- Sector
- Financial Services
- Industry
- Asset Management - Bonds
- Address
- 1001 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh PA United States of America 15222
- IPO Date
- Jan 4, 2024
- Business
- Federated Hermes Total Return Bond ETF (FTRB) is an actively managed exchange-traded fund that seeks total return by investing primarily in U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade fixed-income securities, including U.S. government bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and corporate bonds; it also pursues selective opportunities in high-yield bonds and emerging markets debt through a core-plus strategy combining top-down sector allocation with bottom-up security selection. The ETF employs the proprietary Alpha Pod Process for security selection within a diversified, risk-managed portfolio featuring holdings such as Federated Mortgage Core Portfolio, U.S. Treasury futures, iShares MBS ETF, and various investment-grade corporates. Launched on January 2, 2024, and listed on NYSE Arca, FTRB targets intermediate core-plus bond investors with a net expense ratio of 0.39% and assets under management exceeding $350 million.
FTRB operates within the broader fixed-income segment of the ETF market, serving institutional and retail investors seeking total return from bond exposures amid varying interest rate and economic conditions. The fund is issued and managed by Federated Hermes, Inc., a global investment manager founded in 1955 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with over 2,000 employees across offices in the U.S., London, and worldwide; Federated Hermes oversees approximately $830 billion in assets, spanning equity, fixed-income, alternatives, and ETFs.
Portfolio managers Donald Ellenberger, Nathan Kehm, and Jerome Conner leverage Federated Hermes' 50 years of fixed-income expertise to navigate complex bond markets, with geographic focus predominantly on U.S. bonds (over 90% allocation) alongside limited non-U.S. exposure.
In recent developments, issuer Federated Hermes has pursued strategic growth through acquisitions, including a majority stake in U.K.-based Rivington Energy Management in April 2025 to bolster infrastructure capabilities and an agreement in October 2025 to acquire an 80% stake in FCP Fund Manager, L.P., for up to $331 million to expand U.S. real estate and private markets alternatives, expected to close in early 2026. The firm also launched new active ETFs in 2025, such as the MDT Market Neutral ETF (MKTN) in September and Enhanced Income ETF (PAYR) in October, growing its ETF suite to over $1.2 billion in assets; additionally, executive leadership changes were announced in December 2025 to strengthen investment and distribution functions.