<div id="readability-page-1"><div> <h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF delivered a 4.2% return in the past year.</li><li>Vanguard research suggests that U.S. bonds will deliver 3.8%-4.8% returns over the next 10 years.</li><li>BND lets you invest in high-quality U.S. bonds at an ultra-low expense ratio of 0.03%.</li><li>10 stocks we like better than Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF ›</li></ul>It often feels as if investors are facing massive uncertainty and volatility on all fronts. Whether it's worries about high valuations of tech stocks, a possible artificial intelligence (AI) bubble, or ongoing energy price shocks and disruptions from the Iran War, many investors are looking for a safe place to land.The past 16 years have been excellent for tech stock investors. But if U.S. growth stocks underperform in the future, bonds might be a better place to put some of your money today.Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an &#34;Indispensable Monopoly&#34; providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »One of the best ways to buy bonds is the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NASDAQ: BND). This bond ETF lets you own thousands of investment-grade U.S. bonds for a rock-bottom expense ratio of 0.03%. BND has delivered average annual returns (by net asset value) of only 0.3% for the past five years, but came roaring back in the past year with a 4.2% return.Recent research from Vanguard suggests that the future could be brighter for bond investors. Let's see why BND might be a good choice for your portfolio.<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2NTMxNC9nZXR0eWltYWdlcy0xNTU3NzM0OTctMTIwMHg3NzctN2NiNjIxYi5qcGcmdz03MDA?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="453" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2NTMxNC9nZXR0eWltYWdlcy0xNTU3NzM0OTctMTIwMHg3NzctN2NiNjIxYi5qcGcmdz03MDA"/>Image source: Getty Images. <h2>Why investors should buy bonds in 2026</h2>The recent Vanguard 2026 economic and market outlook report was bullish on bonds. The report said that high-quality U.S. fixed income (bonds) has the best risk-return profile of any type of public investment for the next five to 10 years. Vanguard's research expects U.S. bonds to deliver returns of 3.8%-4.8% during the next 10 years.This means that according to Vanguard, bonds like BND will be a good investment for the next decade if interest rates stay higher for longer, while still staying above the rate of inflation. The report also said that if AI fails to deliver the hoped-for gains in productivity throughout the economy, bonds would be a good way to diversify against downside risks of stocks.<h2>BND could be a good fit for these investors</h2>Buying bonds is a strategy to protect some of your money from the risks of stocks. It's not a good way to grow your money for the long term. Most people should have some percentage of their portfolio in bonds while saving for retirement, based on their age, goals, and risk tolerance. Bonds can be a good choice for retirees who need to earn steady income from their investments -- but even retired people shouldn't put 100% of their money into bonds.Diversifying into bonds is also a good move if you want to lock in some of the profits you've made from stocks in recent years, rebalance your portfolio, or adjust your asset allocations based on changes in your life or your future goals. Buying BND is one of the easiest, lowest-cost ways to invest in high-quality bonds.There's no guarantee that any investment is truly &#34;safe.&#34; Even the best bond ETFs have risks. If inflation stays higher for longer or interest rates rise, that will be bad for bond prices. But if you want to de-risk your portfolio from tech stocks or diversify away from the stock market in general, buying bonds with the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF could be a smart move.<h2>Should you buy stock in Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF right now?</h2> Before you buy stock in Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $555,526!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,156,403!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 968% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&amp;P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 14, 2026. Ben Gran has positions in Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. </div></div>

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The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) has shown a 4.2% return over the past year, with Vanguard projecting 3.8%-4.8% returns for U.S. bonds over the next decade. BND offers a low expense ratio of 0.03% and allows investors to diversify away from stock market risks. While bonds are not a long-term growth strategy, they can provide steady income, especially for retirees. However, potential risks include rising inflation and interest rates. Investors should weigh these factors before considering BND as part of their portfolio.

BND: This Bond ETF Could Be the Best Buy for the Next 5-10 Years