iShares Mortgage-Backed Securities Active ETF (MBBA) 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 MBBA. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to MBBA
MBBA charges 0.25% annually. There are 9 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 | MBBA vs SMBS | |
| Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 0.04% | 17.10B | Nov 2009 | MBBA vs VMBS | |
| SPDR Portfolio Mortgage Backed Bond ETF | 0.04% | 7.02B | Jan 2009 | MBBA vs SPMB | |
| iShares MBS Bond ETF | 0.06% | 39.57B | Mar 2007 | MBBA vs MBB | |
| Simplify MBS ETF | 0.15% | 1.55B | Nov 2023 | MBBA vs MTBA |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to MBBA
Among 19 ETFs in the Mortgage Backed Securities category with risk / return rank data, the top risk-adjusted alternatives shown here go as high as 96.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF | 96 | 291.09M | Nov 2013 | MBBA vs FTSD | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | 89 | 6.34B | Nov 2014 | MBBA vs LMBS | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | 74 | 112.64M | Feb 2021 | MBBA vs VABS | |
| PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-T... | 52 | — | Jul 1997 | MBBA vs PMBS | |
| Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 48 | 6.84B | Sep 2018 | MBBA vs JMBS |
Top Performing MBBA Alternatives (YTD)
Among 22 ETFs in the Mortgage Backed Securities category with YTD return data, the top-performing alternatives shown here go as high as 2.09%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuveen Securitized Income ETF | 2.09% | 167.58M | Sep 2025 | MBBA vs NSCI | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | 1.82% | 112.64M | Feb 2021 | MBBA vs VABS | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | 1.60% | 6.34B | Nov 2014 | MBBA vs LMBS | |
| PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-T... | 1.60% | — | Jul 1997 | MBBA vs PMBS | |
| Academy Veteran Bond ETF | 1.57% | 80.69M | Aug 2023 | MBBA vs VETZ |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to MBBA
MBBA has 4.55% 1-year volatility. There are 19 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 | MBBA vs NSCI | |
| Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF | 1.36% | 291.09M | Nov 2013 | MBBA vs FTSD | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | 1.94% | 6.34B | Nov 2014 | MBBA vs LMBS | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | 2.01% | 112.64M | Feb 2021 | MBBA vs VABS | |
| Eaton Vance Mortgage Opportunities ETF | 2.88% | — | Aug 2025 | MBBA vs EVMO |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to MBBA
Among 19 ETFs in the Mortgage Backed Securities category with 1-year drawdown data, the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go 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 | MBBA vs FTSD | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | -0.98% | 112.64M | Feb 2021 | MBBA vs VABS | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | -1.43% | 6.34B | Nov 2014 | MBBA vs LMBS | |
| FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund | -2.17% | 94.67M | Sep 2014 | MBBA vs MBSD | |
| iShares CMBS ETF | -2.44% | 475.16M | Feb 2012 | MBBA 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 | 1.72% | 95.28B | May 2020 | MBBA vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 2 | -31.78% | 48.04B | Jan 2024 | MBBA vs IBIT | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 60 | 8.13% | 837.93B | May 2000 | MBBA vs IVV | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 95 | 99.95% | 46.67B | Jul 2001 | MBBA vs SOXX | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 16 | 2.15% | 41.34B | Jul 2002 | MBBA vs TLT | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 78 | 9.37% | 41.89B | Jun 2014 | MBBA vs DGRO | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Silver, Precious Metals | 28 | -19.62% | 32.53B | Apr 2006 | MBBA vs SLV | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 21 | -7.61% | 64.29B | Jan 2005 | MBBA vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 70 | 21.03% | 81.35B | May 2000 | MBBA vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Equities | 59 | 9.71% | 32.95B | Mar 2008 | MBBA vs ACWI |
Often Compared With MBBA
Investors most often compare MBBA with DCMT, COMT, DBE. These 20 comparison targets span 4 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare MBBA with Any Fund or Stock
Compare MBBA with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair MBBA with funds that move differently
iShares Mortgage-Backed Securities Active ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to MBBA.
Explore MBBA Diversifiers