BlackRock Rolls Out More ETFs Without iShares Brand

The world's largest asset manager has introduced several new ETFs that carry the BlackRock name — instead of the iShares label — as part of a new branding strategy for actively managed ETFs.

The newest products are part of an expansion of the firm's suite of Megatrend ETFs, which are designed to capitalized on structural shifts in the global economy.

Of the four new Megatrend ETFs, three are actively managed and carry the BlackRock name, and one is a passive index fund using the iShares label.

The three actively managed ETFs are the BlackRock Future Innovators ETF (BFTR), BlackRock Future Health ETF (BMED) and BlackRock Future Tech ETF (BTEK); their respective expense ratios are 0.80%, 85% and 0.88%.

The iShares Virtual Work and Life Multisector ETF (IWF), a globally diversified fund designed to capture the growing internet-dependent way of life, is the only passive new Megatrend ETF. It has an expense ratio of 0.47%.

"In order to help our clients better navigate our offerings, our index-based strategies will continue to be branded as iShares funds, and our alpha-seeking ETFs will be branded as BlackRock funds, reflecting the firm's history as a premier active investor," said Martin Small, head of BlackRock's U.S. Wealth Advisory business, in a statement.

(There firm did not comment on the possible rebranding of existing actively managed iShares ETFs.)

BlackRock manages roughly $7.3 trillion in assets, including close to $2.2 trillion in its iShares ETFs. It also has assets of over $10 billion in actively managed ETFs; some of these funds have the iShares brand, while others have the BlackRock name.

Among its active products are the BlackRock U.S. Equity Factor Rotation ETF (DYNF), iShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond (ETF) (MEAR) and iShares Short Maturity Bond ETF (NEAR).

With these new additions, BlackRock now has a total of 17 Megatrend ETFs, as well as 23 actively managed ETFs (including some Megatrend ETFs).

Global Trends

"Megatrends are driving the world's economic social and technology transformation, presenting tremendous investment opportunities and investor demand," said Armando Senra, head of iShares Americas. Some of these trends, especially in healthcare and technology, are accelerating as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senra added.

BlackRock has identified five megatrends that underlie the global structural shifts that will shape the future of consumer spending, government policies and corporate strategies for years to come, impacting investments long term:

Climate change and resource scarcity, related to crop failures, widespread flooding, destroyed habitats and energy shortage worldwide;
Demographics and social change — with the global population increasing by more than one billion over the next decade and a growing aging population in many countries, there will be more demand for healthcare and labor shortages;
Technological breakthroughs — nearly two-thirds of all jobs could see about one-third of their activities automated as machines learn faster than humans; plus, as a result, personal data will become a more valuable commodity;
Rapid urbanization — two-thirds of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2050, according to U.S. data cited by BlackRock, creating space and accommodation issues in major cities;
Shifting economic power — China likely becomes a new superpower by 2030, with India rivaling the U.S. by 2050, according to IMF and PWC reports.

Senra expects that assets in the firm's Megatrend funds could grow six-fold to $250 billion by 2024.

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