iShares GNMA Bond ETF (GNMA) 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 GNMA. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to GNMA
GNMA charges 0.15% annually. There are 4 ETFs in the Mortgage Backed Securities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.03%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwab Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 0.03% | — | Nov 2024 | GNMA vs SMBS | |
| SPDR Portfolio Mortgage Backed Bond ETF | 0.04% | 7.02B | Jan 2009 | GNMA vs SPMB | |
| Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 0.04% | 17.10B | Nov 2009 | GNMA vs VMBS | |
| iShares MBS Bond ETF | 0.06% | 39.57B | Mar 2007 | GNMA vs MBB | |
| Simplify MBS ETF | 0.15% | 1.55B | Nov 2023 | GNMA vs MTBA |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to GNMA
GNMA has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 45. There are 10 ETFs in the Mortgage Backed Securities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 95.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF | 95 | 291.09M | Nov 2013 | GNMA vs FTSD | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | 90 | 6.34B | Nov 2014 | GNMA vs LMBS | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | 75 | 112.64M | Feb 2021 | GNMA vs VABS | |
| PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-T... | 51 | — | Jul 1997 | GNMA vs PMBS | |
| Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 49 | 17.10B | Nov 2009 | GNMA vs VMBS |
Top Performing GNMA Alternatives (YTD)
GNMA is at 1.44% YTD. There are 7 ETFs in the Mortgage Backed Securities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 2.17%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuveen Securitized Income ETF | 2.17% | 167.58M | Sep 2025 | GNMA vs NSCI | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | 1.89% | 112.64M | Feb 2021 | GNMA vs VABS | |
| PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-T... | 1.68% | — | Jul 1997 | GNMA vs PMBS | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | 1.67% | 6.34B | Nov 2014 | GNMA vs LMBS | |
| Academy Veteran Bond ETF | 1.62% | 80.69M | Aug 2023 | GNMA vs VETZ |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to GNMA
GNMA has 4.26% 1-year volatility. There are 14 ETFs in the Mortgage Backed Securities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.30%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuveen Securitized Income ETF | 1.30% | 167.58M | Sep 2025 | GNMA vs NSCI | |
| Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF | 1.36% | 291.09M | Nov 2013 | GNMA vs FTSD | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | 1.94% | 6.34B | Nov 2014 | GNMA vs LMBS | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | 2.01% | 112.64M | Feb 2021 | GNMA vs VABS | |
| Eaton Vance Mortgage Opportunities ETF | 2.88% | — | Aug 2025 | GNMA vs EVMO |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to GNMA
GNMA has a 1-year max drawdown of -2.61%. There are 6 ETFs in the Mortgage Backed Securities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.45%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF | -0.45% | 291.09M | Nov 2013 | GNMA vs FTSD | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | -0.98% | 112.64M | Feb 2021 | GNMA vs VABS | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | -1.43% | 6.34B | Nov 2014 | GNMA vs LMBS | |
| FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund | -2.17% | 94.67M | Sep 2014 | GNMA vs MBSD | |
| iShares CMBS ETF | -2.44% | 475.16M | Feb 2012 | GNMA vs CMBS |
Other ETFs from iShares
The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include SGOV, IBIT, IVV and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $838B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.73% | 95.28B | May 2020 | GNMA vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 2 | -32.49% | 48.04B | Jan 2024 | GNMA vs IBIT | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 63 | 8.10% | 837.93B | May 2000 | GNMA vs IVV | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 96 | 107.83% | 46.67B | Jul 2001 | GNMA vs SOXX | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 15 | 2.11% | 41.34B | Jul 2002 | GNMA vs TLT | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 82 | 9.70% | 41.89B | Jun 2014 | GNMA vs DGRO | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Silver, Precious Metals | 29 | -18.72% | 32.53B | Apr 2006 | GNMA vs SLV | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 22 | -6.73% | 64.29B | Jan 2005 | GNMA vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 78 | 21.93% | 81.35B | May 2000 | GNMA vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Equities | 63 | 10.05% | 32.95B | Mar 2008 | GNMA vs ACWI |
Often Compared With GNMA
Investors most often compare GNMA with TFI, FLIA, BAGIX. These 20 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare GNMA with Any Fund or Stock
Compare GNMA with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair GNMA with funds that move differently
iShares GNMA Bond ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to GNMA.
Explore GNMA Diversifiers