BlackRock expands its iBonds range in Europe with four new fixed income ETFs maturing in 2036 and 2037
22 MAY, 2026
By Joanna Piwko from RankiaPro Europe
BlackRock has announced the launch of four new iShares iBonds UCITS ETFs in Europe, in a move that strengthens its commitment to fixed income with a defined maturity. The manager frames this expansion in a context of strong growth in the European fixed income investment market, which already exceeds 2 trillion dollars and is advancing at a rate close to 10% in 2025, driven by the search for more stable income, visibility on returns and greater financial planning capacity.
According to the firm, this renewed interest in fixed income responds to a broader change in the behavior of European investors, in an environment marked by uncertainty about interest rates, market volatility and high cash balances. In this scenario, bonds regain prominence in portfolios not only as a source of profitability, but also as a tool for resilience and planning.
BlackRock adds four new iBonds with returns between 4.09% and 5.50%
The new vehicles incorporated by BlackRock are the iShares iBonds Dec 2036 Term € Corp UCITS ETF, the iShares iBonds Dec 2036 Term $ Corp UCITS ETF, the iShares iBonds Dec 2037 Term € Corp UCITS ETF and the iShares iBonds Dec 2037 Term $ Corp UCITS ETF. With these launches, the manager expands its offering of corporate bond ETFs with fixed maturity to include the years 2036 and 2037.
The funds offer exposure to diversified portfolios of investment grade corporate bonds that mature in the same calendar year. This structure allows investors to access periodic income and a final payment at maturity through the ETF format, avoiding the complexity of building and managing a portfolio of individual bonds. According to the entity, the new strategies offer a return between 4.09% and 5.50%.
The iBonds proposal seeks to facilitate the alignment of cash flows with specific time horizons, a feature that gains relevance among those who prioritize visibility over income and capital preservation. The inclusion of longer maturities also allows to extend the so-called bond ladders and plan longer-term financial goals, in addition to favoring a more orderly reinvestment as previous products mature.
Demand grows among retailers, private banking and institutional investors
BlackRock highlights that this type of solutions is experiencing increasing adoption among retail investors, private banking clients, and institutional managers. In the retail segment, iBonds ETFs can act as a complement to traditional savings accounts. For wealth managers, their appeal lies in operational simplicity and the ability to scale positions. In the institutional field, they are used to match cash flows with liabilities.
Since BlackRock introduced fixed maturity bond ETFs in Europe in 2023, iBonds UCITS have captured approximately 90% of this category, according to the firm. The manager also emphasizes that distribution through banks and digital platforms has been a key factor in the product's expansion, facilitating access to an asset class traditionally perceived as more opaque and less accessible to the individual investor.
The growth that defined maturity funds have had in Spain demonstrates the increasing interest of investors in solutions that provide greater visibility and clarity in financial planning. With this expansion of the iBonds range, we continue to expand access to these strategies in ETF format, combining defined maturity objectives with the efficiency, diversification, and transparency typical of ETFs.
Income opportunities in Europe are growing as investors reconsider the role of fixed income in their portfolios," said Vasiliki Pachatouridi, Head of Fixed Income Product Strategy for iShares for EMEA at BlackRock. "This shift is not just about seeking yield. Investors are prioritizing more stable income, while reassessing the opportunity cost of holding unmanaged cash. The expansion of the iBonds range continues to offer investors greater flexibility and precision to align their portfolios with their financial needs.
Silvia Senra, senior member of the BlackRock Sales team for Iberia
