At a glance
HTRB charges 0.29% a year, the same as the average of the 7 funds most like it (the 4th cheapest of 8). It has $2.21B in assets, the 6th largest of that group; it paid 4.87% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, monthly. Over the past year it returned −1.7% with distributions reinvested, 7th of those 8 funds; over three years it returned +5.7% a year. At its worst it fell 10.5% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 16.6% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 3 months and 35 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 26.0% of the fund, out of 1,752 in all.
The short version
Hartford Total Return Bond ETF (HTRB) is an actively managed bond fund from The Hartford. Its sub-adviser, Wellington Management, runs a broad mix of U.S. Treasurys, mortgage-backed securities and corporate bonds. The fund can also put up to 20% in junk bonds. Its 0.29% expense ratio equals the average of similar funds and is well below active rivals such as SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF (TOTL), which charges 0.55%.
Price history
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HTRB -1.7% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTRB official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2024 | — | +2.38% | — | +0.30% | — | +1.56% |
| HTRB price data to Oct 27, 2026 | -1.3% | -1.7% | +5.7% | -0.1% | — | +1.9% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, HTRB returned -1.7%, 7th of 8 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was -0.1%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 10.5% and regained its old high 2.5 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-14.3%); its best was 2019 (+10.4%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 19.5% (Sep 14, 2021 to Oct 21, 2022), recovered by Oct 21, 2025.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | -1.3% | — |
| 2025 | +7.4% | — |
| 2024 | +2.4% | +2.38% |
| 2023 | +7.2% | +7.04% |
| 2022 | -14.3% | -14.33% |
| 2021 | -0.8% | -0.77% |
| 2020 | +8.9% | +8.94% |
| 2019 | +10.4% | +10.51% |
| 2018 | -0.9% | -0.78% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Lost 8.3% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 10.5%, back to its old high 2.5 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 16.5% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 16.6%, back to its old high 35.4 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $1.1000 | |
| 2025 | $1.6100 | +8.1% |
| 2024 | $1.4900 | +12.9% |
| 2023 | $1.3200 | +28.2% |
| 2022 | $1.0300 | -38.3% |
| 2021 | $1.6700 | -16.9% |
| 2020 | $2.0100 | -20.9% |
| 2019 | $2.5400 | +179.1% |
| 2018 | $0.9100 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 1,752 securities; the ten largest made up 26.04% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| UMBS, TBA Mortgage-backed securities | 3.84% | |
| UMBS, TBA Mortgage-backed securities | 3.62% | |
| United States Treasury Bonds and notes | 3.01% | |
| UMBS, TBA Mortgage-backed securities | 2.72% | |
| United States Treasury Bonds and notes | 2.56% | |
| United States Treasury Bonds and notes | 2.48% | |
| United States Treasury Bonds and notes | 2.18% | |
| Freddie Mac Mortgage-backed securities | 2.14% | |
| United States Treasury Bonds and notes | 1.88% | |
| UMBS, TBA Mortgage-backed securities | 1.61% | |
| United States Treasury Bonds and notes | 1.46% | |
| Freddie Mac Mortgage-backed securities | 1.22% | |
| United States Treasury Bonds and notes | 1.11% | |
| United States Treasury Bonds and notes | 1.04% | |
| United States Treasury Bonds and notes | 1.01% |
By country
United States 102.9%Cayman Islands 1.84%Germany 1.03%Mexico 0.71%United Kingdom 0.6%By issuer
Companies 40.33%US government-sponsored enterprises 33.21%US Treasury 31.05%US government agencies 3.54%Foreign governments 2.14%The bonds mature in 19.1 years on average (weighted by size), with an average coupon of 4.44%.
Source: N-PORT holdings report as of Jul 31, 2026. Cash, money-market funds and derivatives are shown separately from the securities list.What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors added a net $6.4M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +0.34%, +0.33%, -1.39%.
How it works
HTRB does not track an index. At least 80% of its net assets go into bonds that Wellington Management sees as attractive for total return and income. It may hold up to 20% in junk bonds (bonds rated below investment grade, which pay more because default is more likely). It may also put up to 40% in foreign debt, including emerging markets, and up to 20% in bonds priced in other currencies. Lead portfolio managers set the sector mix, interest-rate exposure and overall risk. Wellington specialists pick bonds within each sector.
The fund buys many mortgage securities in the "to be announced" (TBA) market. A TBA is an agreement to buy mortgage bonds for delivery at a later date. As of July 31, 2026, mortgage-backed securities made up about 49% of net assets and Treasurys about 31%. Debt holdings came to about 118% of net assets, because these forward purchases add exposure beyond the cash invested. The largest positions were two Uniform Mortgage-Backed Security TBAs (3.8% and 3.6%) and a U.S. Treasury note (3.0%). The fund held 1,752 securities.
The managers also use futures, options, swaps and currency forwards. On July 31, 2026, there were 39 derivative positions, including credit default swaps and interest-rate swaps. Trading is active, with 61% portfolio turnover. The average maturity was 19.1 years. Longer maturities make the fund's price react more when interest rates change.
What it really costs
- HTRB charges 0.29% a year, versus an average of 0.29% for the similar funds below (4th of 8, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $30 in the first year and $368 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTRB | $30 | $93 | $163 | $368 |
Structure and tax notes
- Bond prices move opposite to interest rates; the longer the maturities it holds, the more its price reacts to rate changes.
In a retirement portfolio
It is a broad, actively managed mix of Treasurys, mortgage-backed securities and corporate bonds that could anchor the bond side of a portfolio.
HTRB launched in 2017, so it has no record from the 2008 crisis. In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 10.5% between March 6 and March 23, 2020, and it recovered by June 8, 2020. Rising rates hurt far more. The fund lost 14.33% in 2022. Its deepest drop, 19.5%, ran from September 14, 2021 to October 21, 2022, and it took 36 months to recover. Anyone who had to sell shares in late 2022 would have locked in those losses.
The fund pays income monthly. Its trailing 12-month yield was 4.87% as of October 27, 2026. Under the SEC's standard example, a $10,000 investment costs about $30 in the first year. Past results don't predict the future, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors wanting managers, not an index, to pick bonds: Wellington Management mixes Treasuries, government-sponsored mortgage bonds and corporate debt for a 0.29% annual fee.
- Retirees seeking monthly income: the fund paid $1.59 per share over the past year, a 4.87% yield as of October 27, 2026.
- Investors wanting money spread across many bonds: the fund held 1,752 securities as of July 31, 2026; the ten largest made up 26.04% of assets.
Look elsewhere if
- Savers who can't afford losses on near-term spending money: it lost 14.33% in 2022; its 19.5% peak-to-trough drop took 36 months to recover.
- Investors focused mainly on fees: SCHZ (0.03%) and IUSB (0.06%) charge a fraction of HTRB's 0.29% yearly fee and are worth comparing.
- Those wanting only plain, high-quality bonds: up to 20% may sit in junk (below-investment-grade) bonds, and the fund uses swaps and forward mortgage trades.
Close alternatives
Matched by bond funds with the closest average maturity and issuer mix (N-PORT).
| Fund | Avg. maturity | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTRB this fund | 19.1 yrs | 0.29% | $2.21B | -1.7% | +5.7% |
| TOTL SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF | 18.1 yrs | 0.55% | $4.18B | -1.9% | +5.6% |
| TOTR T. Rowe Price Total Return ETF | 16.1 yrs | 0.32% | $572.6M | -1.2% | +5.6% |
| PTRB PGIM Total Return Bond ETF | 16.6 yrs | 0.49% | $1.17B | -1.4% | +5.9% |
| GTO Invesco Total Return Bond ETF | 15.9 yrs | 0.25% | $2.44B | -1.2% | +5.8% |
| FBND Fidelity Total Bond ETF | 14.4 yrs | 0.36% | $28.16B | -0.2% | +5.4% |
| IUSB iShares Core Total USD Bond Market ETF | 11.8 yrs | 0.06% | $43.00B | -0.3% | +5.1% |
| SCHZ Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 12.5 yrs | 0.03% | $10.60B | -1.1% | +5.2% |
Questions investors ask
Does HTRB pay monthly dividends?
Yes. HTRB pays income every month. Over the 12 months through October 27, 2026, it paid about $1.59 per share, a trailing yield of 4.87%. The money comes from interest on the fund's bonds and mortgage securities. The amount can change from month to month as interest rates and holdings shift. Income is not guaranteed, and the share price can fall even while payments continue, as it did in 2022.
Is HTRB an index fund?
No. HTRB is actively managed. The Hartford hires Wellington Management as sub-adviser, and its managers choose sectors, maturities and individual bonds instead of copying an index. That freedom lets the fund hold up to 20% in junk bonds or up to 40% in foreign debt. The trade-offs are cost and the risk that the managers get it wrong. Its 0.29% expense ratio is far above index funds such as Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (SCHZ) at 0.03%.
HTRB vs TOTL: what's the difference?
Both are actively managed total return bond funds, but HTRB costs less: 0.29% a year versus 0.55% for SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF (TOTL). TOTL is the fund most similar to HTRB by average maturity and issuer mix. Results have been close. As of October 27, 2026, HTRB returned -1.7% over one year and 5.7% a year over three years. TOTL returned -1.9% and 5.6%. TOTL is larger, with about $4.2 billion in net assets as of June 30, 2026.
How much did HTRB lose in 2022?
HTRB lost 14.33% in 2022, its worst calendar year, according to its prospectus. Rising interest rates pushed bond prices down across the market. Its worst quarter was the first quarter of 2022, at -6.69%. Measured from its peak on September 14, 2021 to its low on October 21, 2022, the fund fell 19.5%. It took 36 months, until October 21, 2025, to climb back to its earlier high.
What is HTRB's expense ratio?
HTRB's expense ratio is 0.29% a year, according to the prospectus filed November 26, 2025. All of it is management fee, and there is no fee waiver. Under the SEC's standard example, a $10,000 investment earning 5% a year would cost about $30 after one year, $93 after three, $163 after five and $368 after ten. That equals the 0.29% average of the similar funds compared here and ranks 4th lowest of 8.