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FIAX vs IUSB

Nicholas Fixed Income Alternative ETF vs iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF

FIAX

Nicholas Fixed Income Alternative ETF

Annual cost

0.97%

Fund size

$135M

IUSB

iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF

Annual cost

0.06%

Fund size

$36.5B

Key differences

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

Side-by-side comparison

FIAXIUSB
Annual cost (TER)0.97%0.06%
Fund size (AUM)$135M$36.5B
Since20222014
Dividend yield8.18%4.24%
Asset classalternativefixed income
Regionnorth americanorth america
Strategyoption incomeindex tracking
CAGR 1Y+5.6%+6.0%
CAGR 3Y+3.5%+4.6%
CAGR 5YN/A+0.6%
Sharpe 3Y0.000.21
Volatility 1Y4.27%3.66%
Max drawdown-6.26%-17.90%

Similar to FIAX and IUSB