from24/7 Wall St.
1 day agoThe 4.5% Yield Is Only Half The Story
When bond investors chase yield, they often overlook the engine that drives total returns: price appreciation from interest rate movements. The iShares MBS ETF (NYSEARCA:MBB) demonstrates this dynamic perfectly. While its 4% yield attracts income seekers, the fund has benefited from mortgage-backed securities price movements in recent periods. What MBB Actually Does MBB provides exposure to agency mortgage-backed securities, the bonds backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae. These aren't the risky subprime mortgages from 2008. They carry implicit or explicit government guarantees, eliminating credit risk. What remains is interest rate sensitivity and prepayment risk.
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