The king of passive funds is expanding its presence in the active space. Vanguard said it plans to launch six factor-based ETFs and one factor-based mutual fund — five of which are targeted at financial advisors and institutional investors seeking to maximize value, momentum, liquidity and quality or to minimize volatility.
The funds have expense ratios from $0.13 to $0.18 and should begin trading in the first quarter of 2018. They represent the first actively managed ETFs to be sold by Vanguard in the United States; the firm currently offers factor ETFs in Canada and the United Kingdom.
The mutual fund and ETFs will offer a multi-factor approach. It would have an investment minimum of $50,000.
"Our factor-based fund offerings serve as a valuable extension of our low-cost active lineup, providing additional ways for suitable investors to help meet their long-term objectives by targeting exposure to specific factors in the market," said Vanguard Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis, in a statement.
