FlexShares Ultra-Short Income Fund ETF warrants a sell rating due to the risk of declining interest rates impacting bond yields and increasing opportunity costs. RAVI offers a high yield compared to peers but has a higher expense ratio and lower quality bond ratings, increasing investor risk. Declining interest rates are expected to reduce RAVI's yield, making it less attractive compared to equities and other asset classes.
Many investors still find themselves sitting on excess cash in their portfolios, an unsurprising fact given ongoing volatility and uncertainty. Brian Kennedy of Loomis, Sayles & Company and Ronit Walny of Northern Trust Asset Management joined VettaFi's Cinthia Murphy to discuss how they're thinking about bonds in the year's final quarter.
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The fund is designed for investors seeking a diversified fixed-income portfolio with a primary focus on bonds, debt securities, and similar instruments from both U.S. and international issuers. By allocating at least 80% of its total assets in these fixed-income vehicles, the fund aims to provide a stable stream of income while managing the risks inherent in the fixed-income market. The fund's strategy of keeping the dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity under two years caters to investors looking for lower interest rate risk compared to longer-term fixed-income investments. Additionally, the ability to invest up to 20% of its assets in emerging markets offers the potential for higher yields, albeit with increased risk.
The fund invests primarily in bonds, debt securities, and other similar instruments issued by both U.S. and non-U.S. entities. This includes public and private sector issuers, providing a broad exposure to the fixed-income market. The investment in these instruments is aimed at generating income for the fund's investors while managing risk through diversification.
Maintaining a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of normally not more than two years, the fund focuses on investments that are less sensitive to interest rate changes. This strategy is particularly appealing for investors concerned about the potential impact of rising rates on the value of longer-term fixed-income investments.
Up to 20% of the fund's total assets may be invested in fixed-income securities and instruments of issuers in emerging markets. This component of the fund's portfolio offers investors the opportunity to tap into higher yield potentials associated with emerging market investments, while also adding an element of diversification to reduce overall portfolio risk.