The Best Performing Bond ETFs over the Last 10 Years
Updated as of: June 6, 2026
Bonds are often a dependable option for clients who prefer the relative safety of fixed income over an equity-focused investment strategy.
For advisors looking to gain their clients exposure to the bond market, bond ETFs offer a convenient and cost-effective method to achieve a diversified fixed income tilt for any portfolio.
Many types of bond ETFs are available on the open market, including those by issuer (ex. treasury bond ETFs, corporate bond ETFs, municipal bond ETFs), maturity (ex. short-term, intermediate-term and long-term bond ETFs), and credit quality (investment-grade and high-yield “junk” bond ETFs).
This article contains the best-performing bond ETFs from the last year all the way back to the past decade, with data routinely updated by YCharts.
To create this list, we analyzed the entire ETF universe using the YCharts Fund Screener to find the best-performing US-domiciled fixed income ETFs on a 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year basis. (ETFs with leveraged or inverse attributes as well as those in the alternative currency strategy and options arbitrage strategy peer groups were excluded to focus on long-term investment vehicles that align with broader financial planning goals)
Table of Contents
Looking for lists of the best-performing bond mutual funds? Check out our Best-Performing Bond Mutual Funds analysis here.
Best Performing Bond ETFs in the Last Year
These are the top-performing bond ETFs over the past year, as of May 31, 2026.
| Symbol | Name | 1 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Yield to Maturity | Effective Duration | Effective Maturity | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management | Peer Group Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVRT | Calamos Convertible Equity Alternative ETF | 73.37% | -8.82% | N/A | 3.663 | 0.69% | $21,709,833 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| FCVT | First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Sec ETF | 46.57% | -5.24% | 1.13 | 3.944 | 0.95% | $121,773,064 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| MBSX | Regan Fixed Rate MBS ETF | 42.57% | 4.62% | 3.98 | 19.405 | 0.40% | $16,558,197 | U.S. Mortgage Funds |
| ICVT | iShares Convertible Bond ETF | 40.93% | -2.96% | 1.24 | 3.866 | 0.20% | $7,219,908,199 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| CWB | State Street SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Sec ETF | 37.78% | -3.12% | 1.52 | 3.801 | 0.40% | $6,436,823,448 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| PFXF | VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF | 19.67% | 6.07% | N/A | 50.304 | 0.40% | $2,463,566,469 | Flexible Income Funds |
| SPFF | Global X SuperIncome Preferred ETF | 18.62% | 6.35% | N/A | 59.221 | 0.48% | $144,475,941 | Flexible Income Funds |
| VEMY | Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets HY Bd ETF | 18.57% | 7.39% | 4.73 | 8.257 | 0.55% | $21,505,099 | Emerging Mrkts Hard Currency Debt Funds |
| THTA | SoFi Enhanced Yield ETF | 16.28% | 3.69% | N/A | 0.193 | 0.65% | $44,672,158 | General U.S. Treasury Funds |
| EMBX | VanEck Emerging Markets Bond ETF | 15.89% | 6.49% | 5.22 | 7.902 | 0.76% | $240,955,132 | Emerging Mrkts Hard Currency Debt Funds |
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Best Performing Bond ETFs in the Last 3 Years
These are the top-performing bond ETFs on an annualized basis between June 1st, 2023 and May 31, 2026.
| Symbol | Name | 3 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Annualized 3 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Yield to Maturity | Effective Duration | Effective Maturity | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management | Peer Group Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCVT | First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Sec ETF | 80.08% | 21.66% | -5.24% | 1.13 | 3.944 | 0.95% | $121,773,064 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| ICVT | iShares Convertible Bond ETF | 77.10% | 20.99% | -2.96% | 1.24 | 3.866 | 0.20% | $7,219,908,199 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| CWB | State Street SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Sec ETF | 71.22% | 19.63% | -3.12% | 1.52 | 3.801 | 0.40% | $6,436,823,448 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| VEMY | Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets HY Bd ETF | 56.58% | 16.12% | 7.39% | 4.73 | 8.257 | 0.55% | $21,505,099 | Emerging Mrkts Hard Currency Debt Funds |
| PFFA | Virtus InfraCap US Preferred Stock ETF | 54.13% | 15.51% | 7.52% | N/A | 17.683 | 2.11% | $2,412,809,197 | Flexible Income Funds |
| PFIX | Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF | 52.54% | 15.11% | 3.69% | 35.72 | 0.182 | 0.50% | $228,808,221 | Inflation Protected Bond Funds |
| EMHY | iShares JP Morgan EM High Yield Bond ETF | 46.51% | 13.58% | 6.90% | 4.95 | 8.848 | 0.50% | $593,025,876 | Emerging Mrkts Hard Currency Debt Funds |
| PCY | Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF | 39.30% | 11.68% | 6.45% | 10.05 | 20.229 | 0.50% | $1,388,599,129 | Emerging Mrkts Hard Currency Debt Funds |
| XEMD | BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Mkts 1-10 Yr ETF | 38.35% | 11.43% | 5.91% | 4.11 | 5.018 | 0.29% | $944,958,940 | Emerging Mrkts Hard Currency Debt Funds |
| HYEM | VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF | 37.78% | 11.28% | 6.82% | 3.53 | 5.845 | 0.40% | $508,964,814 | Emerging Mrkts Hard Currency Debt Funds |
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Best Performing Bond ETFs in the Last 5 Years
These are the top-performing ETFs on an annualized basis between June 1, 2021 and May 31, 2026.
| Symbol | Name | 5 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Annualized 5 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Yield to Maturity | Effective Duration | Effective Maturity | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management | Peer Group Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFIX | Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF | 108.58% | 15.84% | 3.69% | 35.72 | 0.182 | 0.50% | $228,808,221 | Inflation Protected Bond Funds |
| ICVT | iShares Convertible Bond ETF | 43.36% | 7.47% | -2.96% | 1.24 | 3.866 | 0.20% | $7,219,908,199 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| FCVT | First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Sec ETF | 42.23% | 7.30% | -5.24% | 1.13 | 3.944 | 0.95% | $121,773,064 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| CWB | State Street SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Sec ETF | 41.72% | 7.22% | -3.12% | 1.52 | 3.801 | 0.40% | $6,436,823,448 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| HYHG | ProShares High Yield-Interest Rate Hedged | 40.60% | 7.05% | 6.08% | -0.02 | 5.814 | 0.50% | $174,273,615 | High Yield Funds |
| HYGH | iShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF | 40.39% | 7.02% | 6.59% | 0.05 | 4.878 | 0.52% | $530,947,387 | High Yield Funds |
| PFFA | Virtus InfraCap US Preferred Stock ETF | 39.34% | 6.86% | 7.52% | N/A | 17.683 | 2.11% | $2,412,809,197 | Flexible Income Funds |
| HYZD | WisdomTree Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond Fd | 34.60% | 6.12% | 5.73% | 0.3 | 5.042 | 0.43% | $236,858,686 | High Yield Funds |
| FLRT | Pacer Aristotle Pacific Fltng Rate High Income ETF | 33.84% | 6.00% | 7.76% | N/A | 7.034 | 0.60% | $621,507,148 | Loan Participation Funds |
| SEIX | Virtus Seix Senior Loan ETF | 32.43% | 5.78% | 7.61% | 0.03 | 4.940 | 0.57% | $249,854,331 | Loan Participation Funds |
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Best Performing Dividend ETFs in the Last 10 Years
These are the top-performing ETFs on an annualized basis between June 1, 2016 and May 31, 2026.
| Symbol | Name | 10 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Annualized 10 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Yield to Maturity | Effective Duration | Effective Maturity | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management | Peer Group Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICVT | iShares Convertible Bond ETF | 264.70% | 13.81% | -2.96% | 1.24 | 3.866 | 0.20% | $7,219,908,199 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| CWB | State Street SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Sec ETF | 233.33% | 12.79% | -3.12% | 1.52 | 3.801 | 0.40% | $6,436,823,448 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| FCVT | First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Sec ETF | 224.85% | 12.50% | -5.24% | 1.13 | 3.944 | 0.95% | $121,773,064 | Convertible Securities Funds |
| ANGL | VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF | 85.87% | 6.39% | 6.41% | 4.58 | 7.657 | 0.25% | $3,078,181,465 | High Yield Funds |
| HYGH | iShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond ETF | 84.47% | 6.31% | 6.59% | 0.05 | 4.878 | 0.52% | $530,947,387 | High Yield Funds |
| HYHG | ProShares High Yield-Interest Rate Hedged | 80.93% | 6.11% | 6.08% | -0.02 | 5.814 | 0.50% | $174,273,615 | High Yield Funds |
| YLD | Principal Active High Yield ETF | 78.51% | 5.97% | 6.31% | N/A | 5.641 | 0.39% | $554,029,394 | High Yield Funds |
| HYFI | AB High Yield ETF | 77.08% | 5.88% | 6.14% | 3.58 | 4.817 | 0.40% | $340,837,891 | High Yield Funds |
| SJNK | State Street SPDR Bloomberg Shrt Trm Hg Yld Bd ETF | 72.06% | 5.58% | 5.52% | 1.98 | 2.519 | 0.40% | $4,790,201,929 | Short High Yield Funds |
| PFXF | VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF | 71.53% | 5.54% | 6.07% | N/A | 50.304 | 0.40% | $2,463,566,469 | Flexible Income Funds |
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What Was the Growth of $10,000 in the Top Bond ETFs Over the Last 10 Years?
The best-performing bond ETF in the last ten years was the iShares Convertible Bond ETF (ICVT). A $10,000 investment into ICVT 10 years ago would be worth $36,470 today, netting a 13.82% annualized total return. Right behind it was the State Street SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Sec ETF (CWB); investing $10,000 into CWB back in 2016 would’ve turned into $33,330 and a 12.80% annualized return assuming dividend reinvestment.
The ten best-performing bond ETFs over the last ten years successfully beat inflation during that timespan. By contrast, investing $10,000 into a benchmark bond index such as the Bloomberg US Aggregate index netted a total return of just 18.36% over the last ten years, or 1.70% on an annualized basis, which fell short of beating inflation over the last decade.
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