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FIAX vs ISTB

Nicholas Fixed Income Alternative ETF vs iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF

FIAX

Nicholas Fixed Income Alternative ETF

Annual cost

0.97%

Fund size

$135M

ISTB

iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF

Annual cost

0.06%

Fund size

$4.7B

Key differences

  • ISTB costs 0.91% less per year.
  • ISTB is significantly larger than FIAX — larger funds tend to be more liquid and less likely to close.
  • FIAX is classified as alternative, while ISTB is fixed income — different risk/return profiles.
  • FIAX follows a option income strategy; ISTB uses index tracking.
  • Over the last 3 years, ISTB has delivered higher annualized returns.
  • ISTB has a longer track record, which may reduce uncertainty around long-term behavior.

Side-by-side comparison

FIAXISTB
Annual cost (TER)0.97%0.06%
Fund size (AUM)$135M$4.7B
Since20222012
Dividend yield8.18%4.20%
Asset classalternativefixed income
Regionnorth americanorth america
Strategyoption incomeindex tracking
CAGR 1Y+5.6%+4.4%
CAGR 3Y+3.5%+4.9%
CAGR 5YN/A+1.9%
Sharpe 3Y0.000.54
Volatility 1Y4.27%1.78%
Max drawdown-6.26%-9.34%

Similar to FIAX and ISTB