NUBD vs. GBF
NUBD (Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF) and GBF (iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF) are both Intermediate Core Bond funds - NUBD tracks the Bloomberg MSCI U.S. Aggregate ESG Select Index while GBF tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, NUBD returned 0.04%/yr vs -0.08%/yr for GBF. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure. NUBD charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for GBF.
Performance
NUBD vs. GBF - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NUBD achieves a 0.38% return, which is significantly lower than GBF's 0.45% return.
NUBD
- 1D
- -0.02%
- 1M
- 0.16%
- YTD
- 0.38%
- 6M
- 0.45%
- 1Y
- 5.11%
- 3Y*
- 3.83%
- 5Y*
- 0.04%
- 10Y*
- —
GBF
- 1D
- 0.07%
- 1M
- 0.20%
- YTD
- 0.45%
- 6M
- 0.21%
- 1Y
- 4.71%
- 3Y*
- 3.67%
- 5Y*
- -0.08%
- 10Y*
- 1.50%
NUBD vs. GBF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUBD Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.38% | 6.75% | 1.31% | 5.42% | -12.90% | -2.19% | 7.17% | 8.22% | 0.32% | 0.26% |
GBF iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF | 0.45% | 6.41% | 0.99% | 5.79% | -13.85% | -2.30% | 8.76% | 9.47% | -0.52% | 0.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between NUBD and GBF is 0.92, 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 | 0.92 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 3, 2017 | 0.89 |
The correlation between NUBD and GBF has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.89 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
NUBD vs. GBF — Risk / Return Rank
NUBD
GBF
NUBD vs. GBF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUBD) and iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF (GBF). 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 | GBF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.36 | 1.26 | +0.09 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.99 | 1.90 | +0.09 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.22 | +0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.75 | 1.63 | +0.11 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.24 | 4.89 | +0.36 |
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 | GBF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.36 | 1.26 | +0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.01 | -0.01 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.29 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.29 | 0.58 | -0.29 |
Drawdowns
NUBD vs. GBF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NUBD drawdown since its inception was -19.45%, roughly equal to the maximum GBF drawdown of -19.67%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NUBD and GBF.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NUBD | GBF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.45% | -19.67% | +0.22% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.76% | -2.73% | -0.03% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.94% | -5.78% | -0.16% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -17.90% | -18.45% | +0.55% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -19.67% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.75% | -4.62% | +0.87% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.05% | -3.67% | -2.38% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.92% | 0.91% | +0.01% |
Volatility
NUBD vs. GBF - Volatility Comparison
Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUBD) and iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF (GBF) have volatilities of 1.26% 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 | GBF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.26% | 1.23% | +0.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.64% | 2.66% | -0.02% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.80% | 3.75% | +0.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.99% | 5.93% | +0.06% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.12% | 5.28% | -0.16% |
NUBD vs. GBF - Expense Ratio Comparison
NUBD has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than GBF's 0.20% 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
NUBD vs. GBF - Dividend Comparison
NUBD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.98%, more than GBF's 3.78% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GBF iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF | 3.78% | 3.81% | 3.94% | 3.03% | 2.13% | 1.22% | 1.64% | 2.64% | 2.59% | 2.31% | 2.09% | 2.04% |
NUBD Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 3.98% | 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 0.92, NUBD and GBF 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.
NUBD has higher volatility (1.26%) compared to GBF (1.23%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NUBD dropped -19.45% vs GBF's -19.67%.
On 5-year performance, NUBD leads with 0.04% vs -0.08% for GBF. On fees, NUBD is cheaper at 0.15% 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, NUBD has performed better with a 0.04% return vs -0.08%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
NUBD is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.20% for GBF.
NUBD has the higher dividend yield at 3.98%, compared with 3.78% for GBF.
NUBD tracks Bloomberg MSCI U.S. Aggregate ESG Select Index, while GBF tracks Bloomberg U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: Nuveen and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for NUBD and 0.20% for GBF.
NUBD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.36 vs 1.26), 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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