Active Bond Funds Outperform Passive Peers in Last Decade
- Passive vs. Active Bond Funds: A study by Eaton Vance shows that actively managed bond funds have consistently outperformed passive bond funds over the last decade.
- Outperformance Data: Actively managed bond funds beat passive funds by 121 bps on average in the last three years, 112 bps over five years, and 68 bps over the last decade.
- Benefits of Active Management: Active managers can adjust credit quality exposures, duration, and sector emphasis in volatile markets, providing flexibility and risk management.
- EVTR Total Return Bond ETF: The Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF (EVTR) is an actively managed fund focusing on generating higher fixed income returns over three to five years through a multi-sector strategy.
- Fund Details: EVTR primarily invests in investment-grade bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities, maintaining an average weighted maturity of five-10 years with an effective duration of 6.00 years and a yield to maturity of 6.51%.
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Fund Conversion: Morgan Stanley Investment Management has converted the Morgan Stanley Income Opportunities Fund into the Eaton Vance Income Opportunities ETF (NYSE: XAGG) to enhance its actively managed fixed income offerings.
Investment Strategy: The new ETF aims to provide high current income while pursuing total return, focusing on diverse global fixed-income sectors, particularly underrepresented areas in traditional bond portfolios.
ETF Platform Growth: This conversion contributes to MSIM's expanding ETF platform, which now includes 18 funds and over $9 billion in assets, with a significant portion being Eaton Vance-branded actively managed fixed income ETFs.
Market Positioning: The move reflects a trend of converting mutual funds to ETFs for better liquidity and tax efficiency, targeting investors looking for diversified income exposure in a dynamic bond market.

Conversion Announcement: Morgan Stanley Investment Management has successfully converted the Morgan Stanley Income Opportunities Fund into the Eaton Vance Income Opportunities ETF, expanding its range of actively-managed fixed income ETFs to 18.
Investment Strategy: The Eaton Vance Income Opportunities ETF aims to provide diversified exposure to various global fixed income sectors, focusing on underrepresented areas in traditional portfolios, with a primary goal of generating high current income.
Market Positioning: The ETF's strategy is designed to offer flexibility across geographies, sectors, and the yield curve, helping investors navigate shifting market conditions and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
MSIM Overview: Morgan Stanley Investment Management manages approximately $1.8 trillion in assets and employs around 1,400 investment professionals globally, providing a comprehensive suite of investment management solutions to a diverse client base.

Eaton Vance Launches New ETF: Eaton Vance, part of Morgan Stanley, has introduced the Eaton Vance Mortgage Opportunities ETF (EVMO), which is an actively managed fund aimed at providing diversified exposure to global securitized markets, including various types of mortgage-backed securities.
Competitive Positioning and Market Trends: EVMO features a competitive expense ratio of 0.45% and is positioned as a higher-quality alternative to corporate credit, aligning with a market trend favoring active fixed-income strategies and transparent ETF designs as legacy mutual funds transition into ETFs.
Conversion Announcement: Morgan Stanley Investment Management has converted the Morgan Stanley Mortgage Securities Trust into the Eaton Vance Mortgage Opportunities ETF, expanding its ETF platform to 18 products, including 10 active fixed income ETFs.
Investment Strategy: The Eaton Vance Mortgage Opportunities ETF aims to provide a diversified portfolio of mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, targeting higher yields with less volatility, while offering an alternative investment-grade option for investors.

NASDAQ 100 After Hours Performance: The NASDAQ 100 is up 5.61 points to 20,781.84 with a total after-hours volume of 134,493,782 shares traded, featuring active stocks like Flex Ltd., NVIDIA Corporation, and Apple Inc., all maintaining or improving their mean recommendations in the "buy range".
Stock Highlights: Notable movements include Flex Ltd. down slightly, NVIDIA Corporation showing positive earnings revisions, and Apple Inc. experiencing an increase in its stock price, while other companies like AT&T and Exxon Mobil remained unchanged in after-hours trading.
Active Bond Funds Performance: More than two-thirds of active bond funds outperformed comparable index funds over the past year, with nearly 75% of intermediate-core bond funds beating their index counterparts, attributed to their shorter durations and higher credit risk.
Long-term Success of Active Management: Over a decade, 46% of intermediate-core active bond funds surpassed passive funds, with asset-weighted returns showing active funds yielding better results compared to index funds, highlighting the complexities of the bond market that favor active management.






