iShares Barclays Aggregate Bond Fund (ETF) (AMEX:AGG)

SNHamilton (99.94) Submitted: 12/6/2007 4:06:32 PM : Start Price: $88.01 AGG Score: -34.62

I never really understood why someone would think bonds would be a better investment than stocks. This underperform rating on a randomly chosen bond fund is just my way of expressing that opinion.

demich310 (87.75) Submitted: 10/13/2007 9:22:12 PM : Start Price: $86.42 AGG Score: -39.78

It's a bond fund. I'm betting the market stays in positive territory over the next 5 years.

xdogg (< 20) Submitted: 9/13/2007 11:34:54 AM : Start Price: $86.76 AGG Score: -34.44

No way this beats the S&P in the long run.

Lance912 (69.15) Submitted: 8/31/2007 1:27:28 PM : Start Price: $86.72 AGG Score: -33.97

Easy points to make over the long run.

TheStreetWalker (89.91) Submitted: 8/22/2007 10:35:18 PM : Start Price: $86.19 AGG Score: +34.32

During times of market uncertainty, idex funds are the best bet for some stability in an otherwise unstatble time. Idex funds also a good idea for the long term as they follow the trend of the market or sector the index follows. This can give an investor, new to the game or an old hat, a nice steady return over time.

mweav (98.80) Submitted: 8/19/2007 11:38:00 AM : Start Price: $85.87 AGG Score: +33.39

should enjoy lower interest rate environment

LeoFender (33.23) Submitted: 7/26/2007 10:15:53 AM : Start Price: $85.79 AGG Score: -36.57

Bonds have been on a run, CRUSHING the stock market for the last two weeks. Now yields are lower and as they bounce back up the price drops. I believe the market will produce returns higher than 5% over the next 5 years. It's hard to imagine bonds producing much over 5% over the next 5 years.

scottw710 (21.33) Submitted: 7/24/2007 12:38:38 PM : Start Price: $85.58 AGG Score: +38.91

Pays a nice dividend. Steady growth with little volatility. Shows growth in strides when market declines. A great addition to balance your portfolio.

sandogtim (68.14) Submitted: 4/17/2007 1:33:36 PM : Start Price: $86.96 AGG Score: -32.49

It's bonds dummy.

evalyne (< 20) Submitted: 2/10/2007 5:22:33 AM : Start Price: $86.64 AGG Score: -30.61

over several months, the stock has not created a positive return

wutangfinancial (28.77) Submitted: 2/8/2007 4:07:22 PM : Start Price: $86.74 AGG Score: -31.21

bonds are still overvalued relative to the
p/e of the s

mkeatts64 (57.53) Submitted: 2/4/2007 9:18:46 PM : Start Price: $86.54 AGG Score: +31.27

steady long term growth ....aggressive

mjmcondor (< 20) Submitted: 1/24/2007 8:52:44 AM : Start Price: $86.78 AGG Score: -29.75

Past Performance as of late

NetscribeETF (37.64) Submitted: 1/24/2007 1:42:38 AM : Start Price: $86.78 AGG Score: -29.75

The fixed-income market, for a long time has lagged the exchange-traded fund boom, but can project a turnaround now, as ETF providers are gearing up to wrap every corner of the bond market. On the same line, ishares Lehman Aggregate Bond fund (AGG) has failed to attract investors’ sentiments since its inception in 2003.

The fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the total United States investment grade bond market as defined by the Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Index. Though it offers broad fixed-income exposure, the fund uses representative sampling to track its tally, which can sometimes prove detrimental to its returns. Endorsing the same, the fund has always lagged behind its benchmark index, reporting returns of 3.36% for the last one year as against 3.67% achieved by the benchmark index. Going further, it could get stung by rising interest rates.

This ETF invests in a smaller slice of the index and instead of owning all of the more than 6,600 securities in its target benchmark, it held less than 125 as of Nov. 30, 2006. Meanwhile, fairly recognized Fidelity U.S. Bond Index FBIDX seems to be well-diversified and own more than 1,300 issues as of the same date. Moreover, there also seems to be higher tracking error as AGG has trailed the Lehman Aggregate by 28 basis points since its inception.

With an average effective duration of 4.4 years, the bond fund looks more risky as longer-term bonds react with more volatility to interest-rate changes than do shorter term issues. Lastly, the ETF's 0.20% expense ratio is less than one third of the intermediate-term bond category average. Still, there are conventional options that can be purchased without a commission and charge the same annual fee, such as Vanguard Total Bond Market Index VBMFX. Given these reservations, the fund does not seem fit for the first priority.

kosch (69.45) Submitted: 10/16/2006 3:20:40 PM : Start Price: $86.33 AGG Score: -26.03

bonds loose to stocks, longterm