ETF Odds & Ends: IAU Share Split & More

There were a number of developments in the ETF space during the past few weeks ended March 5, including share splits, expense ratio changes and name changes, as well as several launches in addition to the ones we already covered.

Share Splits
Perhaps most interesting, iShares announced that its $28 billion iShares Gold Trust (IAU) will undergo a 1-for-2 reverse split, effective May 24.

Meanwhile, on March 3, five Direxion ETFs underwent splits. These included the Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) and the Direxion Daily Small Cap Bear 3X Shares (TZA) both undergoing 1-for-8 reverse splits. Three others underwent forward splits as follows:

• Direxion Daily S&P 500 High Beta Bull 3X Shares (HIBL), 7-for-1
• Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL), 15-for-1
• Direxion Daily Technology Bull 3X Shares (TECL), 10-for-1

Expense Ratio Changes

Effective March 1, expense ratios changed for a number of ETFs offered by multiple issuers. The changes affected six ETFs and are as follows:

• The BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF (BKEM) saw its expense ratio increase from 0.11% to 0.18%.
• The Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF (BLOK) saw its expense ratio increase from 0.70% to 0.71%.
• The Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (DIVO) saw its expense ratio increase from 0.49% to 0.55%.
• The Direxion Dynamic Hedge ETF (DYHG) saw its expense ratio increase from 0.57% to 0.58%.
• The Direxion Flight to Safety Strategy ETF (FLYT) saw its expense ratio decrease from 0.40% to 0.37%.
• The Amplify High Income ETF (YYY) saw its expense ratio increase from 2.28% to 2.45%.

Meanwhile, a range of ETFs offered by Invesco and Davis saw changes to their expense ratios become effective on Feb. 26. Those changes are as follows:

• Davis Select International ETF (DINT) saw its expense ratio change from 0.68% to 0.65%
• Davis Select U.S. Equity ETF (DUSA) saw its expense ratio change from 0.63% to 0.62%
• Invesco S&P Global Water Index ETF (CGW) saw its expense ratio change from 0.59% to 0.57%
• Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF (EELV) saw its expense ratio change from 0.29% to 0.30%
• Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Momentum ETF (EEMO) saw its expense ratio change from 0.29% to 0.31%
• Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF (GSY) saw its expense ratio change from 0.23% to 0.22%
• Invesco S&P International Developed Momentum ETF (IDMO) saw its expense ratio change from 0.26% to 0.25%
• Invesco PureBeta FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (PBEE) saw its expense ratio change from 0.15% to 0.16%
• Invesco S&P 500 Downside Hedged ETF (PHDG) saw its expense ratio change from 0.39% to 0.40%
• Invesco DWA Developed Markets Momentum ETF (PIZ) saw its expense ratio change from 0.81% to 0.80%
• Invesco Balanced Multi-Asset Allocation ETF (PSMB) saw its expense ratio change from 0.35% to 0.32%
• Invesco Conservative Multi-Asset Allocation ETF (PSMC) saw its expense ratio change from 0.39% to 0.36%
• Invesco Growth Multi-Asset Allocation ETF (PSMG) saw its expense ratio change from 0.36% to 0.30%
• Invesco Moderately Conservative Multi-Asset Allocation ETF (PSMM) saw its expense ratio change from 0.37% to 0.33%

Additional Changes

Another handful of ETFs are undergoing a number of changes to their names and indexes. For example, the SPDR Blackstone / GSO Senior Loan ETF (SRLN) changed its name to the SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF as of Feb. 26, and the DEMZ Political Contributions ETF (DEMZ) changed its name to the Democratic Large Cap Core ETF as of March 5.

Effective March 1, the iShares Commodity Curve Carry Strategy ETF (CCRV) adopted the ICE BofA Commodity Enhanced Carry Total Return Index as its index. It had been actively managed.

At the same time, the iShares Bloomberg Roll Select Commodity Strategy ETF (CMDY), also previously actively managed, adopted the Bloomberg Roll Select Commodity Total Return Index as its index, while the iShares Commodities Select Strategy ETF (COMT) changed its name to the iShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETF and adopted the S&P GSCI Dynamic Roll (USD) Total Return Index as its index.

The iShares MSCI Frontier 100 ETF (FM) changed its name to the iShares MSCI Frontier and Select EM ETF and its index from the MSCI Frontier Markets 100 Index to the MSCI Frontier and Emerging Markets Select Index. And the actively managed iShares Gold Strategy ETF (IAUF) adopted the Bloomberg Composite Gold Index as its index.

Also on March 1, the Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF was reorganized into the FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF (KNG).

As of March 19, the Capital Link NextGen Protocol ETF (KOIN) will change its name to the Capital Link Global Fintech Leaders ETF and its index from the ATFI Global NextGen Fintech Index to the ATFI Global Fintech Leaders Index.

On March 24, the Invesco VRDO Tax-Free Weekly ETF (PVI) will change its name to the Invesco VRDO Tax-Free ETF and its index from the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal AMT-Free Weekly VRDO Index to the ICE US Municipal AMT-Free VRDO Constrained Index.

At the same time, the Invesco Cleantech ETF (PZD) will change its name to the Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF and its index from the Cleantech Index to the MSCI Global Environment Select Index.

On April 26, the VanEck Vectors Low Carbon Energy ETF (SMOG) will change its index from the Ardour Global Index to the MVIS Global Low Carbon Energy Index.

On May 1, the SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF (PSK) will change its name to the SPDR ICE Preferred Securities ETF and its index from the Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities Aggregate Index to the ICE Exchange-Listed Fixed & Adjustable Rate Preferred Securities Index.

As of May 3, the iShares Global Utilities ETF (JXI) will change its index from the S&P Global 1200 Utilities Index to the S&P Global 1200 Utilities (Sector) Capped Index.

Finally, effective June 1, the VanEck Vectors Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF (PFXF) will change its index from the Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities ex Financials Index to the ICE Exchange-Listed Fixed & Adjustable Rate Non-Financial Preferred Securities Index.

Additional Launches
Beyond what ETF.com has already covered, there were several launches during the past few weeks. These included the Corbett Road Tactical Opportunity ETF (OPPX), an actively managed U.S. equity fund that rolled out on Feb. 25 with an expense ratio of 0.75%. It was followed by the March 1 launch of the Alger Mid Cap 40 ETF (FRTY), another actively managed U.S. equity fund; it holds approximately 40 securities selected based on an investment thesis centered around “positive dynamic change.”

On March 4, Fidelity debuted two actively managed bond ETFs, the Fidelity Investment Grade Bond ETF (FIGB) and the Fidelity Investment Grade Securitized ETF (FSEC). They both come with expense ratios of 0.36%, according to their prospectuses.

Closures

There are also more closures set to complete in the near future. As of March 12, the AGFiQ U.S. Market Neutral Momentum Fund (MOM) and the AGFiQ Dynamic Hedged U.S. Equity ETF (USHG) will see their last day of trading.

Later in the month, the Dorsey Wright MLP Index ETN (BMLP) has its call settlement date set for March 16, and the VictoryShares Emerging Markets Volatility Wtd ETF (CEZ) will see its last day of trading on March 24.

Contact Heather Bell at [email protected]