ABND vs MUSI
American Century Core Plus Income ETF vs American Century Multisector Income ETF
Which is better, ABND or MUSI?
Nearly the same fund. ABND costs less.
ABND has a lower expense ratio. ABND led over the full window, MUSI over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ABND | MUSI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.32%Best | 0.38% |
| AUM | $288M | $262M |
| Dividend Yield | 5.61% | 5.49% |
| Holdings | 419 | 419 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.3%Best | 5.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.9%Tie | -13.9%Tie |
| $10,000 over 5.2 years | $10,933Best | $10,894 |
| Fund Family | American Century Investments | American Century Investments |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Inception | Jun 29, 2021 | Jun 29, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight, Style.
The two price series end 33 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. ABND has data through Oct 14, 2026 and MUSI through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 5.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 1, 2021 to Sep 11, 2026 (5.2 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MUSI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 5.4% compared with 5.3% for ABND. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -13.9% for ABND and -13.9% for MUSI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ABND charges 0.32% per year while MUSI charges 0.38%. On a $10,000 position that is $32 vs $38 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ABND currently yields 5.61% against 5.49% for MUSI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 157 holdings in ABND and 150 in MUSI, totalling 40.0% and 40.9% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 130 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 77 days apart, ABND as of Sep 15, 2026 and MUSI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
130 positions in common, counted across the 157 positions we hold weights for in ABND and 150 in MUSI, against full books of 419 and 419.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ABND | Weight in MUSI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1TT34:BVSsc Government Mm Gvmxx | 3.24% | 4.38% | 1.14% |
| FR SD8474Fed Hm Ln Pc Pool Sd8474 5.00 2054-11-01 | 2.21% | 2.49% | 0.28% |
| BMO V7.7 05/26/84Bank Of Montreal 7.7% | 0.65% | 0.71% | 0.06% |
| LADR 7 07/15/31 144ALadr 7 07/15/31 | 0.48% | 0.66% | 0.18% |
| BNP V8.5 PERP 144ABnp Paribas Sa 8.5 2028/08/14 | 0.52% | 0.57% | 0.05% |
| UBS V9.25 PERP 144aUbs Group Ag Jr Subordina 144A 12/99 Var 9.25 12/31/2099 | 0.47% | 0.52% | 0.05% |
| AAT 3.375 02/01/31American Assets Trust Lp 3.375 02/01/2031 | 0.48% | 0.47% | 0.01% |
| BNS V8 01/27/84Bank Of Nova Scotia/The 8 01-27-2084 | 0.44% | 0.48% | 0.04% |
| EXE 5.375 03/15/30Expand Energy Corp 5.375% 03/15/2030 | 0.44% | 0.45% | 0.01% |
| CCitigroup Inc V/R /Perp | 0.44% | 0.44% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ABND and MUSI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ABND or MUSI?
ABND has an expense ratio of 0.32% while MUSI charges 0.38%. ABND is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, ABND or MUSI?
MUSI has been the more volatile fund at 5.4% annualized versus 5.3% for ABND. Worst drawdown: ABND -13.9% vs MUSI -13.9%.
Should I hold both ABND and MUSI?
ABND and MUSI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ABND or MUSI?
ABND yields 5.61% while MUSI yields 5.49%, so ABND currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is MUSI better than ABND?
ABND has a lower expense ratio. ABND led over the full window, MUSI over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.