Chaikin Plans ETF Rating Version '2.0': Portfolio Products

News December 02, 2019 at 11:22 AM
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Chaikin Analytics will be rolling out a version "2.0" of its Power Gauge ETF rating that "will rate all ETFs, regardless of the type of ETF," as long as they are "at least a year old," according to Carlton Neel, the company's CEO.

The company introduced the ETF rating about a year ago and is now "rating 460 of the most liquid equity U.S. ETFs, which represent about 96% of total assets in ETFs," he told ThinkAdvisor. Fixed income ETFs are not included but will be added to the new version of the ETF rating, he pointed out.

The new version will be included in the upcoming, advisor-only PortfolioWise tool launching in 2020 that the company previously said will empower advisors to "construct and propose ETF-based portfolios that align with client risk."

PortfolioWise is currently being beta tested and will be launched for early adopters in mid-January, a program that "will likely go through the end of January," allowing participants free access PortfolioWise for the first three months, said Neel. The official launch is expected to follow in April.

PortfolioWise will cost $999 a year but early adopters can sign up in February for $699 or in March for $799. A monthly or quarterly rate may also be available, but that hasn't been finalized yet, said Neel. Also planned are PortfolioWise training videos and webinars that will be made available to advisors starting in January, he told ThinkAdvisor.

MSCI ESG Ratings Now Publicly Available

MSCI ESG Research has responded to the "growing momentum and interest" being seen among a wide range of stakeholders in environmental, social and governance investing by making its MSCI ESG Ratings publicly available, it said.

The move was part of the firm's "mission to help investors, companies and other industry stakeholders identify the most financially relevant ESG risks and opportunities, through greater transparency and access to dynamic ESG data and insights," it said.

Included are ratings of more than 2,800 companies in the MSCI ACWI Index, the firm's flagship global equity index, that are accessible through a search tool available on msci.com. Companies are rated on a "AAA" to "CCC" scale based on their exposure to ESG risks and how well they manage those risks relative to peers.

Pacific Global ETFs Adds Two Funds

Pacific Global ETFs added two income-focused ETFs to its growing suite of actively managed, income-focused investment strategies.

The new funds — Pacific Global International Equity Income ETF (IDY) and Pacific Global Focused High Yield ETF (FJNK) — were designed to complement the Pacific Life division's flagship fund, Pacific Global US Equity Income ETF (USDY). Each fund has a total expense ratio of 0.39%, according to the firm's ETF website.

IDY is designed to provide income and long-term capital growth from equities mainly in developed countries.

FJNK, meanwhile, is designed to provide income and long-term capital growth by investing in a focused portfolio of liquid, high-yield debt securities. The ETF uses a structured, actively managed approach designed to "outperform its benchmark," the firm said.

Guinness Atkinson Launches Transportation & Technology ETF 

Guinness Atkinson Asset Management launched the SmartETFs Smart Transportation & Technology ETF (MOTO), an actively managed global investment strategy that the firm said is  "designed to provide investors with dedicated exposure to the innovative companies shaping the future of transportation."

The new ETF, co-managed by Guinness Atkinson portfolio managers Will Riley and Jonathan Waghorn, focuses on "long-term capital appreciation" through investment in companies directly involved in the delivery of products or services relating to autonomous and/or electric vehicles," the company noted.

It has a a net expense ratio of 0.68%, and will hold 35 equity positions of about equal weight and a global investment mandate.

"The rise of electric vehicles as the preference of choice for global consumers, combined with these vehicles achieving full autonomy, will present an array of new investment opportunities as consumers reevaluate their relationship with transportation," according to Jim Atkinson, Guinness Atkinson Asset Management CEO.

Galaxy Digital Touts Two New Bitcoin Funds

Galaxy Digital Capital Management launched two new bitcoin funds: The Galaxy Bitcoin Fund and Galaxy International Bitcoin Fund.

Both funds from the Galaxy Digital Holdings division are passively managed vehicles that it said offer institutional and accredited investors "low-fee, institutionally wrapped bitcoin exposure supported by vetted service providers."

— Check out last week's portfolio product roundup here: Vanguard Changes Key Leaders in Investment Management: Portfolio Products.

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