
Cancel anytime
- Chart
- Upturn Summary
- Highlights
Upturn AI SWOT
- About
iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS)



- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- Pass (Skip investing)


(see disclosures)
- ALL
- YEAR
- MONTH
- WEEK
Upturn Advisory Summary
07/15/2025: CMBS (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type ETF | Historic Profit 9.52% | Avg. Invested days 80 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance ![]() | ETF Returns Performance ![]() |
![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() |
Key Highlights
Volume (30-day avg) - | Beta 0.71 | 52 Weeks Range 45.13 - 48.75 | Updated Date 06/29/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 45.13 - 48.75 | Updated Date 06/29/2025 |
Upturn AI SWOT
iShares CMBS ETF
ETF Overview
Overview
The iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade commercial mortgage-backed securities. It offers exposure to the U.S. commercial real estate debt market.
Reputation and Reliability
BlackRock is a leading global asset manager with a strong reputation for ETF management and a long track record of providing reliable investment products.
Management Expertise
BlackRock has a dedicated team of fixed-income professionals with extensive experience in managing CMBS portfolios.
Investment Objective
Goal
To track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade commercial mortgage-backed securities.
Investment Approach and Strategy
Strategy: The ETF employs a replication strategy, aiming to hold all or substantially all of the securities in the reference index.
Composition Primarily invests in U.S. dollar-denominated commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) that are considered investment grade.
Market Position
Market Share: The iShares CMBS ETF holds a significant market share within the commercial mortgage-backed securities ETF segment, although market share data is dynamic and requires real-time data updates.
Total Net Assets (AUM): 1432000000
Competitors
Key Competitors
- Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (VMBS)
- SPDR Portfolio Mortgage Backed Securities ETF (SPMB)
- Invesco Investment Grade Defensive ETF (IIGD)
Competitive Landscape
The CMBS ETF operates in a competitive landscape dominated by broader mortgage-backed securities ETFs. VMBS has higher market share due to its coverage including residential mortgages and higher liquidity. CMBS focuses solely on the commercial sector. Advantages for CMBS include the focus on commercial real estate and potentially higher yields, while disadvantages include lower liquidity than broader MBS ETFs.
Financial Performance
Historical Performance: Historical performance can be assessed through analysis of total return, dividend yield, and capital appreciation over various periods (e.g., 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year). This data is available through financial data providers.
Benchmark Comparison: The ETF's performance should be compared to the Bloomberg US CMBS Index to assess its tracking effectiveness.
Expense Ratio: 0.25
Liquidity
Average Trading Volume
The ETF's average trading volume reflects its liquidity, generally allowing for relatively easy buying and selling of shares. Check real-time volume to confirm.
Bid-Ask Spread
The bid-ask spread is typically tight for this ETF, suggesting relatively low transaction costs, but this should be checked before trading.
Market Dynamics
Market Environment Factors
Economic indicators such as interest rates, GDP growth, and commercial real estate market conditions can affect the performance of CMBS. Additionally, regulatory changes in the financial industry also can alter its holdings.
Growth Trajectory
Growth depends on demand for commercial mortgage-backed securities and overall economic activity. Any strategy and holdings changes require evaluation of underlying asset changes.
Moat and Competitive Advantages
Competitive Edge
The iShares CMBS ETF provides targeted exposure to the commercial mortgage-backed securities market, offering investors access to a specific segment of the fixed-income universe. Its affiliation with BlackRock provides a degree of brand recognition and confidence. The ETF's relatively low expense ratio compared to actively managed CMBS funds can be advantageous. A key advantage is offering diversification within the CMBS market. However, it still has significant competition from Vanguard due to broader MBS coverage.
Risk Analysis
Volatility
Historical volatility can be assessed using standard deviation of returns over various periods. Review this data before investing.
Market Risk
Specific risks include credit risk (default by borrowers), interest rate risk (changes in interest rates impacting CMBS values), and prepayment risk (early repayment of mortgages affecting cash flows).
Investor Profile
Ideal Investor Profile
Investors seeking targeted exposure to the U.S. commercial real estate debt market, looking for income generation and diversification within their fixed-income portfolio may benefit from CMBS. Someone familiar with bond risks, including defaults.
Market Risk
Suitable for long-term investors seeking to diversify a fixed-income portfolio. Not suitable for active traders seeking short-term gains due to the nature of fixed-income instruments.
Summary
The iShares CMBS ETF offers targeted exposure to U.S. commercial mortgage-backed securities, providing a way to diversify a fixed-income portfolio. Its expense ratio is reasonable, but investors should be aware of credit risk and interest rate risk. It's best suited for long-term investors seeking income. BlackRock's management expertise adds to its appeal, though it should be analyzed against broader market offerings and competitors such as VMBS before investing.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- iShares Website
- Bloomberg
- Morningstar
- ETF.com
Disclaimers:
The information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investment decisions should be based on individual circumstances and consultation with a qualified financial advisor. Data is based on available information and may be subject to change.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About iShares CMBS ETF
Exchange NYSE ARCA | Headquaters - | ||
IPO Launch date - | CEO - | ||
Sector - | Industry - | Full time employees - | Website |
Full time employees - | Website |
The index measures the performance of investment-grade commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), which are classes of securities (known as certificates) that represent interests in pools of commercial mortgages. The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the underlying index, and it will invest at least 90% of its assets in fixed income securities of the types included in the underlying index that BFA believes will help the fund track the underlying index.

Note: This website is maintained by Upturn Corporation, which is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investing in securities has risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. No assurance is provided as to any particular investment return, and you may lose money using our services. You are strongly advised to consult appropriate counsel before making any investments in companies you learn about through our services. You should obtain appropriate legal, tax, investment, accounting, and other advice that takes into account your investment portfolio and overall financial situation. You are solely responsible for conducting due diligence on a potential investment. We do not affect trades for you. You will select your own broker through which to transact. Investments are not FDIC insured, they are not guaranteed, and they may lose value. Please see the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Disclosure for more information.