BNDX vs IAGG Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
BNDX (Vanguard) and IAGG (iShares) are nearly identical international investment-grade bond ETFs with the same expense ratio (0.07%), similar USD-hedged international bond exposure, and negligible tracking difference. The choice between them is primarily determined by which brokerage platform you use (Vanguard investors may prefer BNDX; others may prefer IAGG) rather than fundamental differences.
BNDX vs IAGG is an ETF brand comparison more than a product comparison — both provide nearly identical low-cost, USD-hedged international investment-grade bond exposure and are effectively interchangeable for most portfolio purposes.
BNDX and IAGG are closely matched — they split the tracked metrics evenly. IAGG has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+2.69% vs +2.25% for BNDX).
- →Use Vanguard brokerage or prefer Vanguard fund family for their portfolio construction
- →Want Vanguard's cooperative ownership structure and long-term alignment with investor interests
- →Are building a Vanguard three-fund or total market portfolio where BNDX is the standard international bond component
- →Use Fidelity, Schwab, or another brokerage offering iShares ETFs commission-free
- →Prefer BlackRock/iShares as their ETF provider for international bond exposure
- →Want a slightly different index methodology (10% issuer cap) versus BNDX's RIC capping approach for minor tracking difference
| Metric | BNDX | IAGG |
|---|---|---|
| ETF score | 48.0 | 38.0 |
| Latest close | $48.35 | $50.53 |
| 1M return | +1.84% | +1.72% |
| 6M return | +1.19% | +1.70% |
| 1Y return | +2.25% | +2.69% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | BNDX | IAGG |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $10.69K (+6.9%) started 2025-06-18 | $10.65K (+6.5%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $12.54K (+25.4%) started 2021-06-18 | $12.39K (+23.9%) started 2021-06-18 |
| 10Y ago | $16.86K (+68.6%) started 2016-06-20 | $16.61K (+66.1%) started 2016-06-20 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | BNDX | IAGG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.07% | 0.07% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $122.03B | $13.48B |
| Dividend yield | 4.46% | 3.65% |
| Trailing P/E | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.22 | 0.22 |
| 52-week change | 2.25% | 2.69% |
| Metric | BNDX | IAGG |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y return | +2.25% | +2.69% |
| 6M return | +1.19% | +1.70% |
| 1M return | +1.84% | +1.72% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | -0.64 | -0.63 |
| Beta | 0.22 | 0.22 |
| Dividend yield | 4.46% | 3.65% |
| 5Y CAGR | +0.43% | +1.18% |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | BNDX | IAGG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +2.25% | +2.69% |
| CAGR | +2.25% | +2.70% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.64 | -0.63 | |
| Max drawdown | 2.93% | 2.32% | |
| Max daily drop | 0.83% | 0.68% | |
| Max wkly drop | 1.34% | 1.02% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +2.18% | +6.02% |
| CAGR | +0.43% | +1.18% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.81 | -0.72 | |
| Max drawdown | 15.86% | 13.57% | |
| Max daily drop | 1.46% | 1.05% | |
| Max wkly drop | 3.26% | 2.65% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +18.81% | +24.58% |
| CAGR | +1.74% | +2.22% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.66 | -0.55 | |
| Max drawdown | 16.23% | 13.88% | |
| Max daily drop | 2.29% | 2.11% | |
| Max wkly drop | 5.32% | 5.22% |
| Category | BNDX | IAGG |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund | iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratio | 0.07% | 0.07% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $122.03B | $13.48B |
| Dividend yield | 4.46% | 3.65% |
- →Extremely low expense ratio (0.07%) — Vanguard's scale and fund structure provides one of the lowest-cost options in international bond investing
- →USD currency hedge eliminates foreign currency exchange rate risk from international bond holdings, providing cleaner fixed income exposure
- →Broad diversification across thousands of international government and corporate bonds across developed and emerging markets
- →Competitive 0.07% expense ratio matching Vanguard's BNDX — iShares has matched Vanguard's price leadership in core international bond ETFs
- →BlackRock/iShares brand recognition provides institutional credibility alongside Vanguard for international bond allocation
- →Broad international investment-grade bond exposure with USD currency hedge similar to BNDX
- →USD hedging has a cost that varies with interest rate differentials between the U.S. and foreign markets — when U.S. rates are higher, hedging is more expensive and erodes return
- →International bonds often have lower yields than U.S. bonds when accounting for hedging costs, reducing the income benefit of diversification
- →Duration and interest rate sensitivity vary with the global bond market composition included in the index
- →Index composition differs slightly from BNDX due to different index provider (Bloomberg-based but with different cap methodology) — tracking difference vs BNDX is minimal but non-zero
- →Same USD hedging cost dynamics as BNDX reduce returns when U.S. interest rates are elevated versus international rates
- →For most investors, BNDX and IAGG are interchangeable — the primary reason to prefer one over the other is which brokerage platform offers commission-free trading
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