Year-to-date, the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEArca: HYG) and the SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (NYSEArca: JNK), the two largest junk bond ETFs by assets, are two of the top 10 asset-gathering ETFs.
The number of JNK shares owned by professionals filing 13Fs jumped 20.6% during the fourth quarter to 159.7 million shares while 68 funds added new positions in the ETF compared to 40 eliminating JNK stakes, according to Whale Wisdom.
There are now 260 bond ETFs, up from 62 in 2008, according to research from Tabb Group, reports the Journal. One of the newest entrants is the actively managed SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF (NYSEArca: TOTL). TOTL, which debuted last week, will be managed Jeff Gundlach’s DoubleLine Capital and sub-advised by State Street Global Advisors. The ETF already has nearly $120 million in assets under management.
Of the 100 largest U.S.-listed ETFs by assets, 21 are bond funds.
SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF
Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of HYG and JNK.