LQD Stock: iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF Profile & Analysis (2026)
The industry-leading liquid benchmark for U.S. investment-grade corporate bonds, offering diversified exposure to over 3,000 corporate debt securities. — Updated May 2026 with current AUM, expense ratio, holdings, and performance data.
The iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) is one of the most widely used vehicles for gaining exposure to the U.S. corporate bond market. Managed by BlackRock, the fund tracks the iBoxx USD Liquid Investment Grade Index, which focuses on the most liquid, U.S. dollar-denominated bonds issued by blue-chip companies. While investors often use the AGG Stock Profile or BND Stock Profile for broad “total bond” exposure, LQD specifically targets corporate credit, which generally offers a higher yield than government securities.
Because LQD consists of investment-grade debt from sectors like financials and technology, it provides a different risk-reward profile than pure government plays like the TLT Stock Profile. LQD’s portfolio includes debt from many of the world’s largest enterprises, ranging from global banking giants to firms found on the complete list of semiconductor companies. With a weighted average maturity exceeding 12 years, LQD is a significant instrument for investors looking to balance income with intermediate-to-long-term duration.
Key Takeaways — LQD Stock
LQD invests exclusively in bonds rated BBB or higher, focusing on issuers with strong credit profiles and lower default risks.
As the “Liquid” in its name suggests, LQD is one of the most heavily traded bond ETFs, ensuring narrow spreads for buyers and sellers.
With a weighted average maturity of ~12.8 years, LQD is sensitive to changes in interest rates, moving inversely to Treasury yields.
The fund holds over 3,000 individual bonds, significantly reducing the impact of a single issuer defaulting on its debt.
LQD — Live Price Chart
Real-time chart from TradingView.
LQD ETF Vitals & Key Statistics
Core data as of May 2026.
| Data Point | Value | Data Point | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Name | iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | Ticker | LQD |
| Issuer | BlackRock (iShares) | Asset Class | Fixed Income — U.S. Corporate Bond |
| Index Tracked | iBoxx USD Liquid Investment Grade Index | Structure | Open-Ended ETF |
| Expense Ratio | 0.14% | AUM | $27.57B |
| Inception Date | July 22, 2002 | Exchange | AMEX |
| No. of Holdings | 3,074 | Dividend Yield | 0.14% |
| 52-Week High | $108.37 | 52-Week Low | $108.37 |
| Avg Daily Volume | High | YTD Return | 0.14% |
| 1-Year Return | 0.14% | 5-Year Return | 0.14% |
| Category | Investment Grade Corporate | Dividend Frequency | Monthly |
LQD Top 10 Holdings (May 2026)
Largest positions by weight (represented by aggregated issuer exposure). Click columns to sort.
| Rank | Ticker | Company Name | Sector | Weight % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JPM | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Financials | 2.50% |
| 2 | BAC | Bank of America Corp | Financials | 2.50% |
| 3 | GS | Goldman Sachs Group | Financials | 1.75% |
| 4 | MS | Morgan Stanley | Financials | 1.50% |
| 5 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | Technology | 1.00% |
| 6 | T | AT&T Inc. | Communication | 1.00% |
| 7 | CMCSA | Comcast Corp | Communication | 1.00% |
| 8 | WFC | Wells Fargo | Financials | 1.00% |
| 9 | MSFT | Microsoft Corp | Technology | 1.00% |
| 10 | VZ | Verizon Communications | Communication | 1.00% |
LQD — Pros & Cons
✓ Yield Premium
Typically offers a higher yield than comparable U.S. Treasury bonds due to the inclusion of corporate credit risk.
✗ Interest Rate Risk
Because of its relatively long duration, LQD can see significant price declines when interest rates rise.
✓ Extreme Diversification
Spreading assets across 3,000+ bonds mitigates the impact of a default by any single corporate issuer.
✗ Credit Downgrade Risk
Economic downturns can lead to “fallen angels,” where bonds are downgraded from investment grade to junk status.
✓ Monthly Income
Provides a consistent monthly dividend stream, making it a favorite for income-oriented retirees and portfolios.
✗ Higher Correlation to Stocks
Unlike Treasuries, corporate bonds can sometimes drop in value alongside stocks during periods of high economic stress.
Who Should Consider LQD?
Income seekers who want exposure to high-quality corporate debt and are willing to accept some interest rate volatility.
Short-term investors who cannot tolerate price swings or those looking for the absolute safety of U.S. Government bonds.
Yield curves are steepening or if you believe the credit spreads between corporates and Treasuries are set to tighten.
Best held in tax-deferred accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s, as corporate bond interest is taxed as ordinary income.
LQD vs Similar ETFs
Key metrics comparison.
| ETF | Full Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Holdings | Div Yield | YTD | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LQD ★ | iShares iBoxx $ Inv Grade Corp Bond | 0.14% | $27.57B | 3,074 | 0.14% | 0.14% | Liquid Corp Exposure |
| VCIT | Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corp Bond | 0.04% | $40B+ | ~2,400 | 4.50% | N/A | Medium Duration |
| USIG | iShares Broad USD Inv Grade Corp Bond | 0.04% | $8B | ~10,000 | 4.60% | N/A | Broad Diversification |
| IGIB | iShares 5-10 Year Inv Grade Corp Bond | 0.04% | $12B | ~3,000 | 4.40% | N/A | Intermediate Maturity |
LQD Technical Analysis
Real-time buy/sell signals.
LQD — Risks & Considerations
Interest Rate Sensitivity
LQD has a duration of over 8 years. A 1% rise in interest rates typically results in an 8% drop in the fund’s price.
Credit Spread Widening
If the market perceives higher risk in the corporate sector, the price of LQD may fall even if interest rates remain stable.
Financial Sector Weighting
The fund is heavily tilted toward banks and financial institutions, making it sensitive to banking sector crises.
Inflation Risk
Fixed-rate bond payments lose purchasing power if inflation remains persistently high over the fund’s maturity period.