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ETF Comparison

ICSH vs NEAR: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF and iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 21, 2026

iShares
ETFs477
Total AUM$4543B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on ICSH and NEAR.

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Side-by-side snapshot

ICSHNEAR
Full nameiShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETFiShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF
IssueriSharesiShares
Last Close$50.52 as of July 21, 2026$50.53 as of July 21, 2026
Distribution yield4.02%4.20%
Distribution Safety Score™ 7784
Expense ratio0.08%0.25%
AUM$7.96B$4.80B
Distribution frequencyMonthlyMonthly
Underlying indexActive cash-bond strategy; benchmark: ICE BofA US 6-Month Treasury Bill Index (does not seek to track an index)—
ObjectiveProvide current income consistent with preservation of capital via actively managed ultra-short-duration, investment-grade bonds.Actively managed ETF investing in short-duration USD bonds.
Asset classFixed IncomeFixed Income
Inception date12/11/201309/25/2013
Beta0.040.23
Last dividend$0.1693$0.1770
Ex-dividend date07/01/202607/01/2026

Bottom lineICSH and NEAR are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar ultra short duration bond exposure with very similar cost and risk. The clearest tie-breaker is cost: ICSH is cheaper at 0.08% vs 0.25%.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

ICSH has outpaced NEAR over the trailing twelve months, posting a 3.78% total return against 3.56%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — NEAR has compounded at 2.86% a year, ahead of ICSH at 2.76%. ICSH has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 0.5% against 1.7% for NEAR. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Dec 2013Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
ICSH1.57%3.78%4.98%3.70%2.76%2.29%0.5%0.831.13-0.3%
NEAR0.95%3.56%5.45%3.91%2.86%2.44%1.7%0.510.71-1.2%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 20, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Dec 2013” measures every fund from December 13, 2013 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Quick verdict

ICSH (iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF) and NEAR (iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF) are both monthly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

NEAR offers the higher yield at 4.20% vs 4.02% for ICSH. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

ICSH is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.08% compared to 0.25%.

ICSH is the larger fund by assets ($7.96B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, ICSH would generate roughly $33.50/month, while NEAR would produce $35.00/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay monthly distributions.

ICSH yield4.02%
NEAR yield4.20%
Monthly diff on $10K$1.50

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, ICSH would cost approximately $80 in fees vs $250 for NEAR (simplified, not compounded). The $170.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

ICSH ER0.08%
NEAR ER0.25%

Strategy & risk

ICSH tracks Active cash-bond strategy; benchmark: ICE BofA US 6-Month Treasury Bill Index (does not seek to track an index) with a fixed income approach, while NEAR is an ETF. Beta is 0.04 for ICSH and 0.23 for NEAR, indicating ICSH is less volatile relative to the market.

ICSH beta0.04
NEAR beta0.23

Fund details

ICSH is managed by iShares (launched 12/11/2013) with $7.96B in assets. NEAR is managed by iShares (launched 09/25/2013) with $4.80B in assets.

ICSH AUM$7.96B
NEAR AUM$4.80B
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Frequently asked questions

Is ICSH or NEAR better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. NEAR currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between ICSH and NEAR?

ICSH (iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF) tracks Active cash-bond strategy; benchmark: ICE BofA US 6-Month Treasury Bill Index (does not seek to track an index) with a fixed income approach, while NEAR (iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF) is an ETF. They are issued by iShares and iShares respectively.

Can I hold both ICSH and NEAR?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Which has lower fees, ICSH or NEAR?

ICSH has an expense ratio of 0.08% while NEAR charges 0.25%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in ICSH vs NEAR generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in ICSH would generate roughly $33.50 per month ($402.00 annually). The same in NEAR would produce about $35.00 per month ($420.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, ICSH or NEAR?

ICSH has outpaced NEAR over the trailing twelve months, posting a 3.78% total return against 3.56%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — NEAR has compounded at 2.86% a year, ahead of ICSH at 2.76%. ICSH has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 0.5% against 1.7% for NEAR. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

ICSH vs NEAR — at a glance

Generated July 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

ICSH and NEAR are both actively managed bond ETFs from iShares that target monthly income through fixed-income exposure, but they differ meaningfully in duration and underlying credit quality. ICSH focuses on ultra-short-duration, investment-grade bonds and Treasury-adjacent holdings; NEAR covers a broader short-duration bond universe that includes lower-quality credits. The choice between them hinges on how much duration and credit risk you're willing to accept for an extra 17 basis points of yield.

How they differ

The biggest difference is duration: ICSH targets ultra-short duration (roughly cash-like, with a 0.04 beta) while NEAR extends further into short-duration territory (beta of 0.23), giving it materially higher sensitivity to interest-rate moves. That duration premium translates to yield—NEAR's 4.20% distribution rate beats ICSH's 4.03%—but comes with credit risk; NEAR's strategy explicitly includes shorter bonds across the broader investment-grade spectrum, not just the high-quality, near-cash instruments ICSH emphasizes. ICSH's 0.08% expense ratio is also a meaningful advantage over NEAR's 0.25%, shaving another 17 basis points off the yield advantage NEAR appears to offer. Both trade near $50 and pay monthly, but ICSH's $7.57B in AUM suggests deeper liquidity than NEAR's $4.56B.

Who each is best for

ICSH: Fits investors seeking bond-like stability with minimal rate sensitivity—those building a cash-reserve sleeve or wanting to park capital while earning yields well above savings accounts but staying duration-agnostic.

NEAR: Designed for investors comfortable with modest interest-rate risk and willing to extend slightly further out the curve in exchange for incrementally higher income, while staying within investment-grade credit quality.

Key risks to know

  • Interest-rate sensitivity: NEAR's 0.23 beta means it will experience noticeable price swings if rates move sharply; ICSH's 0.04 beta shields it from most rate noise, but that comes at the cost of yield.
  • Credit spread risk: Both hold investment-grade bonds, but NEAR's broader short-duration universe exposes it to wider corporate-bond spreads during credit stress; ICSH's Treasury-heavy tilt isolates it from that risk.
  • Yield curve positioning: Ultra-short strategies like ICSH depend on sustained near-zero or very low short-term rates to deliver income; a steeper curve or normalized short rates could compress ICSH's yield faster than NEAR's, as NEAR has more curve exposure to cushion it.
  • Reinvestment lag: Both funds distribute monthly, which can mean timing mismatches if rates move between distribution date and reinvestment; this matters more for ICSH holders, where the base yield is already tight.

Bottom line

If you want the highest degree of principal stability and the lowest fees, ICSH stands out; if you're comfortable with modest duration risk and seeking a bit more yield, NEAR's extra 17 basis points of distribution may justify its higher beta. Remember that past performance doesn't predict future results, and both funds' yields depend on where short-term rates settle over the holding period.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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