Blackrock Total Return ETF (BRTR) belongs to the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with BRTR. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to BRTR
BRTR charges 0.38% annually. There are 24 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.05%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Core-Plus Bond Index ETF | 0.05% | 117.00M | Dec 2025 | BRTR vs BNDP | |
| iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF | 0.06% | 42.71B | Jun 2014 | BRTR vs IUSB | |
| iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF | 0.06% | 276.82M | Nov 2016 | BRTR vs IMTB | |
| iShares ESG Advanced Total USD Bond Market ETF | 0.12% | 714.90M | Jun 2020 | BRTR vs EUSB | |
| iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF | 0.17% | 450.15M | Apr 2014 | BRTR vs BYLD |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BRTR
BRTR has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 42. There are 30 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 93.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/m Opportunistic Income ETF | 93 | 46.19M | Sep 2023 | BRTR vs ZHOG | |
| Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF | 90 | 17.73M | Jan 2025 | BRTR vs BNDS | |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 80 | 154.00M | Jun 2021 | BRTR vs MBS | |
| SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF | 67 | 2.28M | Sep 2024 | BRTR vs SJCP | |
| First Trust Commercial Mortgage Opportunities ETF | 62 | 35.44M | Feb 2024 | BRTR vs CAAA |
Top Performing BRTR Alternatives (YTD)
BRTR is at 0.40% YTD. There are 29 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 5.06%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF | 5.06% | 17.73M | Jan 2025 | BRTR vs BNDS | |
| Cambria Fixed Income Trend ETF | 4.55% | — | Mar 2025 | BRTR vs CFIT | |
| Neos Enhanced Income Aggregate Bond ETF | 1.49% | 186.26M | Aug 2022 | BRTR vs BNDI | |
| F/m Opportunistic Income ETF | 1.28% | 46.19M | Sep 2023 | BRTR vs ZHOG | |
| iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF | 1.27% | 450.15M | Apr 2014 | BRTR vs BYLD |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BRTR
BRTR has 3.68% 1-year volatility. There are 23 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.59%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/m Opportunistic Income ETF | 1.59% | 46.19M | Sep 2023 | BRTR vs ZHOG | |
| SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF | 2.54% | 2.28M | Sep 2024 | BRTR vs SJCP | |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 2.75% | 154.00M | Jun 2021 | BRTR vs MBS | |
| First Trust Commercial Mortgage Opportunities ETF | 3.09% | 35.44M | Feb 2024 | BRTR vs CAAA | |
| DoubleLine Opportunistic Bond ETF | 3.24% | 733.52M | Mar 2022 | BRTR vs DBND |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BRTR
BRTR has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.26%. There are 47 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -1.31%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/m Opportunistic Income ETF | -1.31% | 46.19M | Sep 2023 | BRTR vs ZHOG | |
| Kingsbarn Tactical Bond ETF | -1.77% | 1.18M | Dec 2021 | BRTR vs KDRN | |
| SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF | -2.01% | 2.28M | Sep 2024 | BRTR vs SJCP | |
| First Trust Commercial Mortgage Opportunities ETF | -2.08% | 35.44M | Feb 2024 | BRTR vs CAAA | |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | -2.20% | 154.00M | Jun 2021 | BRTR vs MBS |
Other ETFs from BlackRock
The 10 most viewed BlackRock ETFs shown here include BALI, CLOA, BLCR and span 11 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $7B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackrock Advantage Large Cap Income ETF | Derivative Income | 86 | 12.20% | 1.29B | Sep 2023 | BRTR vs BALI | |
| iShares AAA CLO Active ETF | CLO | 99 | 2.56% | 2.15B | Jan 2023 | BRTR vs CLOA | |
| Blackrock Large Cap Core ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 85 | 17.15% | 6.50B | Oct 2023 | BRTR vs BLCR | |
| iShares Prime Money Market ETF | Money Market | 100 | 1.94% | 645.79M | Feb 2025 | BRTR vs PMMF | |
| BlackRock Floating Rate Loan ETF | Bank Loan | 39 | 0.96% | 53.54M | Oct 2022 | BRTR vs BRLN | |
| BlackRock World ex U.S. Carbon Transition Readines... | Alternative Energy Equities | 47 | 8.48% | 282.22M | Apr 2021 | BRTR vs LCTD | |
| BlackRock Future Financial and Technology ETF | Financials Equities | 6 | 0.02% | 9.60M | Aug 2022 | BRTR vs BPAY | |
| Future Tech ETF | Technology Equities | — | — | 12.05M | Sep 2020 | BRTR vs BTEK | |
| Blackrock Large Cap Value ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | — | — | 346.48M | May 2023 | BRTR vs BLCV | |
| BlackRock U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness ETF | ESG, Sustainable | 62 | 10.09% | 1.50B | Apr 2021 | BRTR vs LCTU |
Often Compared With BRTR
Investors most often compare BRTR with BINC, FBND, BND. These 20 comparison targets span 12 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare BRTR with Any Fund or Stock
Compare BRTR with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair BRTR with funds that move differently
Blackrock Total Return ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BRTR.
Explore BRTR Diversifiers