A Comprehensive Guide to Aggregate Bond Index ETF

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The Aggregate Bond Index ETF is a type of investment vehicle that tracks a specific bond market index, providing investors with broad diversification and potential for long-term returns.

It typically holds a large basket of bonds with varying maturities, credit qualities, and interest rates, allowing investors to gain exposure to the entire bond market with a single investment.

This type of ETF is often considered a core holding in a diversified investment portfolio, as it can help reduce risk and increase potential returns over the long term.

By investing in an Aggregate Bond Index ETF, you can gain access to a broad range of bonds, including government and corporate bonds, with varying credit ratings and maturities.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Long Term Equity Anticipation Security

Why Invest in Agg?

Investing in the Aggregate Bond Index ETF (AGG) can be a smart move for your portfolio. It offers broad exposure to U.S. investment-grade bonds.

AGG is a cost-effective solution that helps you keep more of what you earn. The low cost of this ETF makes it an attractive option for those looking to add a core fixed income component to their portfolio.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Bond Etf Portfolio Allocation

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You can use AGG at the core of your portfolio to provide equity diversification and pursue income. This can be especially beneficial for those looking to balance their investments and reduce risk.

AGG is also a NAIC Designated (Schedule D Eligible) investment, which means it meets certain standards for tax efficiency.

Understanding Agg ETF

The TD Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF aims to track the performance of a broad Canadian fixed income index.

It invests primarily in Canadian dollar issued bonds and debentures, carefully selected to match the aggregate investment characteristics of the index.

TD Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF doesn't guarantee or endorse the information on third-party sites linked from its page, so be sure to do your own research.

The ETF uses a sampling methodology to closely match the investment characteristics of the index, ensuring it stays true to its objective.

Fund Objectives

The TD Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF aims to track the performance of a Canadian aggregate bond index that measures the investment return of Canadian dollar-denominated investment grade publicly issued debt.

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This index includes securities issued by governments and corporate issuers, giving you a broad exposure to the Canadian bond market.

The fund's objective is to mirror the performance of this index as closely as possible, before fees and expenses are deducted.

By doing so, the ETF provides investors with a way to gain exposure to the Canadian bond market in a single, convenient investment.

Investment Approach

Investing in an Agg ETF is a great way to gain broad exposure to the Canadian fixed income market.

The TD Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF invests primarily in Canadian dollar issued bonds and debentures.

Its investment approach is based on a sampling methodology to closely match the aggregate investment characteristics of a broad Canadian fixed income index.

This means the ETF will hold a representative sample of bonds that mirror the overall characteristics of the index.

Performance Metrics

The performance of an aggregate bond index ETF is a crucial factor to consider when investing. The ETF will distribute all net taxable income to investors at least once a year, either in cash or reinvested in the Fund.

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The highest returns for the ETF over the past year, three years, and five years are not explicitly stated in the article, but the lowest returns are shown in the table. The lowest returns for the past year, three years, and five years are also not explicitly stated, but the table does show that the average returns for the past year, three years, and five years are not available for the one-year period.

To give you a better idea of the ETF's performance, here are the lowest returns for the past year, three years, and five years, as well as the average returns for the three-year and five-year periods:

The number of periods for the three-year and five-year average returns is also shown in the table, which can be useful for investors who want to get a sense of the ETF's long-term performance.

Fees and Pricing

The fees associated with an aggregate bond index ETF are relatively low. The management fee is 0.03%.

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One of the benefits of investing in an aggregate bond index ETF is that the acquired fund fees and expenses are $0.00. This means you won't have to worry about any extra costs eating into your returns.

Here's a breakdown of the fees:

The expense ratio, which includes all the fees, is also 0.03%.

Fees

Fees are a crucial aspect of investing, and it's essential to understand what you're paying for. The management fee is 0.03%.

The table below breaks down the fees associated with the Fund:

These fees are as of the current prospectus, but may not include extraordinary expenses incurred by the Fund over the past fiscal year. Amounts are rounded to the nearest basis point, which in some cases may be "0.00".

Premium/Discount

The Premium/Discount section of a fund's fees and pricing is where things can get a bit tricky. This section shows the difference between the fund's total return and its market price return, which can be a good indicator of whether the fund is overvalued or undervalued.

For more insights, see: Bond Fund

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In the article section, we see that the fund's total return and market price return have been negative over the past 3 years, with the market price return being slightly more negative. This suggests that the fund has been trading at a discount to its net asset value (NAV).

Here are some specific numbers to illustrate this point:

As you can see, the market price return has been slightly more negative than the total return over these timeframes, indicating a discount to NAV. This can be a good buying opportunity for investors.

It's worth noting that the discount to NAV can vary over time, and it's not always a guarantee that the fund will trade at a discount. However, in this case, the data suggests that the fund has been trading at a discount to its NAV over the past few years.

Tools and Resources

If you're interested in investing in aggregate bond index ETFs, there are several tools and resources available to help you get started.

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Vanguard Aggregate Bond ETF is a popular option that tracks the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float-Adjusted Index.

You can also explore other ETFs from iShares, such as the iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, which also tracks the same index.

To get a better understanding of the bond market and how aggregate bond index ETFs work, check out the section on "How Aggregate Bond Index ETFs Work".

Consider reading: Etfs Explained

Price Yield Calculator

The Price Yield Calculator is a valuable tool for investors. It provides an indication of an ETF's yield and duration for a given market price.

The calculator estimates the Aggregate Cash Flow Yield, which equates the ETF's aggregate cash flows to a given ETF price. This is based on the yield to worst methodology, which assumes a bond's cash flows occur at the call date or maturity, whichever results in the lowest yield.

For example, as of 01/14/25, the ACF Yield to Worst for a certain ETF was 5.32%. This means that if you were to buy the ETF at its current price of $95.88, you could expect to earn a return of 5.32% based on the aggregate cash flows of its holdings.

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The calculator also provides the Modified Duration, which is the measure of the ETF's sensitivity to changes in interest rates. As of 01/14/25, the Modified Duration for the same ETF was 5.94 years.

Here's a summary of the key metrics provided by the Price Yield Calculator:

Keep in mind that the ACF Yield will differ from the ETF's Weighted Avg YTM, so it's essential to understand the differences between these metrics to make informed investment decisions.

Regulatory Documents

In the Regulatory Documents section, you'll find a list of resources that are available to you. The list is connected to a fund-resources js file, which allows for conditional rendering of the URL in the Resources part.

The list includes various documents such as the PFIC Annual Information Statement, Financial Statements, and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure. These documents are available for the Mackenzie U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) fund.

Here's a breakdown of the documents available:

  • Fund Facts
  • Prospectus & Annual Information Form
  • PFIC Annual Information Statement 2021 - Mackenzie U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)pdf193KB
  • PFIC Annual Information Statement 2023 - Mackenzie U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)pdf155KB
  • Financial Statements – Annual – Mackenzie U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)pdf355KB
  • Financial Statements – Interim – Mackenzie U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)pdf324KB
  • Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure - 1st Quarter - Mackenzie U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)pdf81KB
  • Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure - 3rd Quarter – Mackenzie U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)pdf81KB
  • MRFP – Annual – Mackenzie U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)pdf253KB
  • MRFP – Interim – Mackenzie U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)pdf168KB

Note that the availability of these documents may be restricted based on authentication and locking conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the largest aggregate bond ETF?

The largest aggregate bond ETF is the iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) and the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND), which together manage over $381 billion in assets. These two funds are among the largest players in the bond ETF space.

What is US aggregate bond ETF?

The iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF tracks the total U.S. investment-grade bond market, offering a broad representation of the domestic bond market. It's a type of exchange-traded fund (ETF) that invests in a wide range of U.S. bonds.

Is iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF a good investment?

Yes, the iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF is a good investment option due to its conservative portfolio and low expense ratio, making it a reliable choice for those seeking stable returns. It tracks the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index, offering exposure to a broad range of investment-grade US bonds.

Krystal Bogisich

Lead Writer

Krystal Bogisich is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, she has established herself as a versatile writer capable of tackling a wide range of topics. Her expertise spans multiple industries, including finance, where she has developed a particular interest in actuarial careers.

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