FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund (MBSD) 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 MBSD. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to MBSD
MBSD charges 0.20% annually. There are 6 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 | MBSD vs SMBS | |
| Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 0.04% | 17.10B | Nov 2009 | MBSD vs VMBS | |
| SPDR Portfolio Mortgage Backed Bond ETF | 0.04% | 7.02B | Jan 2009 | MBSD vs SPMB | |
| iShares MBS Bond ETF | 0.06% | 39.57B | Mar 2007 | MBSD vs MBB | |
| Simplify MBS ETF | 0.15% | 1.55B | Nov 2023 | MBSD vs MTBA |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to MBSD
MBSD has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 40. There are 11 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 | MBSD vs FTSD | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | 88 | 6.34B | Nov 2014 | MBSD vs LMBS | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | 70 | 112.64M | Feb 2021 | MBSD vs VABS | |
| PIMCO Mortgage-Backed Securities Active Exchange-T... | 48 | — | Jul 1997 | MBSD vs PMBS | |
| Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 44 | 6.84B | Sep 2018 | MBSD vs JMBS |
Top Performing MBSD Alternatives (YTD)
MBSD is at 0.60% YTD. There are 17 ETFs in the Mortgage Backed Securities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 5.41%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regan Fixed Rate MBS ETF | 5.41% | 13.94M | Apr 2025 | MBSD vs MBSX | |
| Nuveen Securitized Income ETF | 1.96% | 167.58M | Sep 2025 | MBSD vs NSCI | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | 1.70% | 112.64M | Feb 2021 | MBSD vs VABS | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | 1.44% | 6.34B | Nov 2014 | MBSD vs LMBS | |
| Academy Veteran Bond ETF | 1.08% | 80.69M | Aug 2023 | MBSD vs VETZ |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to MBSD
MBSD has 3.49% 1-year volatility. There are 7 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 | MBSD vs NSCI | |
| Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF | 1.35% | 291.09M | Nov 2013 | MBSD vs FTSD | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | 1.94% | 6.34B | Nov 2014 | MBSD vs LMBS | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | 2.01% | 112.64M | Feb 2021 | MBSD vs VABS | |
| Eaton Vance Mortgage Opportunities ETF | 2.86% | — | Aug 2025 | MBSD vs EVMO |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to MBSD
MBSD has a 1-year max drawdown of -2.17%. There are 3 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 | MBSD vs FTSD | |
| Virtus Newfleet ABS/MBS ETF | -0.98% | 112.64M | Feb 2021 | MBSD vs VABS | |
| First Trust Low Duration Mortgage Opportunities ET... | -1.43% | 6.34B | Nov 2014 | MBSD vs LMBS | |
| iShares CMBS ETF | -2.44% | 475.16M | Feb 2012 | MBSD vs CMBS | |
| WisdomTree Mortgage Plus Bond Fund | -2.53% | 66.17M | Nov 2019 | MBSD vs MTGP |
Other ETFs from Northern Trust
The 10 most viewed Northern Trust ETFs shown here include GUNR, ESG, HYGV and span 9 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $7B.
Often Compared With MBSD
Investors most often compare MBSD with VRIG, AGZD, GSST. These 20 comparison targets span 9 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare MBSD with Any Fund or Stock
Compare MBSD with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair MBSD with funds that move differently
FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to MBSD.
Explore MBSD Diversifiers