Vanguard ETF: | 7.4%* | ||
Diversified Core: | 8.1%* | ||
Six Core Asset ETFs: | 7.3%* |
Articles on PCEF
- BND Leads US Total Bond ETFs
05/17/2011
Retirement concerns are important to us all. A well thought out, long term approach to investing is a key for retirement planning. This makes bonds attractive. The lower risk inherent in bonds make them a key part most portfolios. Today we look at total bonds
What are corporate Bonds? Companies need money for expansion, acquisition in new units, or exploring new markets. One way of raising these funds is through a bond issue. Bonds are corporate debt, and the attractiveness of them is determined by the organization's credit history. The key question arises over how the bond rates are determined.
Bonds rates are measured with respect to their position above treasury yield. This is to induce the investor to purchase their bonds assuming that if the rate is below the treasury yield no one will be interested as treasury is the secure of all bonds. Currently treasury yields are low making overall bonds look attractive. But there are secondary factors.
It has has been more than 31 months during which the FED has kept interest rates low. With inflations showing signs of returning with the record high price of oil and commodities we expect that inflation will keep rising. In the last six months the producer price index (PPI) has risen at an annual rate of 10%. That will feed into the consumer price index (CPI) over the next few months.
This is a serious concern for bond buyers and one reason they remain under pressure.
Please find below the table of major ETF's.
Description
Symbol
1 Yr
3 Yr
5 Yr
Avg. Volume(K)
1 Yr Sharpe
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF
5.32%
4.73%
NA
728
182.95%
iShares Barclays Aggregate Bon
5.35%
5.74%
6.24%
655
181.9%
PowerShares CEF Income Composi
11.37%
NA
NA
55
179.66%
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bon
7.47%
7.1%
NA
113
144.51%
From the above table we have a mixed picture of returns since the bonds are used as a fixed income returns usually. BND is the best as it has a significant history of 5 years as all the others are the new one in the markets. AGG has also good volumes making it attractive for investment. BND is also good in terms of return and heavy volume the overall return in 5.18% which I well above the treasury benchmark yield of 10 years. The expense ratio is 0.12%.
Please find bellows Distribution by credit quality as at 13-05-2011.
BND
AGG
US Treasury
69.7%
38.35%
Aaa
5.2%
36.86%
Aa
4.9%
2.99%
A
10.6%
11.21%
Baa
9.6%
10.59%
Total
100%
100%
From this we see AGG has better diversification in terms of credit quality rating compared to BND. There is a slight change from our previous article in which Baa grading has lesser concentration the revised BAA concentration is increased by the fund. Usually the lower the credit rating the higher the yield can be obtained from these bonds.
Total Bonds are very important from the portfolio perspective. There appropriate use can provide stability and a hedge when equities drop. The proper allocation of bonds in the portfolio not only provides the hedge in terms of volatility but also a good fixed income streams.
Exchange Tickers : (NYSE: BND), (NYSE: AGG), (NYSE: BIV), (NYSE: PCEF)
Disclaimer:
MyPlanIQ does not have any business relationship with the company or companies mentioned in this article. It does not set up their retirement plans. The performance data of portfolios mentioned above are obtained through historical simulation and are hypothetical.
- US Total Bonds Led By AGG, BND
04/26/2011
Retirement concerns are important for everybody. A well thought out, long term approach to investing is a key for retirement planning. The lower risks in bonds make them a key part of everybody’s. Today we look at total bondsTo understand bond returns one has to understand the bond dynamics. Companies need money for expansion, acquisition in new units, or exploring new market etc. One way of raising these funds is through a bond issue.
Bonds are corporate debt, and the attractiveness will be determined by the organization’s credit history. The key question arises over how the bond rates are determined.
Bonds rates are measured with respect to their position above treasury yield. This is to induce the investor to purchase their bonds assuming that if the rate is below the treasury yield no one will be interested in investing these bonds as treasury is the most bonds. Currently treasury yields are low making overall bonds look attractive. But there are secondary factors.
It has has been more than 30 months during which the FED has kept interest rates low. With inflations showing signs of returning with the record high price of oil and commodities we expect that inflation will keep rising. In the last six months the producer price index (PPI) has risen at an annual rate of 10%. That will feed into the consumer price index (CPI) over the next few months.
This is a serious concern for bond buyers and one reason they remain under pressure.
Please find below the table of major ETF’s.
Description
Symbol
1 Yr
3 Yr
5 Yr
Avg. Volume(K)
1 Yr Sharpe
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF
5.18%
4.34%
NA
780
183.34%
iShares Barclays Aggregate Bon
4.89%
5.33%
5.98%
683
173.31%
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bon
6.64%
5.01%
NA
123
130.96%
PowerShares CEF Income Composi
6.44%
NA
NA
55
57.91%
From the above table we have a mixed picture of returns since the bonds are used as a fixed income returns usually. AGG is the best as it has a significant history of 5 years as all the others are the new one in the markets. AGG has also good volumes making it more attractive for investment purposes. BND is also good in terms of return and heavy volume the overall return in 5.18% which I well above the treasury benchmark yield of 10 years. The expense ratio is 0.12%.
Please find bellows Distribution by credit quality as at 31-03-2011
BND
AGG
US Treasury
69.8%
38.66%
Aaa
5.3%
36.31%
Aa
4.9%
2.81%
A
10.4%
11.5%
Baa
9.6%
8.71%
Total
100%
100%
From this we see AGG has better diversification in terms of credit quality rating compared to BND.
Total Bonds are very important from the portfolio perspective. There appropriate use can provide stability and a hedge when equities drop. The proper allocation of bonds in the portfolio not only provides the hedge in terms of volatility but also a good fixed income streams.
Exchange Tickers: (NYSE: BND), (NYSE: AGG), (NYSE: BIV), (NYSE: PCEF)
Disclaimer
MyPlanIQ does not have any business relationship with the company or companies mentioned in this article. It does not set up their retirement plans. The performance data of portfolios mentioned above are obtained through historical simulation and are hypothetical. - US Total Bonds (BND): PowerShares CEF Income Composite shows good Performance
04/20/2011
Setting targets for your retirement nestegg must be evaluated based on the risks and the returns of the portfolio. The type of lifestyle achieved in retirement depends on decisions taken today.Bonds provide low risk, predictable income and are a key part of a portfolio. They are an investment with low risk and constant payments. In a previous article we outlined the types of credit risk that are possible for these types of investments.
All bonds are under pressure and the US total Bond market is in the lower half of the table as interest rates domestically are being kept low by the Fed.
Major Asset Classes Trend
04/15/2011
Description
Symbol
1 Week
4 Weeks
13 Weeks
26 Weeks
52 Weeks
Trend Score
Treasury Bills
0.01%
0.01%
0.06%
0.05%
0.12%
0.05%
Emerging Mkt Bonds
-0.45%
0.53%
0.47%
-4.3%
6.52%
0.55%
Frontier Market Stks
-1.63%
6.32%
-7.13%
-5.77%
11.34%
0.63%
Intermediate Treasuries
1.49%
-0.85%
-0.01%
-4.26%
6.86%
0.64%
Municipal Bonds
0.84%
0.45%
5.25%
-3.69%
0.57%
0.68%
Mortgage Back Bonds
0.71%
-0.1%
0.54%
-0.01%
3.92%
1.01%
Total US Bonds
0.82%
-0.26%
0.77%
-0.44%
5.01%
1.18%
US Credit Bonds
0.98%
-0.02%
1.32%
-0.21%
6.11%
1.63%
International Treasury Bonds
0.93%
0.07%
4.49%
-0.04%
10.44%
3.18%
International Developed Stks
-0.54%
5.23%
2.52%
6.94%
8.47%
4.53%
US High Yield Bonds
-0.05%
1.28%
2.68%
8.69%
14.88%
5.49%
International REITs
-0.1%
4.52%
1.25%
4.62%
21.16%
6.29%
Emerging Market Stks
-1.63%
8.33%
2.25%
6.58%
18.78%
6.86%
US Stocks
-0.61%
3.65%
2.9%
15.79%
15.39%
7.42%
US Equity REITs
2.49%
3.99%
6.7%
10.41%
23.94%
9.5%
Gold
0.97%
4.83%
9.31%
8.51%
30.39%
10.8%
Commodities
-2.35%
4.88%
11.24%
24.98%
28.54%
13.46%
In the very short term (1 week) US Bonds ended below other Fixed Income Investments, such as the Treasury Bills (SHV), which is short term focused (maturity less than a year), but Above Municipal Bonds (MUB) and International Treasury Bonds (BWX).
PowerShares CEF Income Composite (PCEF) is a diversified portfolio which includes mostly Bonds (44%), followed by High Yield Bonds (20%) and Options (36%). This provides low risk with a high one year return.
U.S. Total Bonds
04/08/2011
Description
Symbol
1 Yr
3 Yr
5 Yr
Avg. Volume(K)
1 Yr Sharpe
PowerShares CEF Income Composi
6.21%
NA
NA
57
55.92%
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bon
4.07%
1.7%
NA
129
71.62%
iShares Barclays Aggregate Bon
3.73%
4.49%
5.52%
715
114.39%
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF
3.03%
1.62%
NA
805
92.35%
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond (BIV) is, as its name suggests, a safer Bond in the Medium Term, with lower returns. In other words, a less risky portfolio, that comes with lower returns, composing the investments in 50% of the assets in Corporate Bonds and the other half in US Government Bonds.
BIV can be a good choice taking into account the maturity of the asset and that the risks of the investments can be due to significant changes on interest rate.
iShares Barclays Aggregate Bond (AGG) has a longer performance history. Despite lower 1 year returns, the 3 and 5 year returns are strong which translates into a good price/yield ratio.
Finally, Vanguard’s Total Bond Market ETF (BND), shows a lower one year returns, but showing longer history (3 years), and good volume. It is an ETF based on high quality, medium Weighted Maturity.
US Total Bonds deserve consideration for a diversified Portfolio for medium to long term objectives, linked with consistent returns.
Today Bonds are under pressure with many momentum strategies preferring cash. However, in the long term, a well thought out bond strategy is a critical piece of the retirement portfolio. PCEF delivers strong one year returns but is very new. Having AGG as the safe, proven alternative makes sense.
Symbols: CEF, BND, SHV, MUB, BWX, PCEF, BIV, AGG, Exchange, Tickers, (NYSE: CEF), (NYSE: BND), (NYSE: SHV), (NYSE: MUB), (NYSE: BWX), (NYSE: PCEF), (NYSE: BIV), (NYSE: AGG)
Disclaimer: MyPlanIQ does not have any business relationship with the company or companies mentioned in this article. It does not set up their retirement plans. The performance data of portfolios mentioned above are obtained through historical simulation and are hypothetical.
- US Total Bonds (BND): PowerShares CEF Income Composite shows good Performance
04/20/2011
Setting targets for your retirement nestegg must be evaluated based on the risks and the returns of the portfolio. The type of lifestyle achieved in retirement depends on decisions taken today.Bonds provide low risk, predictable income and are a key part of a portfolio. They are an investment with low risk and constant payments. In a previous article we outlined the types of credit risk that are possible for these types of investments.
All bonds are under pressure and the US total Bond market is in the lower half of the table as interest rates domestically are being kept low by the Fed.
Major Asset Classes Trend
04/15/2011
Description
Symbol
1 Week
4 Weeks
13 Weeks
26 Weeks
52 Weeks
Trend Score
Treasury Bills
0.01%
0.01%
0.06%
0.05%
0.12%
0.05%
Emerging Mkt Bonds
-0.45%
0.53%
0.47%
-4.3%
6.52%
0.55%
Frontier Market Stks
-1.63%
6.32%
-7.13%
-5.77%
11.34%
0.63%
Intermediate Treasuries
1.49%
-0.85%
-0.01%
-4.26%
6.86%
0.64%
Municipal Bonds
0.84%
0.45%
5.25%
-3.69%
0.57%
0.68%
Mortgage Back Bonds
0.71%
-0.1%
0.54%
-0.01%
3.92%
1.01%
Total US Bonds
0.82%
-0.26%
0.77%
-0.44%
5.01%
1.18%
US Credit Bonds
0.98%
-0.02%
1.32%
-0.21%
6.11%
1.63%
International Treasury Bonds
0.93%
0.07%
4.49%
-0.04%
10.44%
3.18%
International Developed Stks
-0.54%
5.23%
2.52%
6.94%
8.47%
4.53%
US High Yield Bonds
-0.05%
1.28%
2.68%
8.69%
14.88%
5.49%
International REITs
-0.1%
4.52%
1.25%
4.62%
21.16%
6.29%
Emerging Market Stks
-1.63%
8.33%
2.25%
6.58%
18.78%
6.86%
US Stocks
-0.61%
3.65%
2.9%
15.79%
15.39%
7.42%
US Equity REITs
2.49%
3.99%
6.7%
10.41%
23.94%
9.5%
Gold
0.97%
4.83%
9.31%
8.51%
30.39%
10.8%
Commodities
-2.35%
4.88%
11.24%
24.98%
28.54%
13.46%
In the very short term (1 week) US Bonds ended below other Fixed Income Investments, such as the Treasury Bills (SHV), which is short term focused (maturity less than a year), but Above Municipal Bonds (MUB) and International Treasury Bonds (BWX).
PowerShares CEF Income Composite (PCEF) is a diversified portfolio which includes mostly Bonds (44%), followed by High Yield Bonds (20%) and Options (36%). This provides low risk with a high one year return.
U.S. Total Bonds
04/08/2011
Description
Symbol
1 Yr
3 Yr
5 Yr
Avg. Volume(K)
1 Yr Sharpe
PowerShares CEF Income Composi
6.21%
NA
NA
57
55.92%
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bon
4.07%
1.7%
NA
129
71.62%
iShares Barclays Aggregate Bon
3.73%
4.49%
5.52%
715
114.39%
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF
3.03%
1.62%
NA
805
92.35%
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond (BIV) is, as its name suggests, a safer Bond in the Medium Term, with lower returns. In other words, a less risky portfolio, that comes with lower returns, composing the investments in 50% of the assets in Corporate Bonds and the other half in US Government Bonds.
BIV can be a good choice taking into account the maturity of the asset and that the risks of the investments can be due to significant changes on interest rate.
iShares Barclays Aggregate Bond (AGG) has a longer performance history. Despite lower 1 year returns, the 3 and 5 year returns are strong which translates into a good price/yield ratio.
Finally, Vanguard’s Total Bond Market ETF (BND), shows a lower one year returns, but showing longer history (3 years), and good volume. It is an ETF based on high quality, medium Weighted Maturity.
US Total Bonds deserve consideration for a diversified Portfolio for medium to long term objectives, linked with consistent returns.
Today Bonds are under pressure with many momentum strategies preferring cash. However, in the long term, a well thought out bond strategy is a critical piece of the retirement portfolio. PCEF delivers strong one year returns but is very new. Having AGG as the safe, proven alternative makes sense.
Symbols: CEF, BND, SHV, MUB, BWX, PCEF, BIV, AGG, Exchange, Tickers, (NYSE: CEF), (NYSE: BND), (NYSE: SHV), (NYSE: MUB), (NYSE: BWX), (NYSE: PCEF), (NYSE: BIV), (NYSE: AGG)
Disclaimer: MyPlanIQ does not have any business relationship with the company or companies mentioned in this article. It does not set up their retirement plans. The performance data of portfolios mentioned above are obtained through historical simulation and are hypothetical.