MBB vs. NUBD
MBB (iShares MBS Bond ETF) and NUBD (Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - MBB is a Mortgage Backed Securities fund tracking the Barclays Capital U.S. MBS Index, while NUBD is a Intermediate Core Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg MSCI U.S. Aggregate ESG Select Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, MBB returned 0.42%/yr vs -0.13%/yr for NUBD. Their correlation of 0.83 suggests significant overlap in exposure. MBB charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for NUBD.
Performance
MBB vs. NUBD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MBB achieves a 0.73% return, which is significantly higher than NUBD's 0.18% return.
MBB
- 1D
- -0.24%
- 1M
- 0.53%
- YTD
- 0.73%
- 6M
- 0.86%
- 1Y
- 5.95%
- 3Y*
- 4.31%
- 5Y*
- 0.42%
- 10Y*
- 1.29%
NUBD
- 1D
- -0.36%
- 1M
- 0.39%
- YTD
- 0.18%
- 6M
- 0.22%
- 1Y
- 4.06%
- 3Y*
- 3.71%
- 5Y*
- -0.13%
- 10Y*
- —
MBB vs. NUBD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MBB iShares MBS Bond ETF | 0.73% | 8.38% | 1.31% | 5.01% | -11.74% | -1.43% | 4.08% | 6.18% | 0.82% | 0.14% |
NUBD Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.18% | 6.75% | 1.31% | 5.42% | -12.90% | -2.19% | 7.17% | 8.22% | 0.32% | 0.22% |
Correlation
The correlation between MBB and NUBD is 0.91, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 2, 2017 | 0.83 |
The correlation between MBB and NUBD has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.83 to 0.92 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
MBB vs. NUBD — Risk / Return Rank
MBB
NUBD
MBB vs. NUBD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MBS Bond ETF (MBB) and Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUBD). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| MBB | NUBD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.26 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.39 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.19 | +0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.03 | 1.48 | +0.55 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.36 | 4.14 | +2.22 |
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Drawdowns
MBB vs. NUBD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MBB drawdown since its inception was -17.64%, smaller than the maximum NUBD drawdown of -19.45%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MBB and NUBD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MBB | NUBD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.64% | -19.45% | +1.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.94% | -2.76% | -0.18% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -7.68% | -5.94% | -1.74% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.19% | -17.90% | +0.71% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -17.64% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.38% | -3.95% | +2.57% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.34% | -6.04% | +3.70% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.94% | 0.98% | -0.04% |
Volatility
MBB vs. NUBD - Volatility Comparison
iShares MBS Bond ETF (MBB) has a higher volatility of 1.27% compared to Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUBD) at 1.06%. This indicates that MBB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than NUBD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MBB | NUBD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.27% | 1.06% | +0.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.33% | 2.72% | +0.61% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.47% | 3.78% | +0.69% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.83% | 5.98% | +0.85% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.32% | 5.11% | +0.21% |
MBB vs. NUBD - Expense Ratio Comparison
MBB has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than NUBD's 0.15% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
MBB vs. NUBD - Dividend Comparison
MBB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.27%, more than NUBD's 3.99% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MBB iShares MBS Bond ETF | 4.27% | 4.21% | 3.94% | 3.40% | 2.31% | 1.05% | 2.10% | 2.77% | 2.64% | 2.23% | 2.58% | 2.66% |
NUBD Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 3.99% | 3.90% | 3.51% | 2.99% | 2.83% | 2.05% | 2.21% | 2.66% | 3.08% | 0.58% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.91, MBB and NUBD move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
MBB has higher volatility (1.27%) compared to NUBD (1.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MBB dropped -17.64% vs NUBD's -19.45%.
On 5-year performance, MBB leads with 0.42% vs -0.13% for NUBD. On fees, MBB is cheaper at 0.06% per year. On volatility, NUBD has been the lower-risk option at 1.06%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, MBB has performed better with a 0.42% return vs -0.13%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
MBB is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for NUBD.
MBB has the higher dividend yield at 4.27%, compared with 3.99% for NUBD.
MBB is categorized as Mortgage Backed Securities, while NUBD is Intermediate Core Bond. MBB tracks Barclays Capital U.S. MBS Index, while NUBD tracks Bloomberg MSCI U.S. Aggregate ESG Select Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Nuveen. Their fees differ too: 0.06% for MBB and 0.15% for NUBD.
MBB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.34 vs 1.08), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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