ETFs · ETF deep dive · Published 2026-05-15 · 12 min

AGG ETF Analysis: Holdings, Fees, Inception, Sectors, And Portfolio Role

AGG is iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, issued by BlackRock. Review its inception date, expense ratio, index strategy, top holdings, sector exposure, risks, and portfolio role.

Summary

AGG is iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, a Intermediate Core Bond issued by BlackRock. Latest snapshot: inception Sep 22, 2003, expense ratio 0.03%, AUM $134.55B, 13,239 holdings, top-10 weight 6.16%, and mandate/index: Bloomberg US Aggregate

AGG is best read as a defensive, income, or duration sleeve, not just a ticker symbol.
AUM and cost: $134.55B; expense ratio 0.03%.
Concentration: 13,239 holdings; top-10 weight 6.16%, which is low.
Largest visible exposure: United States at 97.15%.

ETF Profile

The facts that define ownership cost, structure, and portfolio behavior.

Issuer BlackRock
Expense ratio 0.03%
Holdings 13,239 holdings
Top-10 weight 6.16%
www.snowballhare.com

Investor Checklist

  • Issuer and listing venue: BlackRock, NYSEARCA.
  • Launch date and fee: Sep 22, 2003, 0.03%.
  • Portfolio size and concentration: 13,239 holdings, with the top 10 at 6.16%.
  • Primary exposure: Fixed Income; Intermediate Core Bond; North America; Index: Bloomberg US Aggregate
  • Best use case: Bond sleeve, income allocation, duration exposure, or cash-management complement depending on maturity and credit profile.
  • Main risk to respect: The key risk is that AGG's stated diversification may not protect investors if its dominant exposure, largest holdings, or main macro factor reverses. Current top-10 concentration is 6.16%.

AGG Investor Snapshot

AGG is iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, issued by BlackRock. It is best understood as a defensive, income, or duration sleeve. The fund has $134.55B in AUM, charges 0.03%, holds 13,239 holdings, and has top-10 concentration of 6.16%. Its largest listed holdings include BLACKROCK CASH CL INST SL AGENCY (2.52%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.63 2035-02-15 (0.43%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.0 2030-02-28 (0.42%).

AGG ETF Facts: Launch Date, Issuer, Fee, Assets, And Strategy

AGG is iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF. Issuer: BlackRock. Exchange: NYSEARCA. Inception: Sep 22, 2003. Expense ratio: 0.03%. AUM: $134.55B. Mandate or tracked index: Bloomberg US Aggregate

AGG Top Holdings And Concentration

Holdings snapshot: May 19, 2026. AGG has 13,239 holdings. The top 10 positions account for 6.16%, so investors should read the fund through its largest holdings first rather than assuming every ETF is equally diversified.

  • AGG - BLACKROCK CASH CL INST SL AGENCY: 2.52%
  • AGG - TREASURY NOTE - 4.63 2035-02-15: 0.43%
  • AGG - TREASURY NOTE - 4.0 2030-02-28: 0.42%
  • AGG - TREASURY NOTE - 4.25 2034-11-15: 0.41%
  • AGG - TREASURY NOTE - 3.88 2034-08-15: 0.41%
  • AGG - TREASURY NOTE - 4.5 2033-11-15: 0.40%
  • AGG - TREASURY NOTE - 4.25 2035-08-15: 0.40%
  • AGG - TREASURY NOTE - 4.25 2035-05-15: 0.39%
  • AGG - TREASURY NOTE - 4.0 2034-02-15: 0.39%
  • AGG - TREASURY NOTE - 4.38 2034-05-15: 0.39%

AGG Sector And Industry Exposure

AGG exposure summary: Fixed Income; Intermediate Core Bond; North America; Index: Bloomberg US Aggregate. These exposures explain what investors actually own after buying the ETF. A broad fund is usually driven by sector weights and mega-cap leadership; a sector or thematic fund is driven by the industry cycle; a bond or alternative asset fund is driven by macro variables rather than company earnings.

  • United States: 97.15%. Country weight from the latest public ETF holdings snapshot.

AGG Fees, Liquidity, And Product Structure

AGG trades on NYSEARCA. The stated expense ratio is 0.03%, and current AUM is $134.55B. Lower fees matter most for long holding periods, while AUM and trading depth matter when investors place larger orders or need reliable execution during volatile sessions.

AGG Return Drivers: What Has To Go Right

The return drivers for AGG are coupon income, duration, inflation expectations, real yields, and changes in the long end of the Treasury curve. That matters because two ETFs can both look diversified but respond to very different conditions. For AGG, investors should compare price performance with the fund's dominant exposure, the largest holdings, and the macro factor behind the category.

AGG Current Market Theme

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF is a Intermediate Core Bond ETF with $134.55B in AUM, 13,239 holdings, top-10 concentration of 6.16%, and a leading exposure to United States (97.15%). The largest holdings include BLACKROCK CASH CL INST SL AGENCY (2.52%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.63 2035-02-15 (0.43%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.0 2030-02-28 (0.42%).

When AGG Tends To Work

AGG tends to work when coupon income, duration, inflation expectations, real yields, and changes in the long end of the Treasury curve are moving in the fund's favor.

AGG Portfolio Role: Core Holding Or Satellite Position?

Bond sleeve, income allocation, duration exposure, or cash-management complement depending on maturity and credit profile. In practical portfolio terms, AGG should be sized according to whether it is replacing broad market exposure, adding a factor tilt, expressing a sector view, or hedging a macro risk. The more concentrated the fund, the less it should be treated as a complete portfolio by itself.

AGG Key Risks Investors Should Watch

The main risks are specific enough to check before buying, not generic ETF fine print.

  • Market risk: AGG can fall with its asset class even when the fund structure works as designed.
  • Concentration risk: top-10 weight is 6.16%, which is low for an ETF in this category.
  • Exposure risk: the main exposure is Fixed Income; Intermediate Core Bond; North America; Index: Bloomberg US Aggregate
  • Fee and trading risk: expense ratio is 0.03%; investors should still check spread, volume, and premium/discount before large orders.
  • Thesis risk: The key risk is that AGG's stated diversification may not protect investors if its dominant exposure, largest holdings, or main macro factor reverses. Current top-10 concentration is 6.16%.

Who AGG Is Suitable For

AGG can be useful, but the right investor depends on time horizon, existing overlap, and drawdown tolerance.

  • More suitable for investors who need a defensive, income, or duration sleeve.
  • More suitable for investors who understand that AGG's top holdings and sector exposures can dominate short-term returns.
  • Less suitable for investors who need stable cash income unless the fund's underlying asset class is explicitly income-oriented.
  • Less suitable for investors already heavily exposed to the same largest holdings or same macro factor.

AGG What To Monitor Next

AGG should be reviewed after new holdings files, major market moves, or category-specific catalysts. The most important checks are:

  • Holdings as of May 19, 2026.
  • AUM: $134.55B.
  • Expense ratio: 0.03%.
  • Top-10 weight: 6.16%.

AGG Action Reference

A useful ETF article should end with a decision framework. For AGG, the practical read is:

  • Income investor: compare yield, duration, and rate sensitivity before sizing.
  • Macro investor: use only when the rate view and drawdown tolerance are clear.
  • Conservative investor: do not treat long-duration bond ETFs as cash.

AGG Bottom Line

AGG is not just a fund name. It is a package of exposures: iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF; issuer BlackRock; fee 0.03%; AUM $134.55B; 13,239 holdings; top-10 weight 6.16%; holdings date May 19, 2026. The investment case is strongest when the fund's largest holdings, main exposure, and category-level return drivers all point in the same direction.

Common Questions

What is AGG?

AGG is iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, a Intermediate Core Bond issued by BlackRock.

When did AGG launch?

AGG's inception date is Sep 22, 2003.

What is the AGG expense ratio?

AGG charges an expense ratio of 0.03%.

What does AGG hold?

AGG holds 13,239 holdings. Major holdings include BLACKROCK CASH CL INST SL AGENCY (2.52%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.63 2035-02-15 (0.43%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.0 2030-02-28 (0.42%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.25 2034-11-15 (0.41%), TREASURY NOTE - 3.88 2034-08-15 (0.41%).

Is AGG diversified?

AGG's top 10 holdings are 6.16%.

Who might use AGG?

Bond sleeve, income allocation, duration exposure, or cash-management complement depending on maturity and credit profile.

Risk Note This page is for education only and does not constitute investment advice. Investing involves risk.