NUAG vs. BND
NUAG (Nuveen Enhanced Yield U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF) and BND (Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - NUAG is a Intermediate Core Bond fund tracking the ICE BofA Enhanced Yield US Broad Bond, while BND is a Total Bond Market fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, NUAG returned 0.43%/yr vs 0.05%/yr for BND. Their correlation of 0.86 suggests significant overlap in exposure. NUAG charges 0.19%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for BND.
Performance
NUAG vs. BND - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NUAG achieves a 0.65% return, which is significantly higher than BND's 0.49% return.
NUAG
- 1D
- -0.24%
- 1M
- 0.55%
- YTD
- 0.65%
- 6M
- 0.79%
- 1Y
- 5.11%
- 3Y*
- 4.85%
- 5Y*
- 0.43%
- 10Y*
- —
BND
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- 0.64%
- YTD
- 0.49%
- 6M
- 0.57%
- 1Y
- 4.23%
- 3Y*
- 3.96%
- 5Y*
- 0.05%
- 10Y*
- 1.56%
NUAG vs. BND - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUAG Nuveen Enhanced Yield U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.65% | 7.37% | 2.02% | 7.52% | -13.97% | -2.03% | 7.48% | 10.13% | -1.45% | 3.98% |
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 0.49% | 7.08% | 1.38% | 5.65% | -13.11% | -1.86% | 7.71% | 8.84% | -0.12% | 3.57% |
Correlation
The correlation between NUAG and BND is 0.95, 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 | 0.95 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 15, 2016 | 0.86 |
The correlation between NUAG and BND shifts across timeframes, from 0.86 (all time) to 0.97 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
NUAG vs. BND — Risk / Return Rank
NUAG
BND
NUAG vs. BND - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nuveen Enhanced Yield U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUAG) and Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND). 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.
| NUAG | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.30 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.45 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.20 | +0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.02 | 1.59 | +0.43 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.87 | 4.52 | +1.36 |
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Drawdowns
NUAG vs. BND - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NUAG drawdown since its inception was -19.79%, which is greater than BND's maximum drawdown of -18.58%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NUAG and BND.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NUAG | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.79% | -18.58% | -1.21% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.54% | -2.68% | +0.14% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.61% | -5.92% | +0.31% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.19% | -17.91% | -1.28% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -18.58% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.09% | -2.15% | +1.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.93% | -3.06% | -1.87% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.87% | 0.94% | -0.07% |
Volatility
NUAG vs. BND - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Nuveen Enhanced Yield U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUAG) is 1.02%, while Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) has a volatility of 1.08%. This indicates that NUAG experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BND based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NUAG | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.02% | 1.08% | -0.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.68% | 2.77% | -0.09% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.57% | 3.74% | -0.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.01% | 6.03% | -0.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.48% | 5.53% | -0.05% |
NUAG vs. BND - Expense Ratio Comparison
NUAG has a 0.19% expense ratio, which is higher than BND's 0.03% 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%.
Dividends
NUAG vs. BND - Dividend Comparison
NUAG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.50%, more than BND's 3.96% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 3.96% | 3.86% | 3.67% | 3.09% | 2.60% | 2.12% | 2.38% | 2.72% | 2.81% | 2.54% | 2.51% | 2.57% |
NUAG Nuveen Enhanced Yield U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 4.50% | 4.43% | 4.44% | 3.95% | 3.60% | 2.27% | 2.93% | 3.54% | 3.79% | 3.38% | 0.48% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.95, NUAG and BND 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.
BND has higher volatility (1.08%) compared to NUAG (1.02%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NUAG dropped -19.79% vs BND's -18.58%.
On 5-year performance, NUAG leads with 0.43% vs 0.05% for BND. On fees, BND is cheaper at 0.03% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, NUAG has performed better with a 0.43% return vs 0.05%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
BND is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.19% for NUAG.
NUAG has the higher dividend yield at 4.50%, compared with 3.96% for BND.
NUAG is categorized as Intermediate Core Bond, while BND is Total Bond Market. NUAG tracks ICE BofA Enhanced Yield US Broad Bond, while BND tracks Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. They also come from different issuers: Nuveen and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.19% for NUAG and 0.03% for BND.
NUAG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.44 vs 1.14), 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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