Global Bond ETFs With Little Value

Our last piece on global bonds talked about the larger opportunity set outside of the U.S. That set includes developed and developing markets that range from Sweden to Indonesia.

In this piece, we will begin to examine a few developed market products that we do not feel warrant a place in most investor's portfolios.

Developed Market Debt

• SPDR Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF (BWX): This ETF has developed country debt mostly in Europe and Japan. The top three countries are the U.K., Japan and Italy mostly in government bonds. The duration is 7 with an SEC 30 day yield of 1.66%. This ETF holds approximately 2 billion in assets and should be sold for the following reasons. The interest rate risk is much too high for the yield compensation. There is value in some government bonds in developed countries but it takes a strong team to determine those values. Also, it has a focus on investment grade, non-dollar debt so an investor is stuck in non-dollar bonds and little opportunity for high yield opportunities. We understand the goal is to expand the Treasury Bond opportunity set, but unless your investment committee has a strong positive view on the return and risk characteristics of this instrument, it should be sold. You would need an in-depth view on the monetary policies of the major countries in the ETF.

• SPDR Barclays Capital Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF (BWZ): This ETF has developed country bonds mostly in Europe and Japan. The top three countries are Japan, Germany and Italy mostly in government debt. The duration is 1.81 with an SEC 30 day yield of 0.63%. This ETF holds approximately 238 million in assets and should be sold for the following reasons. The interest rate risk is too high for the yield compensation and while there is value in some government bonds in developed countries it takes a strong team to determine those values. Unless your investment committee has a strong positive view on the return and risk characteristics of this instrument and the underlying country's monetary policy, currency outlook and credit conditions, then an active manager may be a better option.

• iShares S&P/Citigroup 1-3 Year International Treasury Bond ETF (ISHG): This ETF has developed country bonds mostly in Europe and Japan. The top three countries are Japan, Italy and France mostly in government debt. The duration is 1.81 with an SEC 30 day yield of 0.23%. This ETF holds approximately 173 million in assets and should be sold for the following reasons. The interest rate risk is too high for the yield compensation. There is value in some government bonds in developed countries but it takes a strong team to determine those values. Also, it has a focus on investment grade debt non-dollar and that leaves out high yield and dollar denominated bonds. Unless your investment committee has a strong positive view on the return and risk characteristics of this instrument and the underlying countries, it should be sold.

• iShares S&P/Citigroup International Treasury ETF (IGOV): This ETF has developed country bonds mostly in Europe and Japan. The top three countries are Japan, Italy and France mostly in government debt. The duration is 6.85 with an SEC 30 day yield of 1.37%. This ETF holds approximately 600 million in assets and should be sold due to the following reasons. The interest rate risk is too high for the yield compensation. There is value in some government bonds in developed countries but it takes a strong team to determine those values. Also, it has a focus on investment grade debt non-dollar and that leaves out high yield and dollar denominated bonds. Unless your investment committee has a strong positive view on the return and risk characteristics of this instrument and the underlying countries, it should be sold.

Zenith recommends that firms sell any and all of these holdings. The portfolios are reasonably stuck in non-US Government Debt in advanced countries in their local currency. These two attributes place an investor in an inflexible position. Additionally, they are left with uncompensated interest rate risk, even with the short term funds.

We have not covered fees as we would not invest in these funds even if the fee was zero, as they do not possess any attractive attribute for investment. The only way a firm could legitimize a purchase is if they hold a strong view on the monetary policy, interest rate direction and inflation pressures in Japan and greater developed Europe, as well as Great Britain. A seasoned manager would best be suited to extract the value in each of these markets given a solid team with macro experience.

Sell and avoid all four of these products.

Source: Global Bond ETFs With Little Value

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More...)

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