Putnam ETF Trust
06/25/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/25/2026 13:56
Annual Report by Investment Company (Form N-CSR)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-23643
Putnam ETF Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Stephen Tate, Vice President
100 Federal Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Copy to:
Bryan Chegwidden, Esq.
Ropes & Gray LLP
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
James E. Thomas, Esq.
Ropes & Gray LLP
800 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02199
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 292-1000
Date of fiscal year end: April 30
Date of reporting period: April 30, 2026
| ITEM 1. | REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS. |
(a) The Report to Shareholders is filed herewith
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Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF
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PCRB | NYSE Arca, Inc.
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Annual Shareholder Report | April 30, 2026
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This annual shareholder report contains important information about Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF for the period May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026.
You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236.
You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236.
This report describes changes to the Fund that occurred during the reporting period.
WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST YEAR? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)
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Fund Name
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Costs of a $10,000 investment
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Costs paid as a percentage of a $10,000 investment*
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Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF
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$35
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0.34%
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| * | Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, without which expenses would have been higher. |
HOW DID THE FUND PERFORM LAST YEAR AND WHAT AFFECTED ITS PERFORMANCE?
For the twelve months ended April 30, 2026, Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF returned 4.36%. The Fund compares its performance to the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index, which returned 4.06% for the same period.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
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Top contributors to performance:
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↑
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Investment-grade and high-yield corporate credit positioning contributed to performance over the period, despite spread widening towards the end of the period amid geopolitical tensions.
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↑
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Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) allocations contributed to performance as the sector was resilient and exhibited less volatility over the period compared to other macro selloffs in the last several years.
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There were no significant detractors from performance during the period.
| Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF | PAGE 1 | 39496-ATSR-0626 |
HOW DID THE FUND PERFORM OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS?
The Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.
VALUE OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT - Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 1/19/2023 - 4/30/2026
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (%) Period Ended April 30, 2026
|
1 Year
|
Since Inception
(1/19/2023) |
|
|
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF (NAV)
|
4.36
|
3.46
|
|
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index
|
4.06
|
3.15
|
Fund performance figures may reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, without which the performance would have been lower.
For current month-end performance, please call Franklin Templeton at (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236 or visit
https://www.franklintempleton.com/investments/options/exchange-traded-funds.
https://www.franklintempleton.com/investments/options/exchange-traded-funds.
Important data provider notices and terms available at www.franklintempletondatasources.com.
KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of April 30, 2026)
|
Total Net Assets
|
$6,961,375
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Total Number of Portfolio Holdings (excludes derivatives, except purchased options, if any)
|
20
|
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Total Management Fee Paid (based on a unitary fee)
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$2,300,336
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Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
335%
|
WHAT DID THE FUND INVEST IN? (as of April 30, 2026)
Portfolio Composition* (% of Total Investments)
| * | Does not include derivatives, except purchased options, if any. |
| Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF | PAGE 2 | 39496-ATSR-0626 |
HOW HAS THE FUND CHANGED?
At a meeting held on March 26, 2026, the Board of Trustees of Putnam ETF Trust, on behalf of the Fund, approved a plan to liquidate and dissolve the Fund, upon recommendation by Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser.
The liquidation of the Fund is expected to occur on or about June 16, 2026 (the "Liquidation Date"), although the Fund may make dispositions of portfolio holdings prior to the Liquidation Date.
Effective as of the close of business on May 19, 2026, the Fund will no longer accept orders for the purchase of creation units, and effective as of the close of business on June 9, 2026, the Fund will no longer accept redemption orders. Trading for the Fund on NYSE Arca, Inc. will be suspended prior to market open on June 10, 2026.
When the Funds are in the process of liquidating their portfolios, which is anticipated to commence prior to June 10, 2026, the Funds will hold cash and securities that may not be consistent with the Funds' investment objectives and strategies.
This is a summary of certain changes to the Fund since May 1, 2025. For more complete information, you may review the Fund's current prospectus and any applicable supplements, at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents or upon request at (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236 or [email protected].
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WHERE CAN I FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND?
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Additional information is available on https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents, including its:
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• prospectus • proxy voting information • financial information • holdings • tax information
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| Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF | PAGE 3 | 39496-ATSR-0626 |
(b) Not applicable
| ITEM 2. | CODE OF ETHICS. |
(a) The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer.
(c) N/A
(d) N/A
(f) Pursuant to Item 19(a) (1), the Registrant is attaching as an exhibit a copy of its code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer.
| ITEM 3. | AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT. |
The Board of Trustees of the Registrant has determined that Warren Lowell and Manoj P. Singh possess the technical attributes identified in Item 3 to Form N-CSR to qualify as "audit committee financial experts," and has designated Warren Lowell and Manoj P. Singh as the Audit Committee's financial experts. Warren Lowell and Manoj P. Singh are "independent" Trustees pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR.
Under applicable securities laws, a person determined to be an audit committee financial expert will not be deemed an "expert" for any purpose, including without limitation for the purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as a result of being designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations, or liabilities greater than the duties, obligations, and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and board of directors in the absence of such designation or identification. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not affect the duties, obligations, or liability of any other member of the audit committee or board of directors.
| ITEM 4. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. |
(a) Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the last two fiscal years ending April 30, 2025 and April 30, 2026 (the "Reporting Periods") for professional services rendered by the Registrant's principal accountant (the "Auditor") for the audit of the Registrant's annual financial statements, or services that are normally provided by the Auditor in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the Reporting Periods, were $153,203 in April 30, 2025 and $164,798 in April 30, 2026.
(b) Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for assurance and related services by the Auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the Registrant's financial statements were $0 in April 30, 2025 and $0 in April 30, 2026.
(c) Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for professional services rendered by the Auditor for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning ("Tax Services") were $26,747 in April 30, 2025 and $26,747 in April 30, 2026. These services consisted of (i) review or preparation of U.S. federal, state, local and excise tax returns; (ii) U.S. federal, state and local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments, and (iii) tax advice regarding tax qualification matters and/or treatment of various financial instruments held or proposed to be acquired or held.
There were no fees billed for tax services by the Registrant's investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant ("Service Affiliates") during the Reporting Periods that required pre-approval by the Audit Committee.
(d) All Other Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for products and services provided by the Auditor to the Registrant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this item, were $0 in April 30, 2025 and $0 in April 30, 2026.
There were no other non-audit services rendered by the Auditor to the Service Affiliates requiring pre-approval by the Audit Committee in the Reporting Periods.
(e) Audit Committee's pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c) (7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
Pre-Approval Policies of the Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee. The Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee of the Putnam funds has determined that, as a matter of policy, all work performed for the funds by the funds' independent auditors will be pre-approved by the Committee itself and thus will generally not be subject to pre-approval procedures.
The Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee also has adopted a policy to pre-approve the engagement by the fund's investment manager and certain of its affiliates of the fund's independent auditors, even in circumstances where pre-approval is not required by applicable law. Any such requests by the fund's investment manager or certain of its affiliates are typically submitted in writing to the Committee and explain, among other things, the nature of the proposed engagement, the estimated fees, and why this work should be performed by that particular audit firm as opposed to another one. In reviewing such requests, the Committee considers, among other things, whether the provision of such services by the audit firm are compatible with the independence of the audit firm.
(2) None of the services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item were performed in reliance on paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) Not applicable.
(g) Non-audit fees billed by the Auditor for services rendered to the Registrant and the Service Affiliates during the reporting period were $664,363 in April 30, 2025 and $1,474,011 in April 30, 2026.
(h) Yes. The Registrant's Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates, which were not pre-approved (not requiring pre-approval), is compatible with maintaining the Auditor's independence. All services provided by the Auditor to the Registrant or to the Service Affiliates, which were required to be pre-approved, were pre-approved as required.
(i) Not applicable.
(j) Not applicable
| ITEM 5. | AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 6. | SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS. |
| (a) | Please see schedule of investments contained in the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights included under Item 7 of this Form N-CSR. |
| (b) | Not applicable. |
| ITEM 7. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR OPEN-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. | |
Putnam
ESG Core Bond ETF
ESG Core Bond ETF
Financial Statements and Other Important Information
Annual | April 30, 2026
If you need assistance accessing this content, please reach out to your sales representative or send an email to [email protected].
Table of Contents
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Schedule of Investments
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1
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
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4
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Statement of Operations
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5
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Statements of Changes in Net Assets
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6
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Financial Highlights
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7
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Notes to Financial Statements
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8
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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23
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Important Tax Information
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24
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Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
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25
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Results of Meeting(s) of Shareholders
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25
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Remuneration Paid to Directors, Officers and Others
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25
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franklintempleton.com
Financial Statements and Other Important Information - Annual
Schedule of Investments April 30, 2026
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
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Security
|
|
Rate
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Maturity
Date
|
Face
Amount
|
Value
|
|
U.S. Government & Agency Obligations - 57.0%
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|||||
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U.S. Government Obligations - 57.0%
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|||||
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U.S. Treasury Notes (Cost - $4,008,936)
|
4.375%
|
5/15/34
|
$3,940,000
|
$3,965,395
|
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Corporate Bonds & Notes - 2.1%
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|||||
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Consumer Discretionary - 0.5%
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|||||
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Broadline Retail - 0.3%
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|||||
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Amazon.com Inc., Senior Notes
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4.550%
|
3/13/33
|
5,000
|
4,942
|
|
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Amazon.com Inc., Senior Notes
|
4.875%
|
3/13/36
|
10,000
|
9,857
|
|
|
Amazon.com Inc., Senior Notes
|
6.050%
|
3/13/76
|
8,000
|
7,889
|
|
|
Total Broadline Retail
|
22,688
|
||||
|
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure - 0.2%
|
|||||
|
Airbnb Inc., Senior Notes
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4.650%
|
3/16/31
|
5,000
|
4,993
|
|
|
Airbnb Inc., Senior Notes
|
5.250%
|
3/16/36
|
5,000
|
4,988
|
|
|
Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
|
9,981
|
||||
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|
|||||
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Total Consumer Discretionary
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32,669
|
||||
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Consumer Staples - 0.1%
|
|||||
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Beverages - 0.1%
|
|||||
|
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., Senior Notes
|
5.300%
|
3/15/34
|
5,000
|
4,990
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Financials - 0.4%
|
|||||
|
Capital Markets - 0.3%
|
|||||
|
Morgan Stanley, Senior Notes (4.708% to 3/12/31
then SOFR + 1.195%)
|
4.708%
|
3/12/32
|
15,000
|
14,888
(a)
|
|
|
Morgan Stanley, Senior Notes (5.900% to 3/13/46
then SOFR + 1.782%)
|
5.900%
|
3/13/47
|
5,000
|
5,012
(a)
|
|
|
Total Capital Markets
|
19,900
|
||||
|
Financial Services - 0.1%
|
|||||
|
Beignet Investor LLC, Senior Secured Notes
|
6.581%
|
5/30/49
|
8,000
|
8,269
(b)
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total Financials
|
28,169
|
||||
|
Health Care - 0.3%
|
|||||
|
Pharmaceuticals - 0.3%
|
|||||
|
Novartis Capital Corp., Senior Notes
|
4.600%
|
3/18/33
|
10,000
|
9,934
|
|
|
Novartis Capital Corp., Senior Notes
|
4.900%
|
3/18/36
|
10,000
|
9,934
|
|
|
Novartis Capital Corp., Senior Notes
|
5.700%
|
3/18/56
|
5,000
|
5,012
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total Health Care
|
24,880
|
||||
|
Industrials - 0.3%
|
|||||
|
Aerospace & Defense - 0.3%
|
|||||
|
Honeywell Aerospace Inc., Senior Notes
|
4.600%
|
3/16/33
|
5,000
|
4,939
(b)
|
|
|
Honeywell Aerospace Inc., Senior Notes
|
4.950%
|
3/16/36
|
10,000
|
9,890
(b)
|
|
|
Honeywell Aerospace Inc., Senior Notes
|
5.732%
|
3/16/56
|
5,000
|
4,921
(b)
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
1
Schedule of Investments (cont'd) April 30, 2026
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
|
Security
|
|
Rate
|
Maturity
Date
|
Face
Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|||||
|
Aerospace & Defense - continued
|
|||||
|
Honeywell Aerospace Inc., Senior Notes
|
5.852%
|
3/16/66
|
$5,000
|
$4,925
(b)
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total Industrials
|
24,675
|
||||
|
Information Technology - 0.5%
|
|||||
|
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment - 0.2%
|
|||||
|
Marvell Technology Inc., Senior Notes
|
5.300%
|
4/15/36
|
15,000
|
15,014
|
|
|
Software - 0.3%
|
|||||
|
Salesforce Inc., Senior Notes
|
5.200%
|
3/15/33
|
20,000
|
19,970
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Total Information Technology
|
34,984
|
||||
|
Total Corporate Bonds & Notes (Cost - $150,968)
|
150,367
|
||||
|
Total Investments before Short-Term Investments (Cost - $4,159,904)
|
4,115,762
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Short-Term Investments - 37.8%
|
|||||
|
Putnam Government Money Market Fund, Class P
Shares (Cost - $2,631,725)
|
3.420%
|
2,631,725
|
2,631,725
(c)(d)
|
||
|
Total Investments - 96.9% (Cost - $6,791,629)
|
6,747,487
|
||||
|
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities - 3.1%
|
213,888
|
||||
|
Total Net Assets - 100.0%
|
$6,961,375
|
||||
|
(a)
|
Variable rate security. Interest rate disclosed is as of the most recent information available. Certain variable rate
securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and
are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their
description above.
|
|
(b)
|
Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be resold in
transactions that are exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.
|
|
(c)
|
Rate shown is one-day yield as of the end of the reporting period.
|
|
(d)
|
In this instance, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, an "Affiliated Company" represents Fund
ownership of at least 5% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer, or a company which is under common
ownership or control with the Fund. At April 30, 2026, the total market value of investments in Affiliated
Companies was $2,631,725 and the cost was $2,631,725 (Note 6).
|
|
Abbreviation(s) used in this schedule:
|
||
|
SOFR
|
-
|
Secured Overnight Financing Rate
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
2
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF
At April 30, 2026, the Fund had the following open futures contracts:
|
|
Number of
Contracts
|
Expiration
Date
|
Notional
Amount
|
Market
Value
|
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
|
|
Contracts to Buy:
|
|||||
|
U.S. Treasury 2-Year Notes
|
17
|
6/26
|
$3,538,144
|
$3,521,125
|
$(17,019
)
|
|
U.S. Treasury Long-Term Bonds
|
10
|
6/26
|
1,138,420
|
1,128,438
|
(9,982
)
|
|
U.S. Treasury Ultra Long-Term
Bonds
|
5
|
6/26
|
585,945
|
575,156
|
(10,789
)
|
|
|
(37,790
)
|
||||
|
Contracts to Sell:
|
|||||
|
U.S. Treasury Ultra 10-Year
Notes
|
17
|
6/26
|
1,945,555
|
1,918,609
|
26,946
|
|
Net unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts
|
$(10,844
)
|
||||
At April 30, 2026, the Fund had the following open swap contracts:
|
CENTRALLY CLEARED CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS ON CREDIT INDICES - BUY PROTECTION1
|
||||||
|
Reference Entity
|
Notional
Amount2*
|
Termination
Date
|
Periodic
Payments
Made by
the Fund†
|
Market
Value3
|
Upfront
Premiums
Paid
(Received)
|
Unrealized
Depreciation
|
|
Markit CDX.NA.IG.46 Index
|
$2,000,000
|
6/20/31
|
1.000% quarterly
|
$42,010
|
$42,081
|
$(71)
|
|
1
|
If the Fund is a buyer of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap
agreement, the Fund will either (i) receive from the seller of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of
the swap and deliver the referenced obligation or the underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii)
receive a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the
recovery value of the referenced obligation or the underlying securities comprising the referenced index.
|
|
2
|
The maximum potential amount the Fund could be required to pay as a seller of credit protection or receive as a
buyer of credit protection if a credit event occurs as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement.
|
|
3
|
The quoted market prices and resulting values for credit default swap agreements on asset-backed securities and
credit indices serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the
likelihood of an expected loss (or profit) for the credit derivative had the notional amount of the swap agreement
been closed/sold as of the period end. Decreasing market values (sell protection) or increasing market values (buy
protection), when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced
entity's credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under
the terms of the agreement.
|
|
†
|
Percentage shown is an annual percentage rate.
|
|
*
|
Notional amount denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
3
Statement of Assets and Liabilities April 30, 2026
|
Assets:
|
|
|
Investments in unaffiliated securities, at value (Cost - $4,159,904)
|
$4,115,762
|
|
Investments in affiliated securities, at value (Cost - $2,631,725)
|
2,631,725
|
|
Cash
|
1
|
|
Interest receivable
|
115,088
|
|
Deposits with brokers for open futures contracts
|
55,408
|
|
Receivable from brokers - net variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts
|
44,343
|
|
Dividends receivable from affiliated investments
|
5,773
|
|
Total Assets
|
6,968,100
|
|
Liabilities:
|
|
|
Payable to brokers - net variation margin on open futures contracts
|
3,918
|
|
Investment management fee payable
|
2,807
|
|
Total Liabilities
|
6,725
|
|
Total Net Assets
|
$6,961,375
|
|
Net Assets:
|
|
|
Paid-in capital
|
$430,510
|
|
Total distributable earnings (loss)
|
6,530,865
|
|
Total Net Assets
|
$6,961,375
|
|
Shares Outstanding
|
150,000
|
|
Net Asset Value
|
$46.41
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
4
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
Statement of Operations For the Year Ended April 30, 2026
|
Investment Income:
|
|
|
Interest
|
$29,629,958
|
|
Dividends from affiliated investments
|
1,840,602
|
|
Total Investment Income
|
31,470,560
|
|
Expenses:
|
|
|
Investment management fee (Note 2)
|
2,396,403
|
|
Total Expenses
|
2,396,403
|
|
Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements (Note 2)
|
(96,067
)
|
|
Net Expenses
|
2,300,336
|
|
Net Investment Income
|
29,170,224
|
|
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Affiliated Underlying Funds, Futures Contracts
and Swap Contracts (Notes 1, 3 and 4):
|
|
|
Net Realized Gain From:
|
|
|
Sale of affiliated Underlying Funds
|
108,655
|
|
Investment transactions in unaffiliated securities
|
17,559,435
|
|
Futures contracts
|
8,928
|
|
Swap contracts
|
10,869
|
|
Net Realized Gain
|
17,687,887
|
|
Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) From:
|
|
|
Investments in unaffiliated securities
|
(1,271,208
)
|
|
Investments in affiliated securities
|
(51,724
)
|
|
Futures contracts
|
(10,844
)
|
|
Swap contracts
|
(71
)
|
|
Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)
|
(1,333,847
)
|
|
Net Gain on Investments, Affiliated Underlying Funds, Futures Contracts and Swap
Contracts
|
16,354,040
|
|
Increase in Net Assets From Operations
|
$45,524,264
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
5
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
|
For the Years Ended April 30,
|
2026
|
2025
|
|
Operations:
|
||
|
Net investment income
|
$29,170,224
|
$29,110,003
|
|
Net realized gain (loss)
|
17,687,887
|
(1,064,664
)
|
|
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
|
(1,333,847
)
|
20,085,388
|
|
Increase in Net Assets From Operations
|
45,524,264
|
48,130,727
|
|
Distributions to Shareholders From (Note 1):
|
||
|
Total distributable earnings
|
(29,847,161
)
|
(28,792,378
)
|
|
Decrease in Net Assets From Distributions to Shareholders
|
(29,847,161
)
|
(28,792,378
)
|
|
Fund Share Transactions (Note 5):
|
||
|
Net proceeds from sale of shares (3,650,000 and 3,900,000 shares issued,
respectively)
|
178,943,812
|
190,306,696
|
|
Cost of shares repurchased (18,400,000 and 675,000 shares repurchased,
respectively)
|
(913,497,346
)
|
(32,733,019
)
|
|
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Fund Share
Transactions
|
(734,553,534
)
|
157,573,677
|
|
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
|
(718,876,431
)
|
176,912,026
|
|
Net Assets:
|
||
|
Beginning of year
|
725,837,806
|
548,925,780
|
|
End of year
|
$6,961,375
|
$725,837,806
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
6
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
Financial Highlights
|
For a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each year ended April 30:
|
||||
|
|
20261
|
20251
|
20241
|
20231,2
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of year
|
$48.71
|
$47.02
|
$49.72
|
$50.00
|
|
Income (loss) from operations:
|
||||
|
Net investment income
|
2.09
|
2.13
|
2.08
|
0.55
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
|
0.04
|
1.66
|
(2.59
)
|
(0.53
)
|
|
Total income (loss) from operations
|
2.13
|
3.79
|
(0.51)
|
0.02
|
|
Less distributions from:
|
||||
|
Net investment income
|
(4.43
)
|
(2.10
)
|
(2.17
)
|
(0.30
)
|
|
Net realized gains
|
-
|
-
|
(0.02
)
|
-
|
|
Total distributions
|
(4.43
)
|
(2.10
)
|
(2.19
)
|
(0.30
)
|
|
Net asset value, end of year
|
$46.41
|
$48.71
|
$47.02
|
$49.72
|
|
Total return, based on NAV
|
4.36
%
|
8.19
%
|
(1.02
)%
|
0.04
%3
|
|
Net assets, end of year (000s)
|
$6,961
|
$725,838
|
$548,926
|
$466,145
|
|
Ratios to average net assets:
|
||||
|
Gross expenses
|
0.35
%
|
0.35
%
|
0.35
%
|
0.10
%3
|
|
Net expenses4,5
|
0.34
|
0.34
|
0.34
|
0.10
3
|
|
Net investment income
|
4.26
|
4.39
|
4.34
|
1.12
3
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate
|
335
%
|
237
%
|
166
%
|
3
%6
|
|
1
|
Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method.
|
|
2
|
For the period January 19, 2023 (inception date) to April 30, 2023.
|
|
3
|
Not annualized.
|
|
4
|
The manager has agreed to waive the Fund's management fee to an extent sufficient to offset the net management
fee payable in connection with any investment in an affiliated money market fund.
|
|
5
|
Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.
|
|
6
|
Portfolio turnover excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of in-kind fund share
transactions.
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
7
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Organization and significant accounting policies
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF (the "Fund") is a separate diversified investment series of Putnam ETF Trust (the "Trust"). The Trust, a Delaware statutory trust, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end management investment company.
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund ("ETF"). ETFs are funds that trade like other publicly-traded securities. Unlike shares of a mutual fund, which can be bought from and redeemed by the issuing fund by all shareholders at a price based on net asset value ("NAV"), shares of the Fund may be directly purchased from and redeemed by the Fund at NAV solely by certain large institutional investors who have entered into agreements with the Fund's distributor ("Authorized Participants"). Also unlike shares of a mutual fund, shares of the Fund are listed on a national securities exchange and trade in the secondary market at market prices that change throughout the day.
Shares of the Fund are listed and traded at market prices on NYSE Arca, Inc. The market price for the Fund's shares may be different from the Fund's NAV. The Fund issues and redeems shares at NAV only in blocks of a specified number of shares or multiples thereof ("Creation Units"). Only Authorized Participants may purchase or redeem Creation Units directly with the Fund at NAV. Creation Units are created and redeemed principally in-kind (although under some circumstances its shares are created and redeemed partially for cash). Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of the Fund are not redeemable securities. Shareholders who are not Authorized Participants may not redeem shares directly from the Fund at NAV.
The Fund follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services - Investment Companies("ASC 946"). The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), including, but not limited to, ASC 946. Estimates and assumptions are required to be made regarding assets, liabilities and changes in net assets resulting from operations when financial statements are prepared. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining these estimates could cause actual results to differ. Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued.
(a) Investment valuation. The valuations for fixed income securities (which may include, but are not limited to, corporate, government, municipal, mortgage-backed, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities) and certain derivative instruments are typically the prices supplied by independent third party pricing services, which may use market prices or broker/dealer quotations or a variety of valuation techniques and methodologies. The independent third party pricing services typically use inputs that are observable such as issuer details, interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit
8
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
risks/spreads, default rates and quoted prices for similar securities. Investments in open-endfunds are valued at the closing net asset value per share of each fund on the day of valuation. When the Fund holds securities or other assets that are denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund will use the currency exchange rates, generally determined as of 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). If independent third party pricing services are unable to supply prices for a portfolio investment, or if the prices supplied are deemed by the manager to be unreliable, the market price may be determined by the manager using quotations from one or more broker/dealers or at the transaction price if the security has recently been purchased and no value has yet been obtained from a pricing service or pricing broker. When reliable prices are not readily available, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, but before the Fund calculates its net asset value, the Fund values these securities as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Board").
Pursuant to policies adopted by the Board, the Fund's manager has been designated as the valuation designee and is responsible for the oversight of the daily valuation process. The Fund's manager is assisted by the Global Fund Valuation Committee (the "Valuation Committee"). The Valuation Committee is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Fund's pricing policies, and reporting to the Fund's manager and the Board. When determining the reliability of third party pricing information for investments owned by the Fund, the Valuation Committee, among other things, conducts due diligence reviews of pricing vendors, monitors the daily change in prices and reviews transactions among market participants.
The Valuation Committee will consider pricing methodologies it deems relevant and appropriate when making fair value determinations. Examples of possible methodologies include, but are not limited to, multiple of earnings; discount from market of a similar freely traded security; discounted cash-flow analysis; book value or a multiple thereof; risk premium/yield analysis; yield to maturity; and/or fundamental investment analysis. The Valuation Committee will also consider factors it deems relevant and appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances. Examples of possible factors include, but are not limited to, the type of security; the issuer's financial statements; the purchase price of the security; the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class at the time of purchase; analysts' research and observations from financial institutions; information regarding any transactions or offers with respect to the security; the existence of merger proposals or tender offers affecting the security; the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable companies; and the existence of a shelf registration for restricted securities.
For each portfolio security that has been fair valued pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board, the fair value price is compared against the last available and next available market
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
9
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
quotations. The Valuation Committee reviews the results of such back testing monthly and fair valuation occurrences are reported to the Board quarterly.
The Fund uses valuation techniques to measure fair value that are consistent with the market approach and/or income approach, depending on the type of security and the particular circumstance. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to discount estimated future cash flows to present value.
GAAP establishes a disclosure hierarchy that categorizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to value assets and liabilities at measurement date. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
•
Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
•
Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
•
Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)
The inputs or methodologies used to value securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund's assets and liabilities carried at fair value:
|
ASSETS
|
||||
|
Description
|
Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
|
Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
|
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
|
Total
|
|
Long-Term Investments†:
|
||||
|
U.S. Government & Agency
Obligations
|
-
|
$3,965,395
|
-
|
$3,965,395
|
|
Corporate Bonds & Notes
|
-
|
150,367
|
-
|
150,367
|
|
Total Long-Term Investments
|
-
|
4,115,762
|
-
|
4,115,762
|
|
Short-Term Investments†
|
$2,631,725
|
-
|
-
|
2,631,725
|
|
Total Investments
|
$2,631,725
|
$4,115,762
|
-
|
$6,747,487
|
|
Other Financial Instruments:
|
||||
|
Futures Contracts††
|
$26,946
|
-
|
-
|
$26,946
|
|
Total
|
$2,658,671
|
$4,115,762
|
-
|
$6,774,433
|
10
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
|
LIABILITIES
|
||||
|
Description
|
Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
|
Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
|
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
|
Total
|
|
Other Financial Instruments:
|
||||
|
Futures Contracts††
|
$37,790
|
-
|
-
|
$37,790
|
|
Centrally Cleared Credit Default
Swaps on Credit Indices -
Buy Protection††
|
-
|
$71
|
-
|
71
|
|
Total
|
$37,790
|
$71
|
-
|
$37,861
|
|
†
|
See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.
|
|
††
|
Reflects the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the instruments.
|
(b) Futures contracts. The Fund uses futures contracts generally to gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes in interest rates or gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes in certain asset classes. A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date.
Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit cash or securities with a broker in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This is known as the ''initial margin'' and subsequent payments (''variation margin'') are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. For certain futures, including foreign denominated futures, variation margin is not settled daily, but is recorded as a net variation margin payable or receivable. The daily changes in contract value are recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation in the Statement of Operations and the Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed.
Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, risk of loss in excess of the amounts reflected in the financial statements. In addition, there is the risk that the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid secondary market.
(c) Swap agreements. The Fund invests in swaps for the purpose of managing its exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. The use of swaps involves risks that are different from those associated with other portfolio transactions. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market and may be entered into as a bilateral contract ("OTC Swaps") or centrally cleared ("Centrally Cleared Swaps"). Unlike Centrally Cleared Swaps, the Fund has credit exposure to the counterparties of OTC Swaps.
In a Centrally Cleared Swap, immediately following execution of the swap, the swap agreement is submitted to a clearinghouse or central counterparty (the "CCP") and the CCP becomes the ultimate counterparty of the swap agreement. The Fund is required to interface with the CCP through a broker, acting in an agency capacity. All payments are settled with the CCP through the broker. Upon entering into a Centrally Cleared Swap, the Fund is required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities.
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
11
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
Swap contracts are marked-to-market daily and changes in value are recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation). The daily change in valuation of Centrally Cleared Swaps, if any, is recorded as a net receivable or payable for variation margin on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Gains or losses are realized upon termination of the swap agreement. Collateral, in the form of restricted cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with the Fund's custodian in compliance with the terms of the swap contracts. Securities posted as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is identified on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Risks may exceed amounts recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. These risks include changes in the returns of the underlying instruments, failure of the counterparties to perform under the contracts' terms, and the possible lack of liquidity with respect to the swap agreements.
OTC Swap payments received or made at the beginning of the measurement period are reflected as a premium or deposit, respectively, on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. These upfront payments are amortized over the life of the swap and are recognized as realized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Fund are recognized as a realized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations.
The Fund's maximum exposure in the event of a defined credit event on a credit default swap to sell protection is the notional amount. As of April 30, 2026, the Fund did not hold any credit default swaps to sell protection.
For average notional amounts of swaps held during the year ended April 30, 2026, see Note 4.
Credit default swaps
The Fund enters into credit default swap ("CDS") contracts for investment purposes, to manage its credit risk or to add leverage. CDS agreements involve one party making a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return in the event of a default by a third party, typically corporate or sovereign issuers, on a specified obligation, or in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising a credit index. The Fund may use a CDS to provide protection against defaults of the issuers (i.e., to reduce risk where the Fund has exposure to an issuer) or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer's default. As a seller of protection, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a stream of payments throughout the term of the swap, provided that there is no credit event. If the Fund is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that the Fund could be required to make under a CDS agreement would be an amount equal to the notional amount of the agreement. These amounts of potential payments will be partially offset by any recovery of values from the respective referenced obligations. As a seller of protection, the Fund effectively adds leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the
12
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. As a buyer of protection, the Fund generally receives an amount up to the notional value of the swap if a credit event occurs.
Implied spreads are the theoretical prices a lender receives for credit default protection. When spreads rise, market perceived credit risk rises and when spreads fall, market perceived credit risk falls. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads and decreasing market values, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity's credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. Credit spreads utilized in determining the period end market value of CDS agreements on corporate or sovereign issues are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments and serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performancerisk and represent the likelihood or risk of default for credit derivatives. For CDS agreements on asset-backed securities and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values, particularly in relation to the notional amount of the contract as well as the annual payment rate, serve as an indication of the current status of the payment/performancerisk.
The Fund's maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk, as the protection buyer, is the fair value of the contract (this risk is mitigated by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the Fund to cover the Fund's exposure to the counterparty). As the protection seller, the Fund's maximum risk is the notional amount of the contract. CDS are considered to have credit risk-related contingent features since they require payment by the protection seller to the protection buyer upon the occurrence of a defined credit event.
Entering into a CDS agreement involves, to varying degrees, elements of credit, market and documentation risk in excess of the related amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreement may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the agreement, and that there will be unfavorable changes in net interest rates.
(d) Counterparty risk and credit-risk-related contingent features of derivative instruments. The Fund may invest in certain securities or engage in other transactions where the Fund is exposed to counterparty credit risk in addition to broader market risks. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers, which may also be considered counterparties as trading partners in other transactions. This may increase the risk of loss in the event of default or bankruptcy by the counterparty or if the counterparty otherwise fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Fund's subadviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions.
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
13
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
Market events and changes in overall economic conditions may impact the assessment of such counterparty risk by the subadviser. In addition, declines in the values of underlying collateral received may expose the Fund to increased risk of loss.
With exchange traded and centrally cleared derivatives, there is less counterparty risk to the Fund since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, the credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, the Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default of the clearing broker or clearinghouse.
The Fund has entered into master agreements, such as an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement ("ISDA Master Agreement") or similar agreement, with certain of its derivative counterparties that govern over-the-counter ("OTC") derivatives and provide for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral posting terms, netting provisions in the event of default or termination and credit related contingent features. The credit related contingent features include, but are not limited to, a percentage decrease in the Fund net assets or net asset value per share over a specified period of time. If these credit related contingent features were triggered, the derivatives counterparty could terminate the positions and demand payment or require additional collateral.
Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments' payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the terms of the ISDA Master Agreements do not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Fund and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction.
Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearinghouse for exchange traded derivatives while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.
As of April 30, 2026, the Fund did not have any open OTC derivative transactions with credit related contingent features in a net liability position.
(e) Security transactions and investment income. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Interest income (including interest income from payment-in-kind securities) is recorded on the accrual basis. Amortization of premiums and accretion of
14
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
discounts on debt securities are recorded to interest income over the lives of the respective securities, except for premiums on certain callable debt securities, which are amortized to the earliest call date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date for dividends received in cash and/or securities. Foreign dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as practicable after the Fund determines the existence of a dividend declaration after exercising reasonable due diligence. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method. To the extent any issuer defaults or a credit event occurs that impacts the issuer, the Fund may halt any additional interest income accruals and consider the realizability of interest accrued up to the date of default or credit event.
(f) Distributions to shareholders. Distributions from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared and paid on a monthly basis. Distributions of net realized gains, if any, are declared at least annually. Distributions to shareholders of the Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.
(g) Federal and other taxes. It is the Fund's policy to comply with the federal income and excise tax requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), applicable to regulated investment companies. Accordingly, the Fund intends to distribute its taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders in accordance with timing requirements imposed by the Code. Therefore, no federal or state income tax provision is required in the Fund's financial statements.
Management has analyzed the Fund's tax positions taken on income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that as of April 30, 2026, no provision for income tax is required in the Fund's financial statements. The Fund's federal and state income and federal excise tax returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue.
(h) Reclassification. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be reclassified to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share. During the current year, the following reclassifications have been made:
|
|
Total Distributable
Earnings (Loss)
|
Paid-in
Capital
|
|
(a)
|
$(5,862,777)
|
$5,862,777
|
(a)
Reclassifications are due to a taxable overdistribution; book/tax differences in the treatment of an in-kind distribution of securities and book/tax differences in the treatment of various items.
(i) Guarantees and indemnifications. Under the Fund's organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified by the Fund against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
15
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
clauses. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. Currently, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.
2. Investment management agreement and other transactions with affiliates
Franklin Advisers, Inc. ("Advisers") is the Fund's investment manager. Putnam Investment Management, LLC ("Putnam Management") and Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited ("FTIML") are the Fund's subadvisers. Advisers and Putnam Management are direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. ("Franklin Resources").
The Fund pays its investment manager an annual all-inclusive management fee of 0.35% based on the Fund's average daily net assets computed daily and paid monthly. The management fee covers investment management services and all of the Fund's organizational and other operating expenses with certain exceptions, including but not limited to: payments under distribution plans, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, fund proxy expenses, litigation expenses, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses.
Advisers has retained Putnam Management as a subadviser for the Fund pursuant to a subadvisory agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, Putnam Management provides certain advisory and related services to the Fund. Advisers pays a monthly fee to Putnam Management based on the costs of Putnam Management in providing these services to the Fund, which may include a mark-up not to exceed 15% over such costs.
FTIML is authorized by the Trustees to manage a separate portion of the assets of the Fund as determined by Putnam Management from time to time. FTIML did not manage any portion of the assets of the Fund during the reporting period. If Putnam Management were to engage the services of FTIML, Putnam Management (and not the Fund) would pay a monthly sub-management fee to FTIML for its services at an annual rate of 0.20% of the average net assets of the portion of the Fund assets managed by FTIML.
Under an agreement with Advisers, Franklin Templeton Services, LLC ("Franklin Templeton Services"), provides administrative services to the Fund. The fee is paid by Advisers based on the costs incurred by Franklin Templeton Services and is not an additional expense of the Fund.
The Fund invests in Putnam Government Money Market Fund, an open-end management investment company managed by Advisers. The manager has agreed to waive the Fund's management fee to an extent sufficient to offset the net management fee payable in connection with any investment in an affiliated money market fund (the "affiliated money market fund waiver").
During the year ended April 30, 2026, fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed amounted to $96,067, all of which was an affiliated money market fund waiver.
16
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
Franklin Distributors, LLC ("Franklin Distributors") serves as the distributor of Creation Units for the Fund on an agency basis. Franklin Distributors is an indirect, wholly-owned broker-dealersubsidiary of Franklin Resources.
The Board has adopted a Rule 12b-1 shareholder services and distribution plan and under that plan, the Fund is authorized to pay service and/or distribution fees calculated at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets. No service and/or distribution fees are currently paid by the Fund, and there are no current plans to impose these fees.
The Fund has adopted a Trustee Fee Deferral Plan (the "Deferral Plan") which allows the Trustees to defer the receipt of all or a portion of Trustees fees payable from July 1, 1995 through December 31, 2023. The deferred fees remain invested in certain Putnam funds until distribution in accordance with the Deferral Plan.
All officers and one Trustee of the Trust are employees of Franklin Resources or its affiliates and do not receive compensation from the Trust.
3. Investments
During the year ended April 30, 2026, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments (excluding in-kind transactions and short-term investments) and U.S. Government & Agency Obligations were as follows:
|
|
Investments
|
U.S. Government &
Agency Obligations
|
|
Purchases
|
$535,019,829
|
$1,830,988,242
|
|
Sales
|
434,407,886
|
1,840,962,958
|
During the year ended April 30, 2026, in-kind transactions (Note 5) were as follows:
|
Contributions
|
-
|
|
Redemptions
|
$863,508,661
|
|
Realized gain (loss)*
|
10,874,338
|
|
*
|
Net realized gains on redemptions in-kind are not taxable to the remaining shareholders of the Fund.
|
The in-kind contributions and in-kind redemptions shown in this table may not agree with the Fund Share Transactions on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets. This table represents the accumulation of the Fund's daily net shareholder transactions while the Statements of Changes in Net Assets reflects gross shareholder transactions including any cash component of the transactions.
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
17
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
At April 30, 2026, the aggregate cost of investments and the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were as follows:
|
|
Cost/Premiums
Paid (Received)
|
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
|
Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
|
Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
|
|
Securities
|
$6,791,629
|
$134
|
$(44,276)
|
$(44,142)
|
|
Futures contracts
|
-
|
26,946
|
(37,790)
|
(10,844)
|
|
Swap contracts
|
42,081
|
-
|
(71)
|
(71)
|
4. Derivative instruments and hedging activities
Below is a table, grouped by derivative type, that provides information about the fair value and the location of derivatives within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities at April 30, 2026.
|
ASSET DERIVATIVES1
|
|
|
|
Interest
Rate Risk
|
|
Futures contracts2
|
$26,946
|
|
LIABILITY DERIVATIVES1
|
|||
|
|
Interest
Rate Risk
|
Credit
Risk
|
Total
|
|
Futures contracts2
|
$37,790
|
-
|
$37,790
|
|
Centrally cleared swap contracts3
|
-
|
$71
|
71
|
|
Total
|
$37,790
|
$71
|
$37,861
|
|
1
|
Generally, the balance sheet location for asset derivatives is receivables/net unrealized appreciation and for
liability derivatives is payables/net unrealized depreciation.
|
|
2
|
Includes cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of
Investments. Only net variation margin is reported within the receivables and/or payables on the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities.
|
|
3
|
Includes cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of centrally cleared swap contracts as reported in the
Schedule of Investments. Only net variation margin is reported within the receivables and/or payables on the
Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
|
18
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
The following tables provide information about the effect of derivatives and hedging activities on the Fund's Statement of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2026. The first table provides additional detail about the amounts and sources of gains (losses) realized on derivatives during the period. The second table provides additional information about the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from the Fund's derivatives and hedging activities during the period.
|
AMOUNT OF NET REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED
|
|||
|
|
Interest
Rate Risk
|
Credit
Risk
|
Total
|
|
Futures contracts
|
$8,928
|
-
|
$8,928
|
|
Swap contracts
|
-
|
$10,869
|
10,869
|
|
Total
|
$8,928
|
$10,869
|
$19,797
|
|
CHANGE IN NET UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED
|
|||
|
|
Interest
Rate Risk
|
Credit
Risk
|
Total
|
|
Futures contracts
|
$(10,844
)
|
-
|
$(10,844
)
|
|
Swap contracts
|
-
|
$(71
)
|
(71
)
|
|
Total
|
$(10,844
)
|
$(71
)
|
$(10,915
)
|
During the year ended April 30, 2026, the volume of derivative activity for the Fund was as follows:
|
|
Average Market
Value*
|
|
Futures contracts (to buy)
|
$1,021,486
|
|
Futures contracts (to sell)
|
687,958
|
|
|
Average Notional
Balance**
|
|
Credit default swap contracts (buy protection)
|
$769,231
|
|
*
|
Based on the average of the market values at each month-end during the period.
|
|
**
|
Based on the average of the notional amounts at each month-end during the period.
|
5. Fund share transactions
At April 30, 2026, the Trust had an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized without par value. Fund shares are issued and redeemed by the Fund only in Creation Units or Creation Unit aggregations, where 25,000 shares of the Fund constitute a Creation Unit. Such transactions are generally on an in-kind basis, with a separate cash payment, which is a balancing cash component to equate the transaction to the net asset value per share of the Fund on the transaction date. Transactions in capital shares of the Fund are disclosed in detail in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets. Authorized Participants are subject to standard creation and redemption transaction fees to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units. Such transactions fees are treated as increases in capital and are disclosed
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
19
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
in the Fund's Statements of Changes in Net Assets. Creations and redemptions for cash (when cash creations and redemptions are available or specified) may be subject to an additional variable fee.
6. Transactions with affiliated companies
As defined by the 1940 Act, an affiliated company is one in which the Fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common ownership or control with the Fund. The following company was considered an affiliated company for all or some portion of the year ended April 30, 2026. The following transactions were effected in such company for the year ended April 30, 2026.
|
|
Affiliate
Value at
April 30,
2025
|
Purchased
|
Sold
|
||
|
Cost
|
Shares
|
Proceeds
|
Shares
|
||
|
Money Market Funds:
|
|||||
|
Putnam
Government
Money Market
Fund, Class P
Shares
|
$40,880,678
|
$282,932,681
|
282,932,681
|
$321,181,634
|
321,181,634
|
|
Franklin Templeton
ETF Trust -
Franklin Ultra
Short Bond ETF
|
11,257,741
|
7,006,860
|
281,400
|
18,212,877
|
731,980
|
|
Total
|
$52,138,419
|
$289,939,541
|
$339,394,511
|
||
|
(cont'd)
|
Realized
Gain (Loss)
|
Dividend
Income
|
Net Increase
(Decrease) in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
|
Affiliate
Value at
April 30,
2026
|
|
Money Market Funds:
|
||||
|
Putnam Government
Money Market Fund,
Class P Shares
|
-
|
$1,177,533
|
-
|
$2,631,725
|
|
Franklin Templeton ETF
Trust - Franklin Ultra
Short Bond ETF
|
$108,655
|
663,069
|
$(51,724
)
|
-
|
|
|
$108,655
|
$1,840,602
|
$(51,724
)
|
$2,631,725
|
7. Redemption facility
The Fund, together with other U.S. registered and foreign investment funds (collectively, the "Borrowers") managed by Franklin Resources or its affiliates, was a borrower in a joint syndicated senior unsecured credit facility totaling $2.995 billion (the "Global Credit Facility"). The Global Credit Facility provides a source of funds to the Borrowers for temporary and emergency purposes, including the ability to meet future unanticipated or unusually large redemption requests.
20
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
Under the terms of the Global Credit Facility, the Fund shall, in addition to interest charged on any borrowings made by the Fund and other costs incurred by the Fund, pay its share of fees and expenses incurred in connection with the implementation and maintenance of the Global Credit Facility, based upon its relative share of the aggregate net assets of all the Borrowers, including an annual commitment fee of 0.15% based upon the unused portion of the Global Credit Facility. The Fund did not utilize the Global Credit Facility during the year ended April 30, 2026.
8. Income tax information and distributions to shareholders
The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended April 30, was as follows:
|
|
2026
|
2025
|
|
Distributions paid from:
|
||
|
Ordinary income
|
$29,847,161
|
$28,792,378
|
As of April 30, 2026, the components of distributable earnings (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
|
Undistributed ordinary income - net
|
$4,396,855
|
|
Undistributed long-term capital gains - net
|
2,178,129
|
|
Total undistributed earnings
|
$6,574,984
|
|
Other book/tax temporary differences(a)
|
10,916
|
|
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(b)
|
(55,035)
|
|
Total distributable earnings (loss) - net
|
$6,530,865
|
|
(a)
|
Other book/tax temporary differences are attributable to the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains
(losses) on futures contracts and swaps.
|
|
(b)
|
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable to the
other book/tax basis adjustments.
|
9. Plan of liquidation
On April 30, 2026, the Board of the Trust approved a plan to liquidate and dissolve the Fund. The Fund liquidated on June 16, 2026.
10. Operating segments
The Fund operates as a single operating segment, which is an investment portfolio. The portfolio managers assigned to the Fund within the Fund's investment manager serve as the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") and are responsible for evaluating the Fund's operating results and allocating resources in accordance with the Fund's investment strategy. Internal reporting provided to the CODM aligns with the accounting policies and measurement principles used in the financial statements.
For information regarding segment assets, segment profit or loss, and significant expenses, refer to the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and the Statement of Operations, along with the related Notes to Financial Statements. The Fund's Schedule of Investments provides details of the Fund's investments that generate returns such as interest, dividends, and
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
21
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
realized and unrealized gains or losses. Performance metrics, including portfolio turnover and expense ratios, are disclosed in the Financial Highlights.
22
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of Putnam ETF Trust and Shareholders of Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF (one of the funds constituting Putnam ETF Trust, referred to hereafter as the "Fund") as of April 30, 2026, the related statement of operations for the year ended April 30, 2026, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended April 30, 2026, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended April 30, 2026 and for the period January 19, 2023 (inception date) to April 30, 2023 (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of April 30, 2026, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended April 30, 2026, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended April 30, 2026 and for the period January 19, 2023 (inception date) to April 30, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2026 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Subsequent Event
As discussed in Note 9 to the financial statements, the Board of the Trust approved a plan to liquidate and dissolve the Fund on March 26, 2026. The Fund liquidated on June 16, 2026.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
June 17, 2026
June 17, 2026
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Putnam Funds family of funds since at least 1957. We have not been able to determine the specific year we began serving as auditor.
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF 2026 Annual Report
23
Important Tax Information (unaudited)
By mid-February, tax information related to a shareholder's proportionate share of distributions paid during the preceding calendar year will be received, if applicable. Please also refer to www.franklintempleton.com for per share tax information related to any distributions paid during the preceding calendar year. Shareholders are advised to consult with their tax advisors for further information on the treatment of these amounts on their tax returns.
The following tax information for the Fund is required to be furnished to shareholders with respect to income earned and distributions paid during its fiscal year.
The Fund hereby reports the following amounts, or if subsequently determined to be different, the maximum allowable amounts, for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2026:
|
|
Pursuant to:
|
Amount Reported
|
|
Short-Term Capital Gain Dividends Distributed
|
§871(k)(2)(C)
|
$221,679
|
|
Section 163(j) Interest Earned
|
§163(j)
|
$27,636,101
|
|
Interest Earned from Federal Obligations
|
Note (1)
|
$11,621,796
|
Note (1) - The law varies in each state as to whether and what percentage of dividend income attributable to Federal obligations is exempt from state income tax. Shareholders are advised to consult with their tax advisors to determine if any portion of the dividends received is exempt from state income taxes.
24
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF
|
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
|
For the period covered by this report
|
|
Not applicable.
|
|
|
Results of Meeting(s) of Shareholders
|
For the period covered by this report
|
|
Not applicable.
|
|
|
Remuneration Paid to Directors, Officers and Others
|
For the period covered by this report
|
|
Not applicable. Remuneration paid to directors, officers, and others is included as part of the all-inclusive
management fee and not paid directly by the Fund.
|
|
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF
25
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(This page intentionally left blank.)
(This page intentionally left blank.)
Putnam
ESG Core Bond ETF
Trustees
Liaquat Ahamed
Barbara M. Baumann
Chair
Jonathan de St. Paer*
Katinka Domotorffy
Catharine Bond Hill
Gregory G. McGreevey
Jennifer Williams Murphy
Marie Pillai
Warren Lowell Putnam*
George Putnam III
Robert L. Reynolds
Manoj P. Singh
Mona K. Sutphen
Kenneth Yutaka Tanji*
Jane Trust
Investment manager
Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Subadvisers
Putnam Investment Management, LLC
Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited
Distributor
Franklin Distributors, LLC
Custodian
The Bank of New York Mellon
Transfer agent
The Bank of New York Mellon
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286
Independent registered public accounting firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Boston, MA
*
Effective March 1, 2026, Messrs. de St. Paer, Putnam and Tanji became Trustees of the Fund.
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF
The Fund is a separate investment series of Putnam ETF Trust, a Delaware statutory trust.
Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF
Putnam Investments
100 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
Putnam Investments
100 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund's Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. To obtain information on Form N-PORT, shareholders can call the Fund at 1-800-225-1581.
Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the prior 12-month period ended June 30th of each year and a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio transactions are available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-800-225-1581, (2) at www.franklintempleton.com and (3) on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Putnam ESG Core Bond ETF. This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.
Investors should consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. Theprospectus contains this and other important information about the Fund. Please read the prospectuscarefully before investing.
www.franklintempleton.com
© 2026 Franklin Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. All rights reserved.
39496-AFSOI 6/26
© 2026 Franklin Templeton. All rights reserved.
| ITEM 8. | CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS FOR OPEN-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
The information is disclosed as part of the Financial Statements included in Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.
| ITEM 9. | PROXY DISCLOSURES FOR OPEN-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
The information is disclosed as part of the Financial Statements included in Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.
| ITEM 10. | REMUNERATION PAID TO DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND OTHERS OF OPEN-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
The information is disclosed as part of the Financial Statements included in Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.
| ITEM 11. | STATEMENT REGARDING BASIS FOR APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY CONTRACT. |
The information is disclosed as part of the Financial Statements included in Item 7 of this Form N-CSR, as applicable.
| ITEM 12. | DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 13. | PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 14. | PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 15. | SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. |
There have been no changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant's Board of Trustees that would require disclosure herein.
| ITEM 16. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. |
| (a) | The Registrants acknowledge the Staff's comment. In future filings on Form N-CSR, the certifications required by Rule 30a-2 and Item 19(a)(3) will include the designations "principal executive officer" and "principal financial officer" in the signature blocks, reflecting the capacity in which each signatory executes the certification, in conformity with the language of the Rule and Form N-CSR. The Registrants may also include each signatory's actual title with respect to the Funds alongside the required designation. |
| (b) | During the period covered by this report, the Registrant transitioned to a new third-party service provider who performs certain accounting and administrative services for the Registrant that are subject to Franklin Templeton's oversight. |
| ITEM 17. | DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 18. | RECOVERY OF ERRONEOUSLY AWARDED COMPENSATION. |
| (a) | Not applicable. |
| (b) | Not applicable. |
| ITEM 19. | EXHIBITS. |
Exhibit 99.CODE ETH
Exhibit 99.CERT
Exhibit 99.906CERT
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, there unto duly authorized.
Putnam ETF Trust
| By: | /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz | |
| Jonathan S. Horwitz | ||
| Principal Executive Officer | ||
| Date: | June 25, 2026 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| By: | /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz | |
| Jonathan S. Horwitz | ||
| Principal Executive Officer | ||
| Date: | June 25, 2026 | |
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey White | |
| Jeffrey White | ||
| Principal Financial Officer | ||
| Date: | June 25, 2026 |
Putnam ETF Trust published this content on June 25, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via EDGAR on June 25, 2026 at 19:56 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]