What this ETF is trying to do

The FlexShares Core Select Bond Fund (BNDC) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that focuses on bonds. Generally, bond ETFs are used by investors who want to earn regular income through interest payments.

What the numbers show

As of October 5, 2026, the share price of BNDC was $21.06. To understand how the fund has performed, we look at two different types of returns: price return (which only tracks the share price) and total return (which includes the cash distributions paid to investors).

• Year-to-Date (YTD): The price return is -5.86%, while the total return is -3.31%.

• One Year: The price return is -6.61%, while the total return is -2.69%.

• Three Year: The price return is 0.19%, while the total return is 12.78%.

An estimated price from roughly one year ago was $22.54. If an investor had put $10,000 into the fund based on that estimated price, the value of those shares alone (without counting distributions) would have declined by approximately 6.61% over the year.

Income and distribution explanation

BNDC pays out cash to investors, usually on a monthly basis. Over the last 12 months, it made 12 payouts. The distribution yield is approximately 4.34%.

It is important for beginners to know that a high distribution yield alone can be misleading. While these payments provide cash income, they do not guarantee that the original money invested (the principal) will stay the same or grow.

NAV erosion explanation

"NAV erosion" happens when the underlying value of a fund's assets declines over time. StockValueFinder uses an erosion-risk score to measure this. BNDC has an erosion score of 75, which is labeled as "mild price erosion." This is a measurement of risk, not a guarantee that the fund's value has collapsed.

Pros

• Regular Income: The fund provides frequent distributions, usually every month.

• Long-term Total Return: Over a three-year period, the total return was positive at 12.78%.

Cons

• Recent Price Decline: Both the year-to-date and one-year price returns are negative.

• Erosion Risk: The fund has a "mild" erosion-risk label.

Beginner takeaway

BNDC provides monthly income, but its share price has fallen over the last year. When looking at this ETF, it is important to distinguish between the price return (the change in share price) and the total return (which includes the cash paid out). Income investors generally care about principal stability because they want to ensure their original investment isn't disappearing while they collect checks.