CMBS vs. GNMA
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS) and iShares GNMA Bond ETF (GNMA).
CMBS and GNMA are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. CMBS is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. CMBS (ERISA Only) Index. It was launched on Feb 14, 2012. GNMA is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Barclays Capital GNMA Index. It was launched on Feb 14, 2012. Both CMBS and GNMA are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
CMBS vs. GNMA - Performance Comparison
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CMBS vs. GNMA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMBS iShares CMBS ETF | 0.07% | 7.67% | 4.27% | 5.06% | -11.21% | -1.82% | 7.86% | 7.94% | 0.77% | 2.95% |
GNMA iShares GNMA Bond ETF | 0.45% | 8.25% | 1.07% | 5.34% | -10.83% | -1.86% | 3.51% | 5.85% | 0.85% | 1.74% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CMBS achieves a 0.07% return, which is significantly lower than GNMA's 0.45% return. Over the past 10 years, CMBS has outperformed GNMA with an annualized return of 2.18%, while GNMA has yielded a comparatively lower 1.27% annualized return.
CMBS
- 1D
- 0.20%
- 1M
- -1.30%
- YTD
- 0.07%
- 6M
- 1.21%
- 1Y
- 4.67%
- 3Y*
- 5.31%
- 5Y*
- 1.05%
- 10Y*
- 2.18%
GNMA
- 1D
- 0.23%
- 1M
- -1.26%
- YTD
- 0.45%
- 6M
- 1.88%
- 1Y
- 5.35%
- 3Y*
- 4.05%
- 5Y*
- 0.45%
- 10Y*
- 1.27%
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CMBS vs. GNMA - Expense Ratio Comparison
CMBS has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than GNMA's 0.15% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
CMBS vs. GNMA — Risk / Return Rank
CMBS
GNMA
CMBS vs. GNMA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS) and iShares GNMA Bond ETF (GNMA). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| CMBS | GNMA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.21 | 1.12 | +0.09 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.81 | 1.63 | +0.17 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.20 | +0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.20 | 1.90 | +0.29 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.26 | 5.64 | +2.62 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| CMBS | GNMA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.21 | 1.12 | +0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 | 0.07 | +0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.38 | 0.25 | +0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.44 | 0.25 | +0.19 |
Correlation
The correlation between CMBS and GNMA is 0.41, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
CMBS vs. GNMA - Dividend Comparison
CMBS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.53%, less than GNMA's 4.21% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMBS iShares CMBS ETF | 3.53% | 3.45% | 3.31% | 2.97% | 2.65% | 2.46% | 2.83% | 2.74% | 2.70% | 2.50% | 2.29% | 2.31% |
GNMA iShares GNMA Bond ETF | 4.21% | 4.19% | 4.15% | 3.43% | 2.01% | 0.64% | 1.89% | 2.61% | 2.41% | 2.15% | 1.89% | 1.50% |
Drawdowns
CMBS vs. GNMA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CMBS drawdown since its inception was -15.87%, smaller than the maximum GNMA drawdown of -17.09%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CMBS and GNMA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CMBS | GNMA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -15.87% | -17.09% | +1.22% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.44% | -2.93% | +0.49% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.87% | -16.02% | +0.15% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -15.87% | -17.09% | +1.22% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.84% | -1.52% | -0.32% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.97% | -3.69% | +0.72% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.65% | 0.99% | -0.34% |
Volatility
CMBS vs. GNMA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS) is 1.49%, while iShares GNMA Bond ETF (GNMA) has a volatility of 1.79%. This indicates that CMBS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GNMA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CMBS | GNMA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.49% | 1.79% | -0.30% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.63% | 2.76% | -0.13% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.92% | 4.78% | -0.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.29% | 6.56% | -1.27% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.77% | 5.11% | +0.66% |