A side-by-side comparison of BlackRock AAA CLO ETF (CLOA) and iShares MBS ETF (MBB) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | CLOA | MBB |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +1.08%✓ | -2.08% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.02%✓ | -0.92% |
| 1-Week Change | -0.05%✓ | -0.33% |
| 1-Month Change | -0.01%✓ | +1.56% |
| Current Price | $51.80 | $91.23 |
| AUM | $2.81B | $35.68B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.19% | 0.03%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 4.77%✓ | 4.22% |
| Distribution Frequency | — | — |
| Inception Date | 2023-01-10 | 2007-03-13 |
| Holdings Count | 1 | 1 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Mortgage-Backed & Securitized Bonds | Mortgage-Backed & Securitized Bonds |
| Beta | 0.02 | 1.14 |
| 52-Week High | $51.97 | $93.84 |
| 52-Week Low | $49.41 | $88.25 |
| 50-Day MA | $51.87 | $91.04 |
| 200-Day MA | $51.85 | $93.68 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | CLOA | MBB |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +1.08%✓ | -2.08% |
| 1 Year | +4.88%✓ | -0.01% |
| 3 Year | +6.45%✓ | +5.34% |
| 5 Year | — | +0.19% |
| 10 Year | — | +1.16% |
| 1Y Volatility | 0.41% | 5.70% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 2.76 | 0.28 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | XTSLA | BlackRock Cash Funds Treasury SL Agency | 1.55% |
| 1 | BISXX | BlackRock Cash Funds Instl SL Agency | 5.20% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | CLOA | MBB |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Financial Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 0.00% |
About CLOA
The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets in U.S. dollar-denominated CLOs that are, at the time of purchase, rated AAA (or equivalent) by at least one of the major rating agencies or, if unrated, determined by the fund management team to be of similar quality. The fund may invest in CLOs of any maturity.
About MBB
The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the underlying index and TBAs that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of the component securities of the index, and the fund will invest at least 90% of its assets in fixed income securities of the types included in the underlying index that BFA believes will help the fund track the index.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both CLOA and MBB are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, CLOA scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CLOA and MBB?
CLOA (BlackRock AAA CLO ETF) and MBB (iShares MBS ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($2.81B vs $35.68B), dividend yield (4.77% vs 4.22%), and year-to-date performance (+1.08% vs -2.08%).
Is CLOA better than MBB?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, CLOA has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy CLOA and MBB on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both CLOA and MBB should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
Free newsletter · Every Tuesday morning
The Tuesday Stock Pick
One Canadian stock and the case for it.
- The name with the biggest gap to analyst targets
- The chart, insider buying and what is driving it
- A plain-English bottom line, no hype