution.

When the iBonds ETF matures

iBonds ETFs terminate in December of the year in the fund’s name. In the final months when the bonds in the portfolio mature, the fund's holdings transition to cash and cash equivalents. After all the bonds in the portfolio mature, the ETF is closed and shareholders receive a final distribution equivalent to the fund NAV, after liabilities.

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See how iBonds ETFs compare to other investment tools

FeaturesiBondsFixed income ETFsIndividual bondsMutual funds
Diversified portfolioYesYesNoYes
Rules based methodologyYesYesNoYes
Fixed maturityYesNoYesNo
TradingExchange & OTCExchange & OTCOTC-
Daily transparencyYesYesNoYes

Two main risks related to fixed income investing are interest rate risk and credit risk. Typically, when interest rates rise, there is a corresponding decline in the market value of bonds. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of the bond will not be able to repay the principal and make interest payments.

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