Active Thematic ETFs Debut

Today, Franklin Templeton launched a trio of ETFs that focus on different themes. The new funds are as follows:

• Franklin Disruptive Commerce ETF (BUYZ)
• Franklin Genomic Advancements ETF (HELX)
• Franklin Intelligent Machines ETF (IQM)

The funds all come with expense ratios of 0.50% and list on Cboe Global Markets, the parent company of ETF.com.

While versions of these themes already exist, what makes Franklin’s approach unique is the fact that they are actively managed. Franklin Templeton is known as a primarily active shop, though it offers a lineup of low cost, plain vanilla indexed country ETFs.

BUYZ will focus mainly on the e-commerce space, from software to delivery. Meanwhile, HELX targets companies that look to provide services and products that involve gene therapies, synthesis and analysis, among other areas. Finally, IQM invests in companies offering disruptive innovation in the technology and artificial intelligence spaces.

The managers of the ETFs rely on fundamental bottom-up research to select their portfolios.

Contact Heather Bell at [email protected]