Eaton Vance Total Return Bond ETF

EVTR

Market cap $3.16B

Eaton Vance has expanded its active fixed-income offerings with the launch of a mortgage-backed securities (MBS) ETF. Listed on NYSE Arca, the Eaton Vance Mortgage Opportunities ETF (EVMO) was created through the conversion of the Morgan Stanley Mortgage Securities Trust (MTGDX) mutual fund.

With all the talk about inflation returning, advisors are keeping a close eye on how the Federal Reserve may respond.  On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve opted to keep interest rates at the same position they have been in since December.

Investors increasingly seek refuge in bonds at the end of the first quarter as economic uncertainty grows. With recession and inflation risks on the rise, bonds hold strong appeal for their low correlations to equities.

While some experts were betting on economic uncertainty affecting 2025's stock market, things have played out a bit more drastically. Escalating tariff threats and the potential for a recession have sent many investors running for cover.

Even though many fixed income strategies are seeing good results, some investors remain uncertain over where bond yields are heading. Luckily for the uncertain, evidence is mounting that the yield curve is normalizing.

The U.S. exchange traded fund industry reached a significant milestone on Wednesday. There are now over 4,000 ETFs trading at the same time.

Before investing in any particular asset class, investors should do some proper research to better understand what drives its performance. This is especially true for those currently considering investing in mortgage-backed securities (MBS).

For many experienced fixed income investors, the barbell strategy is often used to set one's portfolio up for balanced success.  The barbell strategy itself is fairly straightforward.

Approximately two years ago, just before an Exchange conference kicked off, one of the largest asset managers entered into the ETF market. Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM), home to some of the strongest asset management brands, launched their initial suite of ETFs in January 2023.

Right now, bond investors have probably noticed that yield spreads are currently in a fairly tight position. Sure, these spreads can benefit investors who prefer investment grade bonds, but high yield strategies may offer less benefits now.