At a glance
IBHF charges 0.35% a year, above the 0.19% average of the 7 funds most like it (the 6th cheapest of 8). It has $810.4M in assets, the 8th largest of that group; it paid 5.73% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, monthly. Over the past year it returned +2.0% with distributions reinvested, 3rd of those 8 funds; over three years it returned +7.2% a year. At its worst it fell 11.1% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 17 months after the low. Its ten largest positions make up 23.9% of the fund, out of 116 in all.
The short version
iShares iBonds 2026 Term High Yield and Income ETF (IBHF) tracks the Bloomberg 2026 Term High Yield and Income Index. That index is made up of high-yield and BBB-rated corporate bonds that mature in 2026. The fund has an end date: it is scheduled to close on or about December 15, 2026 and pay its remaining assets back to shareholders. Its 0.35% expense ratio is higher than the 0.19% average of similar funds.
Price history
The interactive chart needs JavaScript.
IBHF +2.0% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBHF official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +6.65% | — | +4.57% | — | +4.82% |
| Bloomberg US Universal Index index, same period | — | +7.58% | — | +0.06% | — | +0.33% |
| Bloomberg2026Term High Yield And Income Index index, same period | — | +7.16% | — | +4.92% | — | +5.21% |
| IBHF price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +1.5% | +2.0% | +7.2% | +4.1% | — | +4.1% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, IBHF returned +2.0%, 3rd of 8 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +4.1%.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-6.7%); its best was 2023 (+10.3%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 11.2% (Dec 27, 2021 to Jun 13, 2022), recovered by Nov 14, 2023.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +1.5% | — |
| 2025 | +6.6% | +6.65% |
| 2024 | +8.6% | +8.45% |
| 2023 | +10.3% | +10.96% |
| 2022 | -6.7% | -7.01% |
| 2021 | — | +4.77% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Before this security existed |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 10.4% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 11.1%, back to its old high 17 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.8900 | |
| 2025 | $1.5600 | -6.0% |
| 2024 | $1.6600 | -0.6% |
| 2023 | $1.6700 | +25.6% |
| 2022 | $1.3300 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 116 securities; the ten largest made up 23.95% of assets, and 24.05% sat in cash and money-market holdings.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| IQVIA INC Bonds and notes | 3.49% | |
| SIRIUS XM RADIO LLC Bonds and notes | 3.31% | |
| BUCKEYE PARTNERS LP Bonds and notes | 3.25% | |
| AIR CANADA Bonds and notes | 2.82% | |
| CROWN AMER/CAP CORP V Bonds and notes | 2.16% | |
| MORGAN STANLEY Bonds and notes | 1.82% | |
| CELANESE US HOLDINGS LLC Bonds and notes | 1.82% | |
| NISSAN MOTOR ACCEPTANCE Bonds and notes | 1.81% | |
| MGM RESORTS INTL Bonds and notes | 1.76% | |
| DISH DBS CORP Bonds and notes | 1.71% | |
| AERCAP IRELAND CAP/GLOBA Bonds and notes | 1.48% | |
| DELL INT LLC / EMC CORP Bonds and notes | 1.31% | |
| SHIRE ACQ INV IRELAND DA Bonds and notes | 1.22% | |
| DUKE ENERGY CORP Bonds and notes | 1.16% | |
| SUMISHO AIR LEASE CORP Bonds and notes | 1.15% |
By country
United States 68.53%Canada 6.85%Ireland 2.69%United Kingdom 0.82%Chile 0.62%By issuer
Companies 76.5%Other 3.01%The bonds mature in 0.2 years on average (weighted by size), with an average coupon of 3.59%.
Source: N-PORT holdings report as of Jul 31, 2026. Cash, money-market funds and derivatives are shown separately from the securities list.What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors withdrew a net $172.3M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: -0.42%, +0.12%, 0.00%.
How it works
The fund tracks a Bloomberg index built from two parent indexes: the Bloomberg U.S. High Yield Index and the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate Index. To qualify, a bond must be a taxable, fixed-rate corporate bond in US dollars. It must mature between January 1 and December 15, 2026 and have at least $250 million outstanding. "High yield" means rated BB+ or lower, below investment grade. These are often called junk bonds. Ratings use the middle score from Moody's, S&P and Fitch. Bonds priced below $60 are excluded. Bonds are weighted by market value, and no single issuer can be more than about 3%.
In the last 1.5 years of the term, BBB-rated (investment-grade) bonds replace high-yield bonds that are called early, drop out or lose value. The index rebalanced monthly until its final rebalance on June 30, 2026. In the last six months, money from maturing bonds is held as cash and not reinvested. As of July 31, 2026, cash made up 24.05% of the fund, and the average time to maturity was 0.2 years.
On or about December 15, 2026, the fund is scheduled to close and pay out its remaining net assets. It does not promise to return any set amount. Its payouts vary, and its yield may drift toward money market rates near the end.
What it really costs
- IBHF charges 0.35% a year, versus an average of 0.19% for the similar funds below (6th of 8, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $29 in the first year and $— over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBHF | $29 | $— | $— | $— |
Structure and tax notes
- Bond prices move opposite to interest rates; the longer the maturities it holds, the more its price reacts to rate changes.
In a retirement portfolio
With weeks left before its scheduled December 15, 2026 close and an average maturity of 0.2 years as of July 31, 2026, it acts more like a near-cash holding than a high-yield fund.
IBHF's main use for retirees is lining up money with a known date. Its bonds mature in 2026, and the fund pays out at the end. That design did not protect it from losses along the way. The fund's price history starts after the 2008 and 2020 crashes. Its deepest drop was 11.2%, from December 27, 2021 to June 13, 2022, and it took 17 months to recover, until November 14, 2023. Its worst calendar year was 2022, at −7.01%. Anyone forced to sell in mid-2022 would have locked in that loss.
The fund pays monthly. Its trailing 12-month yield was 5.73% as of October 27, 2026. The prospectus warns that yield may fall toward money market rates near the end. In the SEC's standard example, $10,000 invested costs $29 in the first year. Past results don't predict the future, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want bond money returned on a set date, here on or about December 15, 2026, instead of holding an open-ended bond fund.
- People building a bond ladder (bonds maturing in different years) who accept that this rung mixes high-yield and BBB-rated corporate bonds, not Treasuries.
- Existing holders who planned around the end date and are seeing the fund through to liquidation, with 24.05% in cash as of July 31, 2026.
Look elsewhere if
- Investors wanting ongoing high-yield exposure. This fund is scheduled to close in December 2026, while open-ended funds such as SHYG and SJNK keep going.
- Cost-focused investors. Its 0.35% expense ratio is above the 0.19% average for similar funds and ranks 6th of 8 on cost.
- Anyone uneasy with credit risk. It holds below-investment-grade bonds, fell 11.2% in 2021–2022, and took 17 months to recover.
Close alternatives
Matched by bond funds with the closest average maturity and issuer mix (N-PORT).
| Fund | Avg. maturity | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBHF this fund | 0.2 yrs | 0.35% | $810.4M | +2.0% | +7.2% |
| JPST JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF | 2 yrs | 0.18% | $41.13B | +3.1% | +4.8% |
| SHYG iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond … | 3.1 yrs | 0.3% | $7.60B | +2.4% | +8.0% |
| SJNK SPDR Bloomberg Short Term High Yield Bond E… | 3.1 yrs | 0.4% | $4.88B | +1.5% | +7.8% |
| VCSH Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF | 3.5 yrs | 0.03% | $51.74B | +1.9% | +5.7% |
| IGSB iShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate… | 3.7 yrs | 0.04% | $23.46B | +1.5% | +5.4% |
| HYLB Xtrackers USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | 4.6 yrs | 0.05% | $3.56B | +1.6% | +8.7% |
| HYDB iShares High Yield Systematic Bond ETF | 5.2 yrs | 0.35% | $1.61B | +0.9% | +8.7% |
Questions investors ask
What happens to IBHF when it matures in 2026?
IBHF is scheduled to close on or about December 15, 2026 and pay its remaining net assets to shareholders under a plan of liquidation. It does not promise to return any set amount, so the final payout depends on how its bonds performed. In the last six months, money from maturing bonds is held as cash and not reinvested. As of July 31, 2026, 24.05% of the fund was in cash.
Does IBHF pay monthly dividends?
Yes. IBHF pays income monthly. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $1.29 per share, a trailing yield of 5.73%. That figure reflects bonds the fund has already held. The prospectus warns that as the December 2026 close nears, its yield may move toward money market rates, below the yields of its earlier bonds.
What's the difference between IBHF and SHYG?
Both are iShares high-yield bond ETFs, but SHYG (iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF) has no end date. It keeps rolling into new bonds, with an average maturity of 3.1 years against IBHF's 0.2 years. SHYG charges 0.30% a year; IBHF charges 0.35%. As of October 27, 2026, SHYG returned 2.4% over one year and 8.0% a year over three years. IBHF returned 2.0% and 7.2%.
Is IBHF a junk bond fund?
Mostly, yes. Its index holds bonds rated below investment grade, often called junk bonds. Near the end of its term, it also adds BBB-rated investment-grade bonds. As of July 31, 2026, its largest holdings were bonds from IQVIA (3.5%), Sirius XM Radio (3.3%), Buckeye Partners (3.3%), Air Canada (2.8%) and Crown Americas (2.2%). The 10 largest made up 23.95% of the fund.
How has IBHF performed since launch?
Through December 31, 2025, IBHF returned 4.82% a year since its November 10, 2020 launch and 4.57% a year over five years. Its index returned 5.21% a year since inception. Calendar-year returns ranged from −7.01% in 2022 to 10.96% in 2023, with 6.65% in 2025. Its worst quarter was −8.13%, ending June 30, 2022.