iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS) Alternatives
iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS) belongs to the Mortgage Backed Securities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with CMBS. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or funds that fit a different role in your portfolio.
Cheapest Alternatives to CMBS
CMBS charges 0.25% annually. Among ETFs in the Mortgage Backed Securities category, these options have the lowest expense ratios among CMBS alternatives.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR Portfolio Mortgage Backed Bond ETF | 0.04% | Jan 15, 2009 | CMBS vs SPMB | |
| Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 0.04% | Nov 19, 2009 | CMBS vs VMBS | |
| iShares MBS Bond ETF | 0.06% | Mar 16, 2007 | CMBS vs MBB | |
| iShares GNMA Bond ETF | 0.15% | Feb 14, 2012 | CMBS vs GNMA | |
| FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund | 0.20% | Sep 4, 2014 | CMBS vs MBSD |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to CMBS
Among ETFs in the Mortgage Backed Securities category, these options rank highest on PortfoliosLab's risk-adjusted score, which accounts for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency over a 1-year period.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF | 97 | Nov 4, 2013 | CMBS vs FTSD | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | 93 | Nov 4, 2014 | CMBS vs LMBS | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | 92 | Feb 9, 2021 | CMBS vs VABS | |
| PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-T... | 68 | Jul 31, 1997 | CMBS vs PMBS | |
| Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 68 | Nov 19, 2009 | CMBS vs VMBS |
Top Performing CMBS Alternatives (YTD)
CMBS alternatives from the Mortgage Backed Securities category, sorted by year-to-date return.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | 0.75% | Feb 9, 2021 | CMBS vs VABS | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | 0.66% | Nov 4, 2014 | CMBS vs LMBS | |
| PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-T... | 0.61% | Jul 31, 1997 | CMBS vs PMBS | |
| JPMorgan Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 0.59% | Aug 18, 2000 | CMBS vs JMTG | |
| SPDR Portfolio Mortgage Backed Bond ETF | 0.51% | Jan 15, 2009 | CMBS vs SPMB |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to CMBS
CMBS alternatives from the Mortgage Backed Securities category, sorted by annualized volatility over the past year.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF | 1.97% | Nov 4, 2013 | CMBS vs FTSD | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | 2.23% | Feb 9, 2021 | CMBS vs VABS | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | 2.57% | Nov 4, 2014 | CMBS vs LMBS | |
| Eaton Vance Mortgage Opportunities ETF | 2.79% | Aug 4, 2025 | CMBS vs EVMO | |
| iShares Securitized Income Active ETF | 3.68% | Jan 26, 2026 | CMBS vs SECU |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to CMBS
CMBS alternatives from the Mortgage Backed Securities category, sorted by maximum drawdown over the past year.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF | -0.93% | Nov 4, 2013 | CMBS vs FTSD | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | -1.05% | Feb 9, 2021 | CMBS vs VABS | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | -1.72% | Nov 4, 2014 | CMBS vs LMBS | |
| FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund | -2.22% | Sep 4, 2014 | CMBS vs MBSD | |
| WisdomTree Mortgage Plus Bond Fund | -2.64% | Nov 14, 2019 | CMBS vs MTGP |
Other ETFs from iShares
Most popular iShares ETFs on PortfoliosLab, across asset classes.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 0.86% | May 26, 2020 | CMBS vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 6 | -22.62% | Jan 5, 2024 | CMBS vs IBIT | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 65 | -4.38% | May 15, 2000 | CMBS vs IVV | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 12 | 0.17% | Jul 22, 2002 | CMBS vs TLT | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 69 | 1.57% | Jun 10, 2014 | CMBS vs DGRO | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Precious Metals | 89 | 5.77% | Apr 21, 2006 | CMBS vs SLV | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 92 | 9.20% | Jul 10, 2001 | CMBS vs SOXX | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 87 | 8.61% | Jan 21, 2005 | CMBS vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 69 | 0.93% | May 22, 2000 | CMBS vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 75 | -2.21% | Mar 26, 2008 | CMBS vs ACWI |
Often Compared With CMBS
What investors most often compare with CMBS, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare CMBS with Any Fund or Stock
Compare CMBS with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.