Cash Could Be Losing Its Luster—Consider Bond ETFs (2024)

Important Information

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund/Portfolio carefully before investing. For copies of our prospectus or summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, visit us online at www.alliancebernstein.com or contact your AB representative. Please read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

1 A basis point is a common unit of measure for interest rates and other percentages in finance. Basis points are typically expressed with the abbreviations bp, bps, or bips. One basis point is equal to 1/100th of 1%, or 0.01%.

Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index: The Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index represents the performance of securities within the US investment-grade fixed-rate bond market, with index components for government and corporate securities, mortgage pass-through securities, asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities.

Bloomberg US Corporate Bond Index: The Bloomberg US Corporate Bond Index measures the investment-grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bond market. It includes USD-denominated securities publicly issued by US and non-US industrial, utility and financial issuers.

Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield Index: The Bloomberg US Corporate High Yield Bond Index measures the USD-denominated, high yield, fixed-rate corporate bond market. Securities are classified as high yield if the middle rating of Moody’s, Fitch and S&P is Ba1/BB+/BB+ or below. Bonds from issuers with an emerging markets country of risk, based on the indices’ EM country definition, are excluded. The US Corporate High Yield Index is a component of the US Universal and Global High Yield Indices.

Bloomberg US Aggregate Securitized-MBS Index: The Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index represents the performance of securities within the US investment-grade fixed-rate bond market, with index coBloomponents for government and corporate securities, mortgage pass-through securities, asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities.

Bloomberg US Treasury Bellwethers 10 Year Index: The Bloomberg Barclays 10-Year U.S. Treasury Bellwethers Index is a universe of Treasury bonds, and used as a benchmark against the market for long-term maturity fixed-income securities. The index assumes reinvestment of all distributions and interest payments.

Bloomberg US Treasury One to Three Year Index: The Bloomberg US Treasury: 1-3 Year Index measures US dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, nominal debt issued by the US Treasury with 1-2.999 years to maturity. Treasury bills are excluded by the maturity constraint, but are part of a separate Short Treasury Index.

Shares of the ETF may be bought or sold throughout the day at their market price on the exchange on which they are listed. The market price of an ETF's shares may be at, above or below the ETF’s net asset value ("NAV") and will fluctuate with changes in the NAV as well as supply and demand in the market for the shares. Shares of the ETF may only be redeemed directly with the ETF at NAV by Authorized Participants, in very large creation units. There can be no guarantee that an active trading market for the Fund’s shares will develop or be maintained, or that their listing will continue or remain unchanged. Buying or selling the Fund’s shares on an exchange may require the payment of brokerage commissions and frequent trading may incur brokerage costs that detract significantly from investment returns.

Active Trading Risk: The Fund expects to engage in active and frequent trading, which will increase the portfolio turnover rate. A higher portfolio turnover increases transaction costs and may negatively affect the Fund’s return. Below-Investment-Grade Securities Risk: Investments in fixed-income securities with lower ratings (commonly known as “junk bonds”) tend to have a higher probability that an issuer will default or fail to meet its payment obligations. Bond Risk: The Fund is subject to the same risks as the underlying bonds in the portfolio such as credit, prepayment, call and interest rate risk. As interest rates rise the value of bond prices will decline. Credit Risk: A bond’s credit rating reflects the issuer’s ability to make timely payments of interest or principal—the lower the rating, the higher the risk of default. If the issuer’s financial strength deteriorates, the issuer’s rating may be lowered, and the bond’s value may decline. Currency Risk: Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments or reduce its returns. Depositary Receipts Risk: Investing in depositary receipts involves risks that are similar to the risks of direct investments in foreign securities. Derivatives Risk: Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in market conditions and may amplify risks. Emerging Market Risk: Investments in emerging market countries may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory, or other uncertainties. Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investment Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers may involve more risk than those of U.S. issuers. These securities may fluctuate more widely in price and may be more difficult to trade than domestic securities due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory, or other factors. Global Risk: The Fund invests in companies in multiple countries. These companies may experience differing outcomes with respect to safety and security, economic uncertainties, natural and environmental conditions, health conditions, and/or systemic market dislocations. The global interconnectivity of industries and companies, especially with respect to goods, can be negatively impacted by events occurring beyond a company’s principal geographic location, which can contribute to volatility, valuation, and liquidity issues. Inflation Risk: Prices for goods and services tend to rise over time, which may erode the purchasing power of investments. Interest Rate Risk: As interest rates rise, bond prices fall and vice versa; long-term securities tend to rise and fall more than short-term securities. Investment Securities Risk: To the extent the Fund invests in other funds, shareholders will bear to layers of asset-based expenses, which could reduce returns. Leverage Risk: Trying to enhance investment returns by borrowing money or using other leverage transactions such as reverser purchase agreements—magnifies both gains and losses, resulting in greater volatility. Market Risk: The market values of the portfolio’s holdings rise and fall from day to day, so investments may lose value. Municipal Market Risk: Economic conditions, political or legislative changes, public health crises, uncertainties related to the tax status of municipal securities, or the rights of investors in these securities may negatively impact the yield or value of a municipal security. New Fund Risk: The Fund is a recently organized, giving prospective investors a limited track record on which to base their investment decision. Non-Diversification Risk: The Fund may have more risk because it is “non-diversified”, meaning that it can invest more of its assets in a smaller number of issuers. Accordingly, changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund’s net asset value. Tax Risk: The U.S. Government and the U.S. Congress may periodically consider changes in federal tax law that could limit or eliminate the federal tax exemption for municipal bond income, which would in effect reduce the income received by shareholders from the Fund by increasing taxes on that income.

AllianceBernstein L.P. (AB) is the investment advisor for the Fund.

AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (ABI) is the distributor of the AB family of mutual funds. ABI is a member of FINRA and is an affiliate of AllianceBernstein L.P., the manager of the funds.

The AB ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Foreside is not related to AB.

AL-510801-2024-03-08

Cash Could Be Losing Its Luster—Consider Bond ETFs (2024)

FAQs

Cash Could Be Losing Its Luster—Consider Bond ETFs? ›

Investors who chill too long in cash on the sidelines could be missing out on strong potential from bond markets.

Can bond ETFs lose money? ›

Impact of interest rates on bond ETFs

Both long-term and short-term bonds are impacted by interest rate changes, but long-term bonds see a greater impact. Rising interest rates are one of the ways you can lose money investing in bonds.

Are ETFs considered bonds? ›

Are Bond ETFs the Same As Bonds? No. ETFs are pooled investments that invest in a range of securities. Investors can buy and sell ETFs like shares of stock on exchanges, and bond ETFs will track the prices of the bond portfolio that it represents.

Why are bond ETF prices falling? ›

Why Do Bond ETF Values Drop When Interest Rates Rise? In a rising-rate environment, prices of older bonds must drop to stay competitive.

What happens when a bond matures in an ETF? ›

In the final months when the bonds in the portfolio mature, the fund's holdings transition to cash and cash equivalents. After all the bonds in the portfolio mature, the ETF is closed and shareholders receive a final distribution equivalent to the fund NAV, after liabilities.

Is it possible to lose money on ETF? ›

An ETF with a low risk rating can still lose money. ETFs do not provide any guarantees of future performance. As with any investment, you might not get back the money you invested.

Why am I losing money in my bond fund? ›

Key Takeaways

Bonds are often touted as less risky than stocks—and for the most part, they are—but that does not mean you cannot lose money owning bonds. Bond prices decline when interest rates rise, when the issuer experiences a negative credit event, or as market liquidity dries up.

Is it better to buy bonds or bond funds? ›

Key takeaways. Buying individual bonds can provide increased control and transparency, but typically requires a greater commitment of time and financial resources. Investing in bond funds can make it easier to achieve broad diversification with a lower dollar commitment, but offers less control.

Is now a good time to buy bond ETFs? ›

Because short-term rates are elevated right now, investors can expect a high 5.5% yield to maturity thanks to its actively managed portfolio of investment-grade and floating-rate bonds.

Can I sell bond ETF anytime? ›

However, unlike individual bonds, most bond ETFs don't have a maturity date. And ETFs trade on an exchange, like stocks, so you can buy or sell them at any time during the trading day.

Do bond ETFs go up in recession? ›

Price Appreciation Potential and Recession Hedge

If interest rates decline in 2024, the market value of bond ETFs will likely increase, as prices move in the opposite direction of rates.

How long will it take for bond funds to recover? ›

The table on the right shows that bond prices often recover within 8 to 12 months. Unnerved investors that are selling their bond funds risk missing out when bond returns recover. It is important to acknowledge that some of those strong recoveries were helped by bond yields that were higher than they are today.

Can you lose money on bonds if you hold them to maturity? ›

After bonds are initially issued, their worth will fluctuate like a stock's would. If you're holding the bond to maturity, the fluctuations won't matter—your interest payments and face value won't change.

What is negative about bond ETFs? ›

In other words, bond ETFs are at risk if the borrower defaults as this means they may not pay the entire amount of the bond back. While there is no debt to an equity ETF, the underlying companies can still incur losses and lose value.

What is the best bond ETF for 2024? ›

Best bond ETFs June 2024
  • The best bond ETFs.
  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)
  • Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX)
  • iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG)
  • iShares Core Total USD Bond Market ETF (IUSB)
  • Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (SCHZ)
  • SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF (SPAB)

Why are bonds losing money right now? ›

What causes bond prices to fall? Bond prices move in inverse fashion to interest rates, reflecting an important bond investing consideration known as interest rate risk. If bond yields decline, the value of bonds already on the market move higher. If bond yields rise, existing bonds lose value.

Are bond ETFs still a good investment? ›

"Short-term bond ETFs have compelling yields, which will do well while short-term rates remain high," says Dave Francis, investment advisor and principal at Bartlett Wealth Management. "They also have the benefit of providing higher rates, even if the Federal Reserve begins reducing the overnight rates."

Are bond ETFs risk free? ›

Their daily transparency and the ease of tracking an index can be particularly appealing for those who value cost efficiency and operational simplicity. However, like bond funds, bond ETFs are also subject to market risk, including changes in interest rates and credit risk.

Is it better to buy bonds directly or ETF? ›

For many investors, investing in the right bond funds can be a better option than holding a portfolio of individual bonds. Bond ETFs can provide better diversification — often for a lower cost — can offer higher liquidity, and can be easier to implement.

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