Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF

MBS

Market cap $147M

According to Bankrate's Mortgage Rates, the national average for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.61%. That's uncomfortably high and a major headwind to many prospective homebuyers, particularly those in the first-time category.

Agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) are quietly coming off their best year since 2002 — climbing over 8.5%. So far, the macroeconomic backdrop of 2026 suggests last year's rally was far from a fluke.

Higher-for-longer interest rates and a new Federal Reserve chair confirmation are only adding to the market uncertainty in fixed income. With that, active management has almost become a necessity when navigating current and future credit cycles.

Passive aggregate bond strategies have long been default options for advisors and investors looking to defray risk in equity-heavy portfolios while adding a reliable income sleeve. However, many of the ETFs and index funds tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and other related benchmarks come with drawbacks some market participants overlook.

The Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF is indeed a standout for its "pure-play" focus on residential mortgage credit and its prime ticker symbol. As of early April 2026, the fund is navigating a volatile environment where geopolitical tensions (specifically the Iran conflict) have pushed Treasury yields up by 20–30 bps. With an effective duration of 5.7 years, MBS is more sensitive to rate hikes than short-term Treasury funds (like IEI), but it captures the "excess spread" from mortgages.

MBS focuses on AAA-rated mortgage-backed securities. It yields 5.1%, quite a bit higher than most bond ETFs, including most with similar credit quality. It is a bit expensive, but has managed to out-earn its expenses in the past.

Angel Oak's majority stake sale to Brookfield Asset Management is a major catalyst for the MBS ETF. The fund already performs at the top of its peer group on a total return basis. Through its IG non-agency RMBS holdings, MBS offers a unique opening for BAM in a higher-yielding asset sector.

On Tuesday, Angel Oak Capital Advisors converted two of its existing mutual funds into ETFs. The Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (NYSE Arca: MBS) and the Angel Oak High Yield Opportunities ETF (NYSE Arca: AOHY) are both actively managed and target the fixed income asset class.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $AOHY #ETF--Angel Oak Capital Advisors completes conversion of two mutual funds to ETFs bringing new actively-managed structured credit funds to investors.