Why Investors Are Extending Duration in Bond Portfolios

Many fixed income investors have started venturing out in duration in portfolios.

When interest rates are cut, high-quality duration could serve as an important hedge for a bond portfolio.

Many investors anticipate the U.S. economy will continue to demonstrate resilience in 2024, avoiding a recession entirely. Therefore, investors should look beyond broad-based benchmarks in fixed income to generate attractive performance. Instead, investors may consider optimizing fixed income exposure so it benefits from a constructive economic outlook.

The BondBloxx Bloomberg Ten Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XTEN) is a way to extend duration. The fund targets U.S. Treasury securities with an average duration of roughly 10 years. XTEN charges just eight basis points.

The fund has seen a surge in net flows as investors look to extend duration. It has seen nearly $63 million year to date through February 26. Incepted in September 2022, the fund has accreted $125 million in net flows.