A new entrant to the ultra-short duration bond ETF category may offer diversification opportunities beyond its peers. The KraneShares Sustainable Ultra Short Duration Index ETF (KCSH ) offers low risk income investing while providing notable yields and diversification.
“We’ve created a portfolio of ultra-short bonds, in their last year, from the corporate world,” said Luke Oliver, managing director, head of climate investments at KraneShares. “They’re investment grade, global names, and all in dollars. There’s no currency risk, extremely low credit risk, and extremely low duration risk.”
KCSH seeks to track the Solactive ISS Sustainable Select 0-1 Year USD Corporate IG Index. The index measures the performance of investment-grade corporate bonds with maturities up to one year. The bonds are U.S. dollar denominated, and the strategy seeks to offer similar credit and interest rate risk as ultra-short duration, IG bond benchmarks.
Seek Outperforming Yields Within Short Duration With KSCH
Notably, the strategy aims to generate a yield that outperforms Treasuries as well as money markets. As of the end of June, the Solactive ISS Sustainable Select 0-1 Year USD Corporate IG Index generated an average yield of 5.6%. In comparison, the State Street US Government Money Market generated average yields of 5.24% while the Bloomberg US Corporate 1-3 Years Index averaged yields of 5.12%, according to the issuer’s website.
KCSH’s strategy goes one step further in screening for those issuers that align with the Paris Agreement. It also includes climate analysis by Institutional Shareholder Services. This entails curtailing global emissions to 1.5 ° Celsius by 2050. Issuers must demonstrate self-decarbonization of 7% or greater each year before their inclusion in the portfolio. The strategy also excludes issuers whose revenues are derived from fossil fuels, as well as other screens.
“When you ex fossil fuels out of the S&P 500, you get something totally different. In bonds, there’s obviously sector factors, but they’re much more muted,” explained Oliver.
The fund’s focus on sustainability creates a diversified portfolio of issuer sector weights compared to peers within the space. This makes it a complement to other short duration funds within a portfolio, and a strong addition to an income sleeve.
“You don’t increase your risk, you don’t increase your volatility, and you don’t reduce your yield to remove fossil fuel exposure in fixed income,” Oliver added.
KCSH has an operating expense of 0.20% with fee waivers that end August 1, 2025.
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