Algorithm Driven ETF Debuts

Whitford Asset Management has entered the ETF space with the launch of a volatility-focused smart-beta ETF. The Volshares Large Cap ETF (VSL) tracks an index that is driven by a quantitative algorithm known as the Whitford Model.

VSL comes with an expense ratio of 0.65% and lists on the NYSE Arca.

The ETF’s index uses the Solactive US Large Cap Index, which essentially covers the 500 largest U.S.-listed common stocks and REITs, as its selection universe.

From there, the methodology considers each company’s opening and closing prices to determine their likelihood of appreciation during the following week and their volatility levels relative to the broader market. The quantitative model is implemented to determine which stocks are most likely to exhibit the highest short-term appreciation relative to their expected volatility, the prospectus says.

Ultimately, the methodology selects approximately 25 securities that it then equal-weights in the portfolio. 

Contact Heather Bell at [email protected]