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

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

IEF is iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF, issued by BlackRock. Review its inception date, expense ratio, index strategy, top holdings, sector exposure, risks, and portfolio role.

Summary

IEF is iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF, a Long Government issued by BlackRock. Latest snapshot: inception Jul 22, 2002, expense ratio 0.15%, AUM $47.29B, 17 holdings, top-10 weight 85.47%, and mandate/index: ICE BofA US Treasury (7-10 Y)

IEF is best read as a defensive, income, or duration sleeve, not just a ticker symbol.
AUM and cost: $47.29B; expense ratio 0.15%.
Concentration: 17 holdings; top-10 weight 85.47%, which is very high.
Largest visible exposure: Fixed Income; Long Government; North America; Index: ICE BofA US Treasury (7-10 Y).

ETF Profile

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

Issuer BlackRock
Expense ratio 0.15%
Holdings 17 holdings
Top-10 weight 85.47%
www.snowballhare.com

Investor Checklist

  • Issuer and listing venue: BlackRock, NASDAQ.
  • Launch date and fee: Jul 22, 2002, 0.15%.
  • Portfolio size and concentration: 17 holdings, with the top 10 at 85.47%.
  • Primary exposure: Fixed Income; Long Government; North America; Index: ICE BofA US Treasury (7-10 Y)
  • 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 IEF's stated diversification may not protect investors if its dominant exposure, largest holdings, or main macro factor reverses. Current top-10 concentration is 85.47%.

IEF Investor Snapshot

IEF is iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF, issued by BlackRock. It is best understood as a defensive, income, or duration sleeve. The fund has $47.29B in AUM, charges 0.15%, holds 17 holdings, and has top-10 concentration of 85.47%. Its largest listed holdings include TREASURY NOTE (OLD) - 4.13 2036-02-15 (9.63%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.0 2034-02-15 (8.89%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.63 2035-02-15 (8.86%).

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

IEF is iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF. Issuer: BlackRock. Exchange: NASDAQ. Inception: Jul 22, 2002. Expense ratio: 0.15%. AUM: $47.29B. Mandate or tracked index: ICE BofA US Treasury (7-10 Y)

IEF Top Holdings And Concentration

Holdings snapshot: May 19, 2026. IEF has 17 holdings. The top 10 positions account for 85.47%, so investors should read the fund through its largest holdings first rather than assuming every ETF is equally diversified.

  • IEF - TREASURY NOTE (OLD) - 4.13 2036-02-15: 9.63%
  • IEF - TREASURY NOTE - 4.0 2034-02-15: 8.89%
  • IEF - TREASURY NOTE - 4.63 2035-02-15: 8.86%
  • IEF - TREASURY NOTE - 4.25 2035-08-15: 8.81%
  • IEF - TREASURY NOTE - 4.5 2033-11-15: 8.76%
  • IEF - TREASURY NOTE - 4.25 2034-11-15: 8.64%
  • IEF - TREASURY NOTE (2OLD) - 4.0 2035-11-15: 8.53%
  • IEF - TREASURY NOTE - 4.38 2034-05-15: 8.33%
  • IEF - TREASURY NOTE - 4.25 2035-05-15: 8.22%
  • IEF - TREASURY NOTE - 3.88 2034-08-15: 6.80%

IEF Sector And Industry Exposure

IEF exposure summary: Fixed Income; Long Government; North America; Index: ICE BofA US Treasury (7-10 Y). 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.

IEF Fees, Liquidity, And Product Structure

IEF trades on NASDAQ. The stated expense ratio is 0.15%, and current AUM is $47.29B. 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.

IEF Return Drivers: What Has To Go Right

The return drivers for IEF 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 IEF, investors should compare price performance with the fund's dominant exposure, the largest holdings, and the macro factor behind the category.

IEF Current Market Theme

iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF is a Long Government ETF with $47.29B in AUM, 17 holdings, top-10 concentration of 85.47%, and a leading exposure to Fixed Income; Long Government; North America; Index: ICE BofA US Treasury (7-10 Y). The largest holdings include TREASURY NOTE (OLD) - 4.13 2036-02-15 (9.63%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.0 2034-02-15 (8.89%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.63 2035-02-15 (8.86%).

When IEF Tends To Work

IEF 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.

IEF 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, IEF 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.

IEF Key Risks Investors Should Watch

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

  • Market risk: IEF can fall with its asset class even when the fund structure works as designed.
  • Concentration risk: top-10 weight is 85.47%, which is very high for an ETF in this category.
  • Exposure risk: the main exposure is Fixed Income; Long Government; North America; Index: ICE BofA US Treasury (7-10 Y)
  • Fee and trading risk: expense ratio is 0.15%; investors should still check spread, volume, and premium/discount before large orders.
  • Thesis risk: The key risk is that IEF's stated diversification may not protect investors if its dominant exposure, largest holdings, or main macro factor reverses. Current top-10 concentration is 85.47%.

Who IEF Is Suitable For

IEF 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 IEF'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.

IEF What To Monitor Next

IEF 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: $47.29B.
  • Expense ratio: 0.15%.
  • Top-10 weight: 85.47%.

IEF Action Reference

A useful ETF article should end with a decision framework. For IEF, 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.

IEF Bottom Line

IEF is not just a fund name. It is a package of exposures: iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF; issuer BlackRock; fee 0.15%; AUM $47.29B; 17 holdings; top-10 weight 85.47%; 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 IEF?

IEF is iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF, a Long Government issued by BlackRock.

When did IEF launch?

IEF's inception date is Jul 22, 2002.

What is the IEF expense ratio?

IEF charges an expense ratio of 0.15%.

What does IEF hold?

IEF holds 17 holdings. Major holdings include TREASURY NOTE (OLD) - 4.13 2036-02-15 (9.63%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.0 2034-02-15 (8.89%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.63 2035-02-15 (8.86%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.25 2035-08-15 (8.81%), TREASURY NOTE - 4.5 2033-11-15 (8.76%).

Is IEF diversified?

IEF's top 10 holdings are 85.47%.

Who might use IEF?

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.