IQ MacKay ESG Core Plus Bond ETF (ESGB) 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 ESGB. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to ESGB
ESGB charges 0.39% annually. There are 27 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% | 117.10M | Dec 2025 | ESGB vs BNDP | |
| iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF | 0.06% | 39.76B | Jun 2014 | ESGB vs IUSB | |
| iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF | 0.06% | 279.73M | Nov 2016 | ESGB vs IMTB | |
| iShares ESG Advanced Total USD Bond Market ETF | 0.12% | 704.35M | Jun 2020 | ESGB vs EUSB | |
| iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF | 0.17% | 450.07M | Apr 2014 | ESGB vs BYLD |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to ESGB
ESGB has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 41. There are 34 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 90.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/m Opportunistic Income ETF | 90 | 45.70M | Sep 2023 | ESGB vs ZHOG | |
| Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF | 89 | 17.73M | Jan 2025 | ESGB vs BNDS | |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 69 | 154.00M | Jun 2021 | ESGB vs MBS | |
| Cambria Fixed Income Trend ETF | 68 | — | Mar 2025 | ESGB vs CFIT | |
| SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF | 62 | 2.28M | Sep 2024 | ESGB vs SJCP |
Top Performing ESGB Alternatives (YTD)
ESGB is at 0.50% YTD. There are 16 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 5.79%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria Fixed Income Trend ETF | 5.79% | — | Mar 2025 | ESGB vs CFIT | |
| Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF | 4.23% | 17.73M | Jan 2025 | ESGB vs BNDS | |
| Monarch Ambassador Income ETF | 2.01% | 185.35M | Mar 2021 | ESGB vs MAMB | |
| Neos Enhanced Income Aggregate Bond ETF | 1.29% | 171.12M | Aug 2022 | ESGB vs BNDI | |
| iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF | 1.23% | 450.07M | Apr 2014 | ESGB vs BYLD |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to ESGB
ESGB has 3.74% 1-year volatility. There are 25 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% | 45.70M | Sep 2023 | ESGB vs ZHOG | |
| SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF | 2.43% | 2.28M | Sep 2024 | ESGB vs SJCP | |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 2.93% | 154.00M | Jun 2021 | ESGB vs MBS | |
| First Trust Commercial Mortgage Opportunities ETF | 3.07% | 32.46M | Feb 2024 | ESGB vs CAAA | |
| DoubleLine Opportunistic Bond ETF | 3.30% | 719.37M | Mar 2022 | ESGB vs DBND |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to ESGB
ESGB has a 1-year max drawdown of -2.60%. There are 14 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% | 45.70M | Sep 2023 | ESGB vs ZHOG | |
| Kingsbarn Tactical Bond ETF | -1.77% | 1.18M | Dec 2021 | ESGB vs KDRN | |
| SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF | -2.01% | 2.28M | Sep 2024 | ESGB vs SJCP | |
| First Trust Commercial Mortgage Opportunities ETF | -2.08% | 32.46M | Feb 2024 | ESGB vs CAAA | |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | -2.20% | 154.00M | Jun 2021 | ESGB vs MBS |
Other ETFs from IndexIQ
The 6 most viewed IndexIQ ETFs shown here include IQHI, MMCA, IQRA and span 6 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $279M.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IQ MacKay ESG High Income ETF | High Yield Bonds | 64 | 1.77% | 113.42M | Oct 2022 | ESGB vs IQHI | |
| IQ MacKay California Municipal Intermediate ETF | Municipal Bonds | 66 | 0.66% | 78.67M | Dec 2021 | ESGB vs MMCA | |
| IQ CBRE Real Assets ETF | REIT | 29 | 5.98% | 6.52M | May 2023 | ESGB vs IQRA | |
| IQ U.S. Large Cap R&D Leaders ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 62 | 11.98% | 204.53M | Feb 2022 | ESGB vs LRND | |
| IQ Global Equity R&D Leaders ETF | Global Equities | 69 | 16.08% | 8.84M | Feb 2022 | ESGB vs WRND | |
| IQ Candriam U.S. Mid Cap Equity ETF | Mid Cap Blend Equities | 48 | 11.77% | 278.74M | Oct 2022 | ESGB vs IQSM |
Often Compared With ESGB
Investors most often compare ESGB with GEQT.TO, APCB, ZST.TO. These 20 comparison targets span 14 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare ESGB with Any Fund or Stock
Compare ESGB with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair ESGB with funds that move differently
IQ MacKay ESG Core Plus Bond ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to ESGB.
Explore ESGB Diversifiers