Which Short-Term Bond ETF Is the Better Buy: iShares' ISTB or Schwab's SCHO?
SCHO sticks to Treasuries with minimal volatility, while ISTB diversifies into corporate and mortgage debt for extra income. Which strategy fits your risk tolerance?
Overview
Investors choosing between iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (NASDAQ:ISTB) and Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (NYSEMKT:SCHO) are weighing higher yield and credit diversity against rock-bottom costs and federal safety.
Both funds target the shorter end of the yield curve to minimize interest rate risk while generating monthly income. While the iShares fund includes corporate debt and mortgage-backed securities, the Schwab fund sticks strictly to U.S. Treasuries, making it a pure play for conservative investors prioritizing capital preservation over higher potential returns.
Details
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.
Source
Originally published at www.fool.com.