Relative Intelligence · Corporate Bonds

How AT&T Inc. 5.35% GLB NTS 66 (TBB) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives
Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on TBB alone. It places TBB (AT&T Inc. 5.35% GLB NTS 66) against 15 popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where TBB stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.
Period covered: TBB's full trading record, from November 2017 through September 2026. The crash tests reach back to 2000 using older funds and the S&P 500. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.
On this page12 sections
Key findings
- Right nowOver the past 6 months, TBB fell 13.7% while the S&P 500 rose 9.1%. At a glance ↓
- Stock or market?The weakness is TBB's own: it fell 9.7% over the past 3 months while the corporate bonds ETF LQD (iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF) fell 2.4%. The S&P 500 rose 3.9%.
- Past 1 to 3 yearsTBB has gone against the market, falling 18.4% over the past year while the S&P 500 rose 15.8%. The same gap shows up over 3 years (4.7% against 89.3%). TBB finished behind the S&P 500 in both 2024 and 2025. By year ↓
- Long termTBB turned $10,000 into $9,160 over the past 5 years, against $18,200 in the S&P 500. That said, over the past 5 years, only SOJC (Southern Company JR 2017B NT 77) and PRS (Prudential Financial, Inc. 5.62) of its corporate bond peers outpaced TBB. Growth of $10,000 ↓
- In a crashThe Covid crash took 15.3% off TBB, against 33.7% for the S&P 500, and less than corporate bond peers such as SOJD (Southern Company (The) Series 2, 38.1%). Crash tests ↓
- DiversificationOver 5 years, TBB's beta versus the S&P 500 was 0.30: 22% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 46% of its losses in falling ones. TBB fell in 17 of the 22 months the S&P 500 fell over the past 5 years: it usually fell with it. By year ↓
- Better options
- Popular alternatives
- PFF (iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF) earned more than TBB with less volatility over the past 5 years: a loss of 0.2% a year at 10.5% volatility, against a loss of 1.7% a year at 11.2%.
- Nearby categories and themes
- SPSB (State Street SPDR Portfolio Short Term Corporate Bond ETF, investment grade bonds) and USHY (iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, high yield bonds) earned more than TBB with less volatility over the past 5 years. SPSB returned 2.8% a year at 2.0% volatility, against a loss of 1.7% a year at 11.2%.
- Whole market
- 244 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than TBB with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them BND (Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF), AGG (iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF) and BNDX (Vanguard Total International Bond ETF).
How much would $10,000 in TBB have grown?
This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in TBB over the past 8 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of TBB over the same span and TBB's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.
Note: TBB began trading on November 6, 2017, so the chart cannot reach back to the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or three other sell-offs. It covers the most recent 8 years of TBB's record, starting at the end of September 2018.
- $10,000 invested in TBB at the end of September 2018 would have grown to $11,710 by September 2026, less than the $29,568 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Six of the seven other investments on the chart ended ahead of TBB, and T finished highest, at $16,850.
Choose a period
From the end of September 2018 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 2,297 of the 3,000 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of TBB; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 2 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- SPY (S&P 500)$29,568+196% total · +14.5% a year
- T$16,850+68.5% total · +6.7% a year
- VZ$13,391+33.9% total · +3.7% a year
- PRS$12,514+25.1% total · +2.8% a year
- PFF$12,495+25.0% total · +2.8% a year
- SOJC$12,095+21.0% total · +2.4% a year
- LQD$11,878+18.8% total · +2.2% a year
- TBB$11,710+17.1% total · +2.0% a year
- VCLT$11,049+10.5% total · +1.3% a year
From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 2,649 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of TBB; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
- T$16,172+61.7% total · +10.1% a year
- USHY$11,921+19.2% total · +3.6% a year
- VZ$11,648+16.5% total · +3.1% a year
- SPSB$11,418+14.2% total · +2.7% a year
- PFF$10,208+2.1% total · +0.4% a year
- TBB$9,565−4.3% total · −0.9% a year
- LQD$9,381−6.2% total · −1.3% a year
- SOJC$9,241−7.6% total · −1.6% a year
- AIZN$8,896−11.0% total · −2.3% a year
TBB at a glance
This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.
Note: TBB began trading on November 6, 2017, so every figure here, including its worst decline, covers only the time since then. None of them reflect the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or three other sell-offs.
- TBB's deepest decline since it began trading in 2017 was 19.4%, from September 2025 to October 2026. It has not yet climbed back to that peak.
- Over eight full calendar years, TBB's best was 2019, when it returned 26.6%, and its worst was 2022, when it lost 12.2%. It lost money in four of those years.
- TBB is 19.1% below its all-time high.
The company
- Market value
- $161B
- Industry
- Telecommunications Services
- Price history from
- November 2017
Returns
- Past 1 year
- −18.4%total return
- Past 3 years
- +4.7%+1.5% a year
- Past 5 years
- −8.4%−1.7% a year
- Best calendar year
- +26.6%2019
- Worst calendar year
- −12.2%2022
- Losing years
- 4 of 8full calendar years
Risk
- Volatility
- 11.3%typical yearly swing, 5 years
- Sharpe ratio
- -0.10return per unit of risk, 5 years
- Worst decline ever
- −19.4%Sep 2025 to Oct 2026
- From its all-time high
- −19.1%below the peak
TBB against the whole market
Where TBB ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.
How does TBB rank among all stocks?
This section ranks TBB on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how TBB stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.
- TBB is among the steadier stocks: its price swings rank in the top 1% of the 2,893 stocks worth at least $300 million, where the top is the calmest.
- On return for the risk taken (the Sharpe ratio), TBB ranks in the bottom 12% of the 2,893 stocks worth at least $300 million.
Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.
| Measure | TBB | Rank | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | −18.4% | 2,602 of 3,287 | bottom 22% |
| 3-year return | +4.7% | 2,255 of 3,017 | bottom 26% |
| 5-year return | −8.4% | 1,844 of 2,893 | bottom 37% |
| Volatility, 5 years | 11.3% | 7 of 2,893 | top 1% |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | -0.10 | 2,547 of 2,893 | bottom 13% |
What has beaten TBB on both return and risk?
Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). TBB sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than TBB with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.
- Four stocks and 240 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than TBB over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 7% of the 3,633 screened.
- Among those with at least half TBB's swings, POCT has the best return for its risk: 10.0% a year at 8.0% volatility, 29% less than TBB's 11.2%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.23 against -0.10 for TBB. FJAN earned the most, 11.1% a year, while still swinging less than TBB (10.5% against 11.2%).
- Among TBB's popular alternatives, PFF is in the region. PFF earned a loss of 0.2% a year against a loss of 1.7% a year for TBB, at 10.5% volatility, 7% less than TBB's 11.2%.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to TBB; faint dots are 44 more of the 244 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.
- Popular alternatives
- Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
- The whole market
- Others in the green region
- 2 with more than 1.6× TBB's volatility are in the table only
Is there a better investment than TBB?
Investments that beat TBB over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.
- Among TBB's popular alternatives, PFF earned more than TBB with less volatility over the past 5 years: a loss of 0.2% a year at 10.5% volatility, against a loss of 1.7% a year at 11.2%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, SPSB (investment grade bonds) and USHY (high yield bonds) earned more than TBB with less volatility over the past 5 years. SPSB returned 2.8% a year at 2.0% volatility, against a loss of 1.7% a year at 11.2%.
- Across the whole market, 244 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than TBB with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them BND, AGG and BNDX.
How this works
The table below lists investments that beat TBB over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks TBB's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than TBB follows the table.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than TBB's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× TBB's volatility counts as better.
These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than TBB's.
| Investment | Why it is better | Past 5 years | Downside | Long run | Fit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual return?higher is better | Volatility?lower is calmer | Sharpe?return per unit of risk | Worst decline?past 10 years | 5Y returntotal | Corr. with TBB?lower diversifies more | Expenseper year | |||
| −1.7% | 11.3% | -0.10 | −19.4% | −8.4% | 1.00 | — | |||
| +12.7% | 17.1% | 0.79 | −33.7% | +81.7% | 0.38 | 0.09% | |||
| Popular alternativesbest 4 shownThe investments people most often weigh against TBB. 4 of 12 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
PFFiShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF · Preferred Securities | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | −0.2% | 10.5% | 0.04 | −34.1% | −0.9% | 0.69 | 0.45% | |
LQDiShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF · Investment Grade Bonds | Similar return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | −0.9% | 8.7% | -0.06 | −25.0% | −4.3% | 0.53 | 0.14% | |
| Higher return in most periods | +9.8% | 25.2% | 0.50 | −39.4% | +59.7% | 0.09 | — | ||
| Higher return in most periods | +2.7% | 22.9% | 0.23 | −41.2% | +14.4% | 0.25 | — | ||
| Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Corporate Bonds and the categories next to it (Investment Grade Bonds, Junior Subordinated Debt, Preferred Securities, High Yield Bonds), plus TBB's specific themes. 33 of 47 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
SPSBState Street SPDR Portfolio Short Term Corporate Bond ETF · Investment Grade Bonds | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +2.8% | 2.0% | 1.38 | −11.8% | +14.9% | 0.46 | 0.04% | |
USHYiShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF · High Yield Bonds | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +3.6% | 7.4% | 0.52 | −22.4% | +19.2% | 0.39 | 0.08% | |
BSCRInvesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF · Investment Grade Bonds | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +1.7% | 4.1% | 0.44 | −17.3% | +8.9% | 0.43 | 0.10% | |
DUKBDuke Energy Corporation 5.625% · Junior Subordinated Debt | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +0.1% | 9.4% | 0.06 | −18.8% | +0.5% | 0.69 | — | |
FPEFirst Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF · Preferred Securities | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +2.0% | 6.7% | 0.34 | −33.3% | +10.6% | 0.54 | 0.83% | |
AQNBAlgonquin Power & Utilities Corp. · Junior Subordinated Debt | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +5.7% | 11.6% | 0.54 | −42.7% | +31.7% | 0.54 | — | |
| The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 489 of 3,574 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
| On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +3.7% | 0.3% | 14.05 | −0.2% | +19.9% | 0.13 | 0.14% | ||
VRIGInvesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF · Bonds | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +4.7% | 1.3% | 3.51 | −13.1% | +25.6% | 0.27 | 0.30% | |
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +2.7% | 2.9% | 0.94 | −6.3% | +14.0% | 0.23 | 0.03% | ||
FLOTiShares Floating Rate Bond ETF · Floating Rate Bonds | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +4.5% | 1.8% | 2.48 | −13.5% | +24.5% | 0.19 | 0.15% | |
FJULFT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - July · Multi-Asset | On the frontierHigher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +11.5% | 10.9% | 1.06 | −13.1% | +72.4% | 0.40 | 0.85% | |
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +5.2% | 8.9% | 0.61 | −25.4% | +28.5% | 0.37 | — | ||
| Higher return in most periods | +14.7% | 16.8% | 0.91 | −37.0% | +98.2% | 0.08 | — | ||
PZAInvesco National AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF · Municipal Bonds | Similar return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | −1.2% | 6.2% | -0.16 | −21.7% | −5.7% | 0.54 | 0.28% | |
What these numbers mean for TBB
- Annual return
- TBB lost 1.7% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $9,160. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
- Volatility
- TBB's volatility over the past 5 years was 11.2%, 66% of the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, TBB's return lands within 11.2% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
- Sharpe ratio
- TBB's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was -0.10, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so TBB earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
- Worst decline
- TBB's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 19.4%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 19.4% fall takes a 24.1% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
- Correlation
- Over the past 5 years, TBB's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.38 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against TBB instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a TBB holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 244 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than TBB with less volatility
Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. The strongest 56 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.
| # | Investment | Found in | Annual return | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline | 5Y return | Corr. with TBB | Expense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole market | +3.7% | 0.3% | 14.05 | −0.2% | +19.9% | 0.13 | 0.14% | |
| 2 | VRIGInvesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +4.7% | 1.3% | 3.51 | −13.1% | +25.6% | 0.27 | 0.30% |
| 3 | Whole market | +2.7% | 2.9% | 0.94 | −6.3% | +14.0% | 0.23 | 0.03% | |
| 4 | FLOTiShares Floating Rate Bond ETF · Floating Rate Bonds | Whole market | +4.5% | 1.8% | 2.48 | −13.5% | +24.5% | 0.19 | 0.15% |
| 5 | JAAAJanus Henderson AAA CLO ETF · CLO Bonds | Whole market | +5.1% | 1.7% | 2.98 | −2.6% | +28.0% | 0.28 | 0.20% |
| 6 | SHYiShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF · Treasury Bonds | Whole market | +1.8% | 2.0% | 0.89 | −5.7% | +9.3% | 0.37 | 0.15% |
| 7 | NEARiShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF · Short-Term Bonds | Whole market | +3.9% | 1.4% | 2.71 | −9.6% | +20.9% | 0.44 | 0.25% |
| 8 | VNLAJanus Henderson Short Duration Income ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +4.0% | 1.1% | 3.77 | −4.5% | +21.8% | 0.40 | 0.25% |
| 9 | FLDRFidelity Low Duration Bond Factor ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +3.9% | 1.2% | 3.09 | −12.2% | +20.9% | 0.50 | 0.15% |
| 10 | SUBiShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF · Municipal Bonds | Whole market | +1.4% | 1.7% | 0.85 | −9.4% | +7.3% | 0.44 | 0.07% |
| 11 | USTBVictoryShares Short-Term Bond ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +3.6% | 2.0% | 1.73 | −5.3% | +19.1% | 0.45 | 0.34% |
| 12 | LMBSFirst Trust Low Duration Opportunities ETF · Mortgage-Backed Securities | Whole market | +3.0% | 2.6% | 1.14 | −6.5% | +15.8% | 0.54 | 0.66% |
| 13 | RAVINorthern Trust Ultra-Short Fixed Income ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +3.8% | 1.4% | 2.61 | −3.7% | +20.2% | 0.31 | 0.26% |
| 14 | MEARiShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond Active ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +2.4% | 1.0% | 2.37 | −2.7% | +12.8% | 0.39 | 0.26% |
| 15 | SPSBState Street SPDR Portfolio Short Term Corporate Bond ETF · Investment Grade Bonds | Same or nearby category | +2.8% | 2.0% | 1.38 | −11.8% | +14.9% | 0.46 | 0.04% |
| 16 | BALTInnovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF · Crypto | Whole market | +6.3% | 3.3% | 1.85 | −4.9% | +35.7% | 0.35 | 0.69% |
| 17 | LDURPIMCO Enhanced Low Duration Active Exchange-Traded Fund · Bonds | Whole market | +2.4% | 2.1% | 1.13 | −8.7% | +12.3% | 0.36 | 0.54% |
| 18 | STOTState Street DoubleLine Short Duration Total Return Tactical ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +2.9% | 1.7% | 1.65 | −6.1% | +15.2% | 0.42 | 0.45% |
| 19 | FJANFT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - January · Multi-Asset | Whole market | +11.1% | 10.5% | 1.05 | −13.6% | +69.0% | 0.43 | 0.85% |
| 20 | BUFRFT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF · Buffered Equity | Whole market | +9.9% | 10.5% | 0.96 | −13.7% | +60.3% | 0.39 | 0.10% |
| 21 | TBUXT. Rowe Price Ultra Short-Term Bond ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +4.1% | 1.1% | 3.85 | −1.8% | +22.4% | 0.39 | 0.17% |
| 22 | IAGGiShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF · International Bonds | Whole market | +1.1% | 4.5% | 0.27 | −13.9% | +5.8% | 0.46 | 0.07% |
| 23 | SCHPSchwab US TIPS ETF · Treasury Bonds | Whole market | +0.1% | 6.1% | 0.05 | −14.3% | +0.5% | 0.36 | 0.03% |
| 24 | FLUDFranklin Ultra Short Bond ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +3.9% | 1.4% | 2.74 | −1.7% | +20.9% | 0.19 | 0.15% |
| 25 | JMUBJPMorgan Municipal ETF · Municipal Bonds | Whole market | +0.6% | 3.5% | 0.20 | −12.5% | +3.2% | 0.55 | 0.18% |
| 26 | JPIBJPMorgan International Bond Opportunities ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +2.5% | 4.2% | 0.62 | −13.1% | +13.3% | 0.52 | 0.50% |
| 27 | PMAYInnovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - May · Broad Market | Whole market | +7.1% | 8.6% | 0.85 | −13.0% | +41.2% | 0.32 | 0.79% |
| 28 | SIXHETC 6 Meridian Hedged Equity Index Option ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +10.2% | 10.2% | 1.00 | −11.7% | +62.2% | 0.06 | 0.31% |
| 29 | AVSFAvantis Short-Term Fixed Income ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +1.9% | 2.7% | 0.71 | −8.8% | +9.8% | 0.45 | 0.15% |
| 30 | FSMBFirst Trust Short Duration Managed Municipal ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +1.3% | 2.1% | 0.64 | −6.3% | +6.7% | 0.50 | 0.34% |
| 31 | FLRTPacer Aristotle Pacific Floating Rate High Income ETF · Financials | Whole market | +6.0% | 2.3% | 2.55 | −21.0% | +33.9% | 0.27 | 0.60% |
| 32 | MUSTColumbia Multi-Sector Municipal Income ETF · Bonds | Whole market | −0.1% | 5.7% | 0.01 | −13.8% | −0.4% | 0.50 | 0.23% |
| 33 | Whole market | +5.2% | 8.9% | 0.61 | −25.4% | +28.5% | 0.37 | — | |
| 34 | FLTRVanEck IG Floating Rate ETF · Multi-Asset | Whole market | +4.8% | 2.1% | 2.20 | −17.8% | +26.3% | 0.22 | 0.14% |
| 35 | Whole market | 0.0% | 5.9% | 0.04 | −17.9% | +0.2% | 0.55 | 0.06% | |
| 36 | BKLNInvesco Senior Loan ETF · Bank Loans | Whole market | +5.4% | 4.5% | 1.19 | −24.1% | +29.8% | 0.21 | 0.67% |
| 37 | SRLNState Street Blackstone Senior Loan ETF · Bank Loans | Whole market | +4.7% | 3.9% | 1.18 | −22.3% | +25.6% | 0.21 | 0.70% |
| 38 | FTLSFirst Trust Long/Short Equity ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +10.2% | 10.4% | 0.99 | −20.6% | +62.9% | 0.35 | 0.95% |
| 39 | USHYiShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF · High Yield Bonds | Same or nearby category | +3.6% | 7.4% | 0.52 | −22.4% | +19.2% | 0.39 | 0.08% |
| 40 | AORiShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF · Multi-Asset | Whole market | +6.4% | 10.7% | 0.64 | −23.0% | +36.6% | 0.48 | 0.20% |
| 41 | ACWViShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF · International | Whole market | +6.3% | 10.3% | 0.65 | −28.8% | +35.8% | 0.29 | 0.20% |
| 42 | VWOBVanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF · International Bonds | Whole market | +1.6% | 9.2% | 0.22 | −26.7% | +8.1% | 0.50 | 0.15% |
| 43 | EMLCVanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF · International Bonds | Whole market | +2.4% | 9.1% | 0.30 | −26.4% | +12.4% | 0.43 | 0.30% |
| 44 | PREFPrincipal Spectrum Preferred Securities Active ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +2.5% | 4.9% | 0.52 | −23.0% | +12.9% | 0.49 | 0.55% |
| 45 | BSCRInvesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF · Investment Grade Bonds | Same or nearby category | +1.7% | 4.1% | 0.44 | −17.3% | +8.9% | 0.43 | 0.10% |
| 46 | DUKBDuke Energy Corporation 5.625% · Junior Subordinated Debt | Same or nearby category | +0.1% | 9.4% | 0.06 | −18.8% | +0.5% | 0.69 | — |
| 47 | FPEFirst Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF · Preferred Securities | Same or nearby category | +2.0% | 6.7% | 0.34 | −33.3% | +10.6% | 0.54 | 0.83% |
| 48 | HEGDSwan Hedged Equity US Large Cap ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +7.9% | 9.5% | 0.85 | −14.5% | +46.2% | 0.39 | 0.88% |
| 49 | QAINYLI Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF · Alternatives | Whole market | +4.1% | 6.8% | 0.64 | −14.9% | +22.5% | 0.40 | 0.75% |
| 50 | CMSCCMS Energy Corporation 5.875% J · Corporate Bonds | Same or nearby category | +0.1% | 10.4% | 0.06 | −32.3% | +0.4% | 0.74 | — |
| 51 | HFSIHartford Strategic Income ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +2.3% | 4.9% | 0.48 | −19.3% | +11.8% | 0.51 | 0.49% |
| 52 | PFFiShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF · Preferred Securities | Popular alternative | −0.2% | 10.5% | 0.04 | −34.1% | −0.9% | 0.69 | 0.45% |
| 53 | CMSDCMS Energy Corporation 5.875% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2079 · Junior Subordinated Debt | Same or nearby category | −0.4% | 10.4% | 0.01 | −33.3% | −1.9% | 0.75 | — |
| 54 | DRSKAptus Defined Risk ETF · Crypto | Whole market | +2.0% | 7.5% | 0.30 | −19.9% | +10.2% | 0.48 | 0.79% |
| 55 | KORPAmerican Century Diversified Corporate Bond ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +1.3% | 5.5% | 0.26 | −14.9% | +6.5% | 0.50 | 0.29% |
| 56 | IBDInspire Corporate Bond ETF · Bonds | Whole market | +1.2% | 5.7% | 0.23 | −16.3% | +6.0% | 0.47 | 0.41% |
TBB against its popular alternatives
The investments people most often weigh against TBB, compared period by period and year by year.
How do TBB's risk and return compare with its alternatives?
This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at TBB, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.
- PFF, LQD and PRS were both more rewarding and calmer than TBB over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- Six of the 12 popular alternatives earned less than TBB over the past 5 years while swinging more, the weaker corner of the map.
- Over the past 5 years, TBB returned -1.7% a year, less than the S&P 500's 12.7%, with lower volatility (11.2% against 17.1%).
Green points earned more than TBB with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.
All figures
| Investment | Annual return | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | +12.7% | 17.1% |
| T AT&T Inc. | +9.8% | 25.2% |
| VZ Verizon Communications Inc. | +2.7% | 22.9% |
| PFF iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF | −0.2% | 10.5% |
| LQD iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | −0.9% | 8.7% |
| PRS Prudential Financial, Inc. 5.62 | −0.9% | 10.4% |
| SOJC The Southern Company JR 2017B NT 77 | −1.6% | 12.2% |
| TBB This pageAT&T Inc. 5.35% GLB NTS 66 | −1.7% | 11.3% |
| AIZN Assurant, Inc. 5.25% Subordinat | −2.4% | 18.8% |
| SOJD Southern Company (The) Series 2 | −2.8% | 13.7% |
| VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | −3.2% | 12.8% |
| SOJE Southern Company (The) Series 2 | −4.3% | 14.1% |
| DTB DTE Energy Company 2020 Series | −5.3% | 18.0% |
| PFH Prudential Financial, Inc. 4.125% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2060 | −5.4% | 14.2% |
Has TBB consistently beaten its popular alternatives?
This section compares TBB with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over seven periods from one month to five years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than TBB helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.
- Four of the 15 popular alternatives, led by VZ, PFF and LQD, outperformed TBB in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 2 long-term timeframes.
- VZ, PFF and LQD outperformed TBB in every long-term period and in all but one short-term period, the most consistent record in the group.
A green cell means the alternative earned more than TBB over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 2 long-term periods.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpehigher is better | Worst declinepast 10 years | Expense | Assets | Overlapsame sectors | ||
| TBB AT&T Inc. 5.35% GLB NTS 66 (this page) | — | −5.7% | −9.7% | −13.7% | −14.9% | −18.4% | +4.7% | −8.4% | 11.3% | -0.10 | −19.4% | — | $161B | — |
| VZ QualifiedVerizon Communications Inc. | 5/5 short2/2 longAll-weather | −5.1% | +4.0% | −1.0% | +17.2% | +16.4% | +71.5% | +14.4% | 22.9% | 0.23 | −41.2% | — | $185B | — |
| PFF QualifiediShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF | 5/5 short2/2 longAll-weather | −3.9% | −3.3% | −5.5% | −3.9% | −3.8% | +21.6% | −0.9% | 10.5% | 0.04 | −34.1% | 0.45% | $12B | — |
| LQD QualifiediShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 5/5 short2/2 longAll-weather | −1.4% | −2.4% | −3.9% | −2.9% | −3.9% | +19.7% | −4.3% | 8.7% | -0.06 | −25.0% | 0.14% | $29B | — |
| T QualifiedAT&T Inc. | 4/5 short2/2 longAll-weather | −6.8% | +8.0% | −8.2% | 0.0% | −5.9% | +77.2% | +59.7% | 25.2% | 0.50 | −39.4% | — | $161B | — |
| SOJC Regulated ElectricThe Southern Company JR 2017B NT 77 | 5/5 short1/2 long | −3.0% | −8.3% | −12.0% | −11.7% | −14.8% | +5.0% | −7.7% | 12.2% | -0.07 | −22.1% | — | $18B | — |
| AIZN Insurance - Property & CasualtyAssurant, Inc. 5.25% Subordinat | 5/5 short1/2 long | −1.8% | −8.6% | −9.7% | −5.9% | −8.7% | +19.2% | −11.6% | 18.8% | -0.04 | −28.9% | — | $14B | — |
| SOJD Regulated ElectricSouthern Company (The) Series 2 | 5/5 short1/2 long | −2.9% | −7.2% | −11.3% | −10.5% | −12.5% | +6.4% | −13.1% | 13.7% | -0.14 | −38.1% | — | $20B | — |
| VCLT BondsVanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 5/5 short1/2 long | −2.1% | −3.6% | −5.7% | −4.4% | −6.9% | +20.0% | −15.2% | 12.8% | -0.20 | −34.1% | 0.03% | $8.3B | — |
| SOJE Regulated ElectricSouthern Company (The) Series 2 | 5/5 short1/2 long | −1.9% | −5.2% | −7.3% | −7.7% | −11.3% | +5.5% | −19.7% | 14.1% | -0.24 | −30.4% | — | $103B | — |
| RZC Insurance - ReinsuranceReinsurance Group of America, Incorporated | 5/5 short1/2 long | 0.0% | +0.7% | +2.6% | +3.8% | +4.9% | +21.2% | — | — | — | −4.8% | — | $17B | — |
| PRS Insurance - LifePrudential Financial, Inc. 5.62 | 4/5 short1/2 long | −3.1% | −9.2% | −12.9% | −14.0% | −16.1% | +3.9% | −4.3% | 10.4% | -0.03 | −30.4% | — | $6.8B | — |
| PFH Insurance - DiversifiedPrudential Financial, Inc. 4.125% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2060 | 5/5 short0/2 long | −2.5% | −6.5% | −9.6% | −10.5% | −12.7% | 0.0% | −24.4% | 14.2% | -0.32 | −28.6% | — | $40B | — |
| PRH Insurance - LifePrudential Financial, Inc. 5.95 | 5/5 short0/2 long | −3.4% | −5.6% | −11.6% | −13.3% | −12.7% | +3.5% | — | — | — | −17.7% | — | $7.2B | — |
| DTB Regulated ElectricDTE Energy Company 2020 Series | 4/5 short0/2 long | −4.3% | −10.0% | −10.8% | −10.7% | −14.4% | +0.5% | −24.0% | 18.0% | -0.22 | −33.6% | — | $3.0B | — |
| DTG Regulated ElectricDTE Energy Company 2021 Series | 3/5 short0/2 long | −6.4% | −10.4% | −10.6% | −10.3% | −13.9% | +1.3% | — | — | — | −35.4% | — | $3.1B | — |
How did TBB do year by year?
This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 2018, along with where TBB ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with TBB and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.
Note: TBB began trading on November 6, 2017, so the table starts with 2018, its first full calendar year, and cannot show how it fared during the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or three other sell-offs.
- TBB finished ahead of the S&P 500 in one of its eight full calendar years, and behind it in each of the last three.
- Among its popular alternatives, SOJC came out ahead of TBB most often, in five of the eight years both traded.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, TBB finished in the top quarter in two of eight years and in the bottom quarter in one. In 2025, it ranked 16 of 16.
Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of TBB; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places TBB among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.
| Investment | Years ahead of TBB | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBB This pageAT&T Inc. 5.35% GLB NTS 66 | — | −3.3% | +10.2% | +14.7% | −12.2% | −0.7% | +8.6% | +26.6% | −10.0% |
| Rank among alternatives | Top quarter in 2 of 8 | 16 of 16 | 3 of 16 | 5 of 16 | 3 of 14 | 9 of 13 | 5 of 8 | 3 of 8 | 6 of 7 |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 7 of 8 | +17.7% | +24.9% | +26.2% | −18.2% | +28.7% | +18.3% | +31.2% | −4.6% |
| VZ Verizon Communications Inc. | 3 of 8 | +8.9% | +13.1% | +2.7% | −20.0% | −7.5% | −0.1% | +13.8% | +11.3% |
| PFF iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF | 3 of 8 | +4.9% | +7.2% | +9.3% | −18.2% | +7.2% | +7.9% | +15.9% | −4.7% |
| LQD iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 3 of 8 | +7.9% | +0.9% | +9.4% | −17.9% | −1.8% | +11.0% | +17.4% | −3.8% |
| T AT&T Inc. | 4 of 8 | +14.0% | +44.0% | −2.8% | +6.5% | −5.9% | −19.6% | +48.5% | −20.8% |
| SOJC The Southern Company JR 2017B NT 77 | 5 of 8 | +4.3% | −3.1% | +19.5% | −14.7% | +1.0% | +9.1% | +27.0% | −9.2% |
| AIZN Assurant, Inc. 5.25% Subordinat | 2 of 5 | +3.5% | +7.0% | +5.6% | −20.5% | +4.4% | — | — | — |
| SOJD Southern Company (The) Series 2 | 3 of 5 | +3.8% | −2.7% | +21.1% | −23.4% | +3.6% | — | — | — |
| VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 3 of 8 | +7.2% | −1.9% | +11.2% | −25.3% | −1.7% | +13.3% | +23.9% | −7.0% |
| SOJE Southern Company (The) Series 2 | 3 of 5 | −0.5% | +0.3% | +20.8% | −29.8% | +1.0% | — | — | — |
| RZC Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated | 1 of 3 | +5.7% | +5.9% | +9.5% | — | — | — | — | — |
| PRS Prudential Financial, Inc. 5.62 | 4 of 7 | +8.7% | −1.5% | +8.1% | −4.6% | +0.1% | +10.1% | +21.7% | — |
| PFH Prudential Financial, Inc. 4.125% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2060 | 2 of 5 | −1.4% | +1.0% | +12.4% | −26.8% | +2.3% | — | — | — |
| PRH Prudential Financial, Inc. 5.95 | 1 of 3 | +5.3% | +3.8% | +11.4% | — | — | — | — | — |
| DTB DTE Energy Company 2020 Series | 2 of 5 | −0.3% | −2.5% | +9.0% | −23.0% | +0.9% | — | — | — |
| DTG DTE Energy Company 2021 Series | 2 of 4 | −0.5% | −7.5% | +26.6% | −29.9% | — | — | — | — |
Risk and diversification
How TBB has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.
What were TBB's worst declines?
A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents TBB's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 2017, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.
Note: TBB began trading on November 6, 2017, so this list cannot include the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or three other sell-offs. The crash tests on this page show how older funds and the S&P 500 fared through those years.
- In four of TBB's five worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
- Not every decline was the market's doing: TBB fell 19.4% from September 2025 to October 2026, while the S&P 500 rose 18.0%.
- The longest climb back to a previous high took 13 months, after TBB fell 15.7% from October 2021 to November 2022.
Green means TBB fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.
| During | TBB fell | S&P 500, same dates | Peak | Low | Time to the low | Back at the peak | Time to recover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No named crash | −19.4% | +18.0% | Sep 2025 | Oct 2026 | 13 months | Not yet | — |
| Covid crash | −16.1% | −31.6% | Jan 2020 | Mar 2020 | 2 months | Jun 2020 | 3 months |
| 2022 bear market | −15.7% | −12.8% | Oct 2021 | Nov 2022 | 13 months | Dec 2023 | 13 months |
| Late-2018 sell-off | −12.2% | −6.2% | Dec 2017 | Dec 2018 | 12 months | Jan 2019 | 1 month |
| No named crash | −8.7% | −3.2% | Feb 2025 | May 2025 | 3 months | Sep 2025 | 4 months |
How did TBB do in stock market crashes?
This section measures how far TBB, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.
Note: TBB began trading on November 6, 2017, so its row reads "Not yet trading" for the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or three other sell-offs. The older alternatives and the S&P 500 show how those crashes played out.
- TBB fell less than the S&P 500 in four of the five crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the Covid crash, when TBB fell 15.3% and the S&P 500 fell 33.7%.
- None of its popular alternatives fell less than TBB in most of the crashes they both traded through.
- TBB began trading after the 2008 financial crisis, but four of its popular alternatives lived through it. The mildest fall among them was LQD's 21.5%, against 55.2% for the S&P 500.
Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than TBB.
| Investment | Held up better | 2023 regional bank crisisMar 2023 | 2022 bear marketJan 2022 | Covid crashFeb 2020 | Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018 | February 2018 volatility shockFeb 2018 | 2015 China and oil sell-offAug 2015 | 2011 euro debt crisisJul 2011 | 2010 flash crashMay 2010 | 2008 financial crisisOct 2007 | Dot-com bustMar 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBB This pageAT&T Inc. 5.35% GLB NTS 66 | — | −3.2% | −6.9% | −15.3% | −10.6% | −0.4% | Not yet trading | Not yet trading | Not yet trading | Not yet trading | Not yet trading |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 0 of 5 | −3.4% | −24.5% | −33.7% | −19.3% | −6.5% | −12.8% | −17.9% | −1.5% | −55.2% | −47.5% |
| VZ Verizon Communications Inc. | 2 of 5 | −2.6% | −33.2% | −13.6% | −12.5% | −7.4% | −10.5% | −9.9% | 0.0% | −43.9% | −55.2% |
| PFF iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF | 1 of 5 | −7.0% | −18.1% | −33.9% | −8.2% | −0.7% | −6.8% | −14.4% | 0.0% | −64.7% | — |
| LQD iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 2 of 5 | −0.1% | −21.3% | −21.8% | −2.6% | −1.2% | −2.7% | −3.2% | 0.0% | −21.5% | — |
| T AT&T Inc. | 1 of 5 | −1.6% | −29.2% | −30.6% | −18.3% | −6.5% | −8.6% | −9.1% | −0.3% | −44.4% | −63.5% |
| SOJC The Southern Company JR 2017B NT 77 | 1 of 5 | −3.0% | −16.8% | −21.4% | −8.4% | −0.8% | — | — | — | — | — |
| AIZN Assurant, Inc. 5.25% Subordinat | 0 of 2 | −5.0% | −22.7% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SOJD Southern Company (The) Series 2 | 1 of 3 | −2.3% | −23.4% | −38.1% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 2 of 5 | −0.4% | −28.9% | −28.2% | −4.5% | −2.4% | −3.9% | −4.9% | −1.4% | — | — |
| SOJE Southern Company (The) Series 2 | 1 of 2 | −2.2% | −27.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| RZC Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated | 0 of 1 | −2.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| PRS Prudential Financial, Inc. 5.62 | 1 of 4 | −3.7% | −10.1% | −29.7% | −4.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| PFH Prudential Financial, Inc. 4.125% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2060 | 0 of 2 | −5.9% | −23.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| PRH Prudential Financial, Inc. 5.95 | 0 of 1 | −3.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DTB DTE Energy Company 2020 Series | 0 of 2 | −6.5% | −29.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DTG DTE Energy Company 2021 Series | 0 of 2 | −5.0% | −32.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How closely does TBB move with the S&P 500?
Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares TBB with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 5 years.
- Over the past 5 years, TBB captured 22% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 46% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 0.30. Its share of the market's losses was larger than its share of the gains.
- T took just 35% of the S&P 500's losses, against 46% for TBB, while still keeping 52% of its gains.
- Five of the 12 popular alternatives had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than TBB's 0.48, led by T, VZ and PFF.
Monthly total returns over the past 5 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than TBB's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.
| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Capture ratio | Beta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBB This pageAT&T Inc. 5.35% GLB NTS 66 | 22% | 46% | 0.48 | 0.30 |
| T AT&T Inc. | 52% | 35% | 1.47 | 0.24 |
| VZ Verizon Communications Inc. | 42% | 58% | 0.73 | 0.26 |
| PFF iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF | 45% | 79% | 0.57 | 0.54 |
| PRS Prudential Financial, Inc. 5.62 | 30% | 57% | 0.52 | 0.34 |
| SOJC The Southern Company JR 2017B NT 77 | 55% | 109% | 0.50 | 0.71 |
| LQD iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | 31% | 65% | 0.48 | 0.45 |
| SOJD Southern Company (The) Series 2 | 48% | 104% | 0.46 | 0.65 |
| AIZN Assurant, Inc. 5.25% Subordinat | 36% | 80% | 0.45 | 0.42 |
| VCLT Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 40% | 96% | 0.41 | 0.64 |
| SOJE Southern Company (The) Series 2 | 42% | 104% | 0.40 | 0.60 |
| DTB DTE Energy Company 2020 Series | 50% | 125% | 0.40 | 0.72 |
| PFH Prudential Financial, Inc. 4.125% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2060 | 41% | 112% | 0.37 | 0.64 |
What diversifies TBB?
Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with TBB's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing TBB with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.
- Moving a fifth of the money in TBB into HDV would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 15% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (-0.9% for TBB alone, +1.9% for the mix).
- FIX made money in four of the four calendar years in which TBB lost money.
- Among large ETFs, LVHI, DXJ and EMLP have moved largely independently of TBB over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.31 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which TBB lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% TBB and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.
ETFs
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2025 | 2022 | 2021 | 2018 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBB AT&T Inc. 5.35% GLB NTS 66 (this page) | 1.00 | −8.4% | -0.10 | −3.3% | −12.2% | −0.7% | −10.0% | 12.4% | −0.9% |
| LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | 0.31 | +119% | 1.48 | +27.1% | +3.8% | +17.8% | −5.2% | 10.6% | +2.6% |
| DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.29 | +225% | 1.34 | +32.8% | +6.0% | +18.0% | −19.8% | 10.9% | +4.4% |
| EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund | 0.17 | +101% | 1.04 | +9.7% | +10.4% | +23.1% | −8.7% | 10.8% | +2.4% |
| HDV Dividend & IncomeiShares Core High Dividend ETF | 0.08 | +83.3% | 1.00 | +11.9% | +7.1% | +19.6% | −3.0% | 10.5% | +1.9% |
| SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.41 | +323% | 0.97 | +49.2% | −33.5% | +42.1% | −9.1% | 14.2% | +6.7% |
| DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | 0.43 | +85.0% | 0.96 | +23.1% | −5.1% | +19.6% | −9.5% | 11.0% | +2.0% |
| GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares | 0.19 | +126% | 0.96 | +63.7% | −0.8% | −4.2% | −1.9% | 11.1% | +3.0% |
| SPMO Broad MarketInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | 0.20 | +136% | 0.93 | +26.6% | −10.4% | +22.7% | −0.9% | 11.5% | +3.7% |
Stocks
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2025 | 2022 | 2021 | 2018 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBB AT&T Inc. 5.35% GLB NTS 66 (this page) | 1.00 | −8.4% | -0.10 | −3.3% | −12.2% | −0.7% | −10.0% | 12.4% | −0.9% |
| CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc. | 0.07 | +479% | 1.55 | +76.3% | +54.1% | −0.4% | −24.5% | 11.6% | +6.6% |
| CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc. | 0.10 | +3,143% | 1.47 | +220% | +1.3% | +37.9% | −16.3% | 16.0% | +18.3% |
| FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc. | 0.20 | +1,636% | 1.46 | +121% | +17.0% | +89.0% | +0.8% | 14.6% | +14.5% |
| MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation | -0.06 | +413% | 1.44 | +44.5% | +51.8% | +44.2% | −28.4% | 10.9% | +6.1% |
| MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | -0.13 | +690% | 1.41 | +19.2% | +86.6% | +61.0% | −8.2% | 11.1% | +8.6% |
Common questions
What was TBB's worst drawdown?
TBB's deepest decline since it began trading in 2017 was 19.4%, from September 2025 to October 2026. It has not yet climbed back to that peak. Because TBB launched in November 2017, that record does not include the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or three other sell-offs.
What were TBB's best and worst years?
Over eight full calendar years, TBB's best year was 2019, when it returned 26.6%. Its worst was 2022, with a return of -12.2%.
Is there a better investment than TBB?
Among TBB's popular alternatives, PFF earned more than TBB with less volatility over the past 5 years: a loss of 0.2% a year at 10.5% volatility, against a loss of 1.7% a year at 11.2%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, SPSB (investment grade bonds) and USHY (high yield bonds) earned more than TBB with less volatility over the past 5 years. SPSB returned 2.8% a year at 2.0% volatility, against a loss of 1.7% a year at 11.2%.
Is TBB more volatile than the S&P 500?
No. TBB's volatility over the past 5 years was 11.2%, 66% of the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, TBB's return lands within 11.2% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.
What is TBB's Sharpe ratio?
TBB's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was -0.10, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so TBB earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.
How correlated is TBB with the S&P 500?
Over the past 5 years, TBB's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.38 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against TBB instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a TBB holding.
What are the best alternatives to TBB?
Of the 15 popular alternatives we compared, four outperformed TBB in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 2 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: VZ, PFF and LQD.
Did TBB outperform the S&P 500?
TBB finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in one of eight full calendar years. In 2025, it returned -3.3%, against +17.7% for the index.
How did TBB do in stock market crashes?
TBB fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in four of the five major crashes it has traded through, and further in no. The clearest case was the Covid crash, when TBB fell 15.3% and the S&P 500 fell 33.7%.
What diversifies TBB?
These had a low correlation with TBB over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.31), DXJ (correlation 0.29) and EMLP (correlation 0.17); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.07), CLS (correlation 0.10) and FIX (correlation 0.20). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.
How we measure
- Short-term periods are 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y; long-term periods are 3Y, 5Y. An investment outperformed in a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than TBB's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of TBB's, whichever is larger, count as a tie.
- "Qualified" means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 2 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Popular alternatives are the funds and stocks most often compared with this one. We include only those that trade today, are not leveraged or inverse, and hold at least $200 million.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years, a measure of how much the price typically swings in a year. The Sharpe ratio is the return above cash for each unit of that volatility.
- A decline, or drawdown, runs from a peak to the lowest close before the next high. The worst decline ever uses all the price history we have; comparisons between funds use the past 10 years so that younger funds are judged on the same stretch.
- Sector overlap is the share of assets two funds hold in the same sectors. Correlation and the mixed-portfolio figures use monthly returns.
- Upside and downside capture follow Morningstar's definition: the compound monthly return in the months the S&P 500 rose (or fell), divided by the S&P 500's compound return in those months. Beta measures how strongly monthly returns have moved with the S&P 500. All three use the same window for every investment.
- Figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update after each trading day. Past performance does not predict future results.
More research
Popular alternatives to TBB
VZVerizon Communications
TAT&T
SOJESouthern Company (The) Series 2
PFHPrudential Financial, Inc. 4.125% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2060