Strive Launches ETFs Covering Key Asset Classes

The asset manager is known for its ‘anti-woke’ investment policy.

Strive Asset Management debuted a suite of four exchange-traded funds Thursday, adding to a lineup of products that cater to the company’s “profits over politics” investment policy. 

The new ETFs include the Strive 1000 Growth ETF (STXG), the Strive 1000 Value ETF (STXV), the Strive 2000 ETF (STXK) and the Strive 1000 Dividend Growth ETF (STXD). All four funds are listed on the Nasdaq. 

The Ohio-based asset manager, which is backed by billionaire investors Peter Thiel and Bill Ackman, introduced these products following the success of its flagship Strive U.S. Energy ETF (DRLL), which has $407 million in assets under management, despite only launching in August this year.  

Portfolio managers at Strive have been vocal critics of companies that make fiduciary decisions based on an environmental, social and governance policies. The firm’s investment methodology has gained traction for its “anti-ESG” messaging, a strategy the firm describes as one devoid of “mixed motivation to also advance a social objective,” according to its website.  

“We are still bullish on the energy sector, most importantly because we think it’s been the most impacted by the ESG movement,” said Matt Cole, head of investments and global fixed income at Strive, in a call with ETF.com. 

He said companies and investors alike have gravitated toward Strive’s message, especially when it comes to investing in the energy sector.  

The four ETFs are passively managed, with STXG and STXV focusing on companies that provide exposure to U.S. equities that exhibit growth and value, respectively; STXK providing exposure to 2,000 small and midcap U.S. equities; and STXD providing exposure to U.S. equities that have a steady history of growing dividends. 

The portfolios of all four funds, collectively, demonstrate a strong focus on the technology and energy sector, with top holdings including allocations to Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., Amazon.com Inc., Exxon Mobil Corp. and Murphy Oil Corp., among others. 

Cole added that though two of the ETFs slanted heavily towards the tech sector, the allocations were just a result of assessing the overall market beta, of which tech maintains a big portion. 

STXG, STXV and STXK come with expense ratios of 0.18%, while STXD charges 0.35%. 

Contact Zoya Mirza at [email protected]