iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF

ISTB

Market cap $4.72B

Atlanta-based Cahaba Wealth Management added 66,931 shares of ISTB in the fourth quarter. The estimated trade value was $3.27 million based on quarterly average pricing.

Acorns Advisers added 793,589 shares in ISTB, raising exposure by $40.69 million. The transaction represents a 0.3% change in 13F reportable AUM.

The iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF (ISTB) offers a low-risk, short-duration fixed income play amid expectations for lower rates in 2026. ISTB tracks the BBG US Universal 1-5 Year Index, with a portfolio duration of 2.6 years and a 4% SEC yield. The fund is predominantly investment grade (88% rated AA or better) and holds over 6,800 securities, with 52% in Treasuries.

Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF delivers similar returns and risk to ISTB but at a lower expense ratio. BSV holds just 30 bonds versus ISTB's nearly 7,000, leading to different sector exposures.

On Friday, Lineweaver Wealth Advisors disclosed the sale of 201,311 shares of ISTB worth an estimated $9.8 million based on average prices in the third quarter.

Calming of credit spreads has restored performance despite upward yield curve translations being enduring. We worry about the remote risks to the USD currency status and the cost of capital implications. We also think that things could get ugly with tariffs still, and that credit spreads back to historical lows despite inflation risks from tariffs and limited pricing power is problematic.