Western Asset Bond ETF (WABF) 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 WABF. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to WABF
WABF charges 0.35% annually. There are 17 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% | 117.00M | Dec 2025 | WABF vs BNDP | |
| iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF | 0.06% | 42.27B | Jun 2014 | WABF vs IUSB | |
| iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF | 0.06% | 278.83M | Nov 2016 | WABF vs IMTB | |
| iShares ESG Advanced Total USD Bond Market ETF | 0.12% | 720.18M | Jun 2020 | WABF vs EUSB | |
| iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF | 0.17% | 452.48M | Apr 2014 | WABF vs BYLD |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to WABF
WABF has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 36. There are 34 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 88.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/m Opportunistic Income ETF | 88 | 46.23M | Sep 2023 | WABF vs ZHOG | |
| Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF | 87 | 17.73M | Jan 2025 | WABF vs BNDS | |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 63 | 154.00M | Jun 2021 | WABF vs MBS | |
| Cambria Fixed Income Trend ETF | 63 | — | Mar 2025 | WABF vs CFIT | |
| SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF | 59 | 2.28M | Sep 2024 | WABF vs SJCP |
Top Performing WABF Alternatives (YTD)
WABF is at 0.21% YTD. There are 49 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 5.42%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria Fixed Income Trend ETF | 5.42% | — | Mar 2025 | WABF vs CFIT | |
| Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF | 4.60% | 17.73M | Jan 2025 | WABF vs BNDS | |
| Monarch Ambassador Income ETF | 1.59% | 188.06M | Mar 2021 | WABF vs MAMB | |
| Neos Enhanced Income Aggregate Bond ETF | 1.50% | 178.17M | Aug 2022 | WABF vs BNDI | |
| iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF | 1.50% | 452.48M | Apr 2014 | WABF vs BYLD |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to WABF
WABF has 3.66% 1-year volatility. There are 21 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.58%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/m Opportunistic Income ETF | 1.58% | 46.23M | Sep 2023 | WABF vs ZHOG | |
| SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF | 2.51% | 2.28M | Sep 2024 | WABF vs SJCP | |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 2.77% | 154.00M | Jun 2021 | WABF vs MBS | |
| First Trust Commercial Mortgage Opportunities ETF | 3.10% | 34.52M | Feb 2024 | WABF vs CAAA | |
| DoubleLine Opportunistic Bond ETF | 3.25% | 719.37M | Mar 2022 | WABF vs DBND |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to WABF
WABF has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.03%. There are 42 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% | 46.23M | Sep 2023 | WABF vs ZHOG | |
| Kingsbarn Tactical Bond ETF | -1.77% | 1.18M | Dec 2021 | WABF vs KDRN | |
| SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF | -2.01% | 2.28M | Sep 2024 | WABF vs SJCP | |
| First Trust Commercial Mortgage Opportunities ETF | -2.08% | 34.52M | Feb 2024 | WABF vs CAAA | |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | -2.20% | 154.00M | Jun 2021 | WABF vs MBS |
Other ETFs from Franklin Templeton
The 10 most viewed Franklin Templeton ETFs shown here include LVHI, FLIN, FLKR and span 9 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $5B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividen... | Volatility Hedged Equity, Dividend | 93 | 12.42% | 4.99B | Jul 2016 | WABF vs LVHI | |
| Franklin FTSE India ETF | Asia Pacific Equities | 4 | -8.37% | 2.55B | Feb 2018 | WABF vs FLIN | |
| Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF | Asia Pacific Equities | 92 | 97.22% | 1.16B | Nov 2017 | WABF vs FLKR | |
| Franklin U.S. Low Volatility High Dividend Index E... | Dividend | 40 | 10.55% | 588.56M | Dec 2015 | WABF vs LVHD | |
| Franklin International Core Dividend Tilt Index ET... | Foreign Large Cap Equities, Dividend | 54 | 10.71% | 2.60B | Jun 2016 | WABF vs DIVI | |
| Putnam BDC Income ETF | Financials Equities | 4 | -11.42% | 272.46M | Sep 2022 | WABF vs PBDC | |
| Franklin FTSE Japan ETF | Japan Equities | 53 | 15.09% | 3.93B | Nov 2017 | WABF vs FLJP | |
| Franklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF | Gold, Precious Metals | 21 | -4.86% | 437.03M | Jun 2022 | WABF vs FGDL | |
| Franklin FTSE China ETF | China Equities | 9 | -12.17% | 264.76M | Nov 2017 | WABF vs FLCH | |
| Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF | Japan Equities | 82 | 20.28% | 171.61M | Nov 2017 | WABF vs FLJH |
Often Compared With WABF
Investors most often compare WABF with FLCB, PYLD, JPST. These 20 comparison targets span 8 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare WABF with Any Fund or Stock
Compare WABF with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair WABF with funds that move differently
Western Asset Bond ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to WABF.
Explore WABF Diversifiers