BlackRock ETF Trust II iShares AAA CLO Active ETF

CLOA

Market cap $1.38B

Bought 499,926 shares; estimated trade size $25.87 million (based on average quarterly price). Position represents 3.17% of 13F reportable AUM.

Constructing a stable income portfolio in today's volatile market favors CLO bond ETFs with strong yield and minimal drawdown. My recent portfolio revision removed underperforming or volatile funds, and adding top-performing AAA CLO ETFs and a diversified alternative. PAAA, CLOB, and UYLD are highlighted for superior total return, low drawdown, and attractive yield in their respective classes, with UYLD offering a near-treasury risk profile but higher yield.

The iShares AAA CLO Active ETF offers higher yields than money market funds with minimal credit and interest rate risk, focusing on AAA CLO tranches. CLOA provides a 5.1-5.4% yield, extremely low duration risk (0.11 years), and strong portfolio diversification across 373 positions. Management fees are competitive at 0.20%, and over 98% of assets are AAA-rated, ensuring a conservative risk profile within the CLO ETF universe.

On October 6, 2025, INSPIRION Wealth Advisors, LLC reported selling out of BlackRock ETF Trust II - iShares AAA CLO Active ETF (CLOA 0.08%), an estimated $22.62 million transaction.

On Thursday, Adams Wealth Management disclosed that it reduced its position in the iShares AAA CLO Active ETF by nearly 65,000 shares—cutting about 20% of its holdings in the fund.

CLOA is a solid AAA CLO ETF, but JAAA offers a better risk-adjusted return and higher liquidity. A 50/50 mix of JAAA and CLOI matches CLOA's risk with superior returns and improved trading volume. The CLO market outlook is positive, but CLOA's advantages are not unique among peers, making alternatives more compelling.

The 10-Year Treasury yield signals that the market does not expect a recession in the near term. Current yield levels suggest inflation expectations remain elevated compared to recent years. Investors should interpret the bond market as pricing in persistent inflation rather than imminent economic contraction.

The iShares AAA CLO Active ETF is downgraded from 'Buy' to 'Hold' due to less favorable interest rate conditions and market risk exposure. CLOA holds a high-quality portfolio of mostly AAA CLOs, offering low interest rate duration and a 5.6% SEC yield. Despite a low probability of default, AAA CLOs are not risk-free and can experience drawdowns during market stress, as seen recently.

AAA CLOs, like the iShares AAA CLO Active ETF, offer compelling income-based attributes and limited price sensitivity in today's uncertain economic climate. CLOA ETF invests primarily in AAA-rated CLO tranches, providing liquid access to an illiquid asset with a weighted average coupon of 5.82%. Despite potential risks, CLOA ETF has shown consistent returns and benefits from a higher-for-longer interest rate outlook and rising demand for CLO vehicles.

Investors have upped their interest in actively managed bond ETFs, pouring record capital into them in January as some paid up in hopes of stronger returns.