Among intermediate-term corporate bond exchange traded funds, the iShares Intermediate Credit Bond ETF (NASDAQ: CIU) is a popular option.
CIU, which is over 11 years old, “seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade corporate, sovereign, supranational, local authority and non-U.S. agency bonds with remaining maturities between one and ten years,” according to iShares.
Intermediate-term bonds and the related exchange traded funds still have a place in portfolios. For instance, investors can consider investment-grade, intermediate-term Treasuries, corporate bonds, or both.
While CIU is well-established, well-known fund in its respective fixed income category, the ETF is about to undergo some important changes.
Changes Afoot For CIU
The $6.41 billion CIU currently tracks the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Intermediate Credit Bond Index, but “beginning no sooner than August 1, 2018, but no later than October 4, 2018, the fund will seek to track a new underlying index, the ICE BofAML 5-10 Year US Corporate Index, and will cease to track the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Intermediate Credit Bond Index,” according to iShares.
Also beginning Aug. 1, CIU’s ticker will change to IGIB. iShares “has approved a 2-for-1 split for this fund for shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 3, 2018, payable after the close of trading on August 7, 2018,” said the issuer.