NUBD vs. BND
NUBD (Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF) and BND (Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - NUBD is a Intermediate Core Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg MSCI U.S. Aggregate ESG Select Index, 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, NUBD returned -0.11%/yr vs 0.02%/yr for BND. Their correlation of 0.91 suggests significant overlap in exposure. NUBD charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for BND.
Performance
NUBD vs. BND - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NUBD achieves a -0.02% return, which is significantly higher than BND's -0.05% return.
NUBD
- 1D
- -0.39%
- 1M
- -0.25%
- YTD
- -0.02%
- 6M
- 0.18%
- 1Y
- 4.73%
- 3Y*
- 3.66%
- 5Y*
- -0.11%
- 10Y*
- —
BND
- 1D
- -0.45%
- 1M
- -0.39%
- YTD
- -0.05%
- 6M
- 0.11%
- 1Y
- 4.90%
- 3Y*
- 3.80%
- 5Y*
- 0.02%
- 10Y*
- 1.56%
NUBD vs. BND - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUBD Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | -0.02% | 6.75% | 1.31% | 5.42% | -12.90% | -2.19% | 7.17% | 8.22% | 0.32% | 0.26% |
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | -0.05% | 7.08% | 1.38% | 5.65% | -13.11% | -1.86% | 7.71% | 8.84% | -0.12% | 0.45% |
Correlation
The correlation between NUBD and BND is 0.94, 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 | 0.94 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 3, 2017 | 0.91 |
The correlation between NUBD and BND has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.91 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
NUBD vs. BND — Risk / Return Rank
NUBD
BND
NUBD vs. BND - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUBD) 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.
| NUBD | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.03 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.07 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.20 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.54 | 1.62 | -0.08 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.54 | 4.86 | -0.33 |
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
| NUBD | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.13 | 1.16 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.02 | 0.00 | -0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.28 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.28 | 0.58 | -0.30 |
Drawdowns
NUBD vs. BND - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NUBD drawdown since its inception was -19.45%, roughly equal to the maximum BND drawdown of -18.58%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NUBD and BND.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NUBD | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.45% | -18.58% | -0.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.76% | -2.68% | -0.08% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.94% | -5.92% | -0.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.90% | -17.91% | +0.01% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -18.58% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.14% | -2.67% | -1.47% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.05% | -3.06% | -2.99% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.94% | 0.89% | +0.05% |
Volatility
NUBD vs. BND - Volatility Comparison
Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUBD) and Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) have volatilities of 1.21% and 1.23%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NUBD | BND | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.21% | 1.23% | -0.02% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.64% | 2.70% | -0.06% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.77% | 3.76% | +0.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.99% | 6.02% | -0.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.12% | 5.53% | -0.41% |
NUBD vs. BND - Expense Ratio Comparison
NUBD has a 0.15% 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
NUBD vs. BND - Dividend Comparison
NUBD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.00%, which matches BND's 3.98% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 3.98% | 3.86% | 3.67% | 3.09% | 2.60% | 2.12% | 2.38% | 2.72% | 2.81% | 2.54% | 2.51% | 2.57% |
NUBD Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 4.00% | 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 0.94, NUBD 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 (1.23%) compared to NUBD (1.21%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NUBD dropped -19.45% vs BND's -18.58%.
On 5-year performance, BND leads with 0.02% vs -0.11% for NUBD. 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, BND has performed better with a 0.02% return vs -0.11%. 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 0.15% for NUBD.
NUBD has the higher dividend yield at 4.00%, compared with 3.98% for BND.
NUBD is categorized as Intermediate Core Bond, while BND is Total Bond Market. NUBD tracks Bloomberg MSCI U.S. Aggregate ESG Select Index, while BND tracks Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. They also come from different issuers: Nuveen and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for NUBD and 0.03% for BND.
BND currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.16 vs 1.13), 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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