Full List Of 2019 ETF.com Award Finalists
Due to the country and world facing extraordinary circumstances, the announcement of winners has been postponed until a date to be determined.
[Editor’s note: With the country and world facing extraordinary circumstances, we are delaying the announcement of winners until a date to be determined.]
2019 was a big year for ETFs, which had their second biggest asset haul ever in a calendar year and saw all sorts of exciting innovation extending investor access to interesting areas of the market.
Finalists for the entirety of the 2019 awards are listed below. This year, we have separated the service provider awards from the general awards for individual ETFs and issuers.
The nomination period closed Jan. 4.
The methodology for the ETF.com Awards is at the bottom of the story.
SERVICE PROVIDER AWARD CATEGORIES
Index Provider of the Year – 2019
Awarded to the index provider that has done the most to improve investor outcomes through index introductions, research, advisor support and more.
BlackRock
ICE (Intercontinental Exchange)
Solactive AG
Syntax
Vanguard
Index of the Year – 2019
Awarded to the index that has done the most to provide new ways of considering investment strategies, opportunities or ideas.
Cboe Global Indexes - Cboe S&P 500 Target Outcome Indexes
Life + Liberty Freedom 100 Emerging Markets Index
MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index
Solactive AG - Solactive Genomics Index
ETF Liquidity Provider of the Year – 2019
Awarded to the ETF liquidity provider (including market maker, authorized participant, agency broker, etc.) that has done the most to improve investor outcomes through education, support, services, innovation and outreach.
Citadel Securities
Jane Street
Virtu
ETF Custodian of the Year – 2019
Awarded to the ETF custodial firm offering the best and most innovative service to clients.
Bank of New York Mellon
Brown Brothers Harriman
State Street
US Bank
Best Online Broker for ETF-Focused Investors – 2019
Awarded to the online brokerage offering the best package for ETF-focused investors. This award will consider commission-free trading options, education materials, supporting services and other factors.
Fidelity Investments
Interactive Brokers
Robinhood
Schwab
TD Ameritrade
Vanguard
Best ETF Platform – 2019
Awarded to the wirehouse, broker-dealer, online platform or other service provider that offers its reps and advisors—or individual investors—the best total offering in the ETF space, including research, data, tools, trading capabilities and education.
Bloomberg
Charles Schwab
iShares by BlackRock
TD Ameritrade
Vanguard
Best Index Provider Website – 2019
Awarded to the most informative and user-friendly website by an index provider.
Alpha Architect
iShares by BlackRock
Syntax Indices
Best ETF Issuer Capital Markets Desk – 2019
Awarded to the ETF issuer providing the most useful support to advisors for ETF trading.
Charles Schwab Investment Management (CSIM)
iShares by BlackRock
Nuveen Capital Markets Desk
Vanguard ETF Capital Markets Desk
ETF Investor of the Year – 2019
Awarded to the ETF strategist, model portfolio provider, automated investment service or institutional investor that has done the most to improve investor outcomes in 2019. This can include novel approaches, education, results and advocacy.
CLS
Chuck Self
Corey Hoffstein
Mike Venuto
ETF Law Firm of the Year – 2019
Awarded annually to the law firm that has done the most to push the ETF industry forward, including driving new and innovative products through the SEC, advocating for the industry and the rights of investors, and improving outcomes for investors.
Chapman and Cutler
K&L Gates
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
Ropes & Gray
ETF AWARD CATEGORIES FOR 2019
(Note: The full description of each award’s criteria is contained in the nomination survey here)
Award Finalists:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Eric Balchunas
Bruce Bond
Reggie Browne
Burton Malkiel
Jan van Eck
ETF of the Year – 2019
Vanguard Total International Bond Index (BNDX)
AGFiQ U.S. Market Neutral Anti-Beta Fund (BTAL)
Innovator Defined Outcome ETF Series: BJAN, PJAN, UJAN, EJUL, IJUL, KOCT, NOCT
Alpha Architect U.S. Quantitative Value ETF (QVAL)
iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL)
iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol USA ETF (USMV)
Best New ETF – 2019
JPMorgan BetaBuilders US Equity ETF (BBUS)
Innovator Defined Outcome ETF series: BJAN, PJAN, UJAN, EJUL, IJUL, KOCT, NOCT
Alpha Architect Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF (FRDM)
Direxion MSCI USA Cyclicals Over Defensives ETF (RWCD)
iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL)
Most Innovative New ETF – 2019
Global X Cloud Computing ETF (CLOU)
Hoya Capital Housing ETF (HOMZ)
Quadratic Interest Rate Volatility Inflation Hedge ETF (IVOL)
Direxion MSCI USA Cyclicals Over Defensives ETF (RWCD)
Best New U.S. Equity ETF – 2019
Avantis U.S. Equity ETF (AVUS)
Innovator Defined Outcome ETF series: BJAN, PJAN, UJAN, KOCT, NOCT
Hoya Capital Housing ETF (HOMZ)
Direxion MSCI USA Cyclicals Over Defensives ETF (RWCD)
iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL)
Best New International/Global Equity ETF – 2019
Alpha Architect Freedom 100 Emerging Market ETF (FRDM)
Pacer Trendpilot International (PTIN)
Direxion MSCI Developed Over Emerging Markets ETF (RWDE)
Amplify International Online Retail ETF (XBUY)
Best New U.S. Fixed-Income ETF – 2019
Goldman Sachs Access Ultra Short Bond ETF (GSST)
iShares iBonds High Yield and Income Series: IBHA, IBHB, IBHC, IBHD, IBHE
Quadratic Interest Rate Volatility Inflation Hedge ETF (IVOL)
VanEck Vectors Municipal Allocation ETF (MAAX)
Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NUHY)
Best New International/Global Fixed-Income ETF – 2019
Pacific Global Focused High Yield (FJNK)
SP Funds Dow Jones Global Sukuk ETF (SPSK)
Principal Ultra-Short Active Income ETF (USI)
Best New Commodity ETF – 2019
iPath Series B Carbon ETN (GRN)
Best New Alternatives ETF – 2019
Franklin Liberty Systematic Style Premia ETF (FLSP)
RYZZ Managed Futures Strategy Plus ETF (RYZZ)
Best New Asset Allocation ETF – 2019
WisdomTree 90/60 U.S. Balanced Fund (NTSX)
Strategy Shares Newfound/ReSolve Robust Momentum ETF (ROMO)
Virtus Private Credit Strategy (VPC)
Bull-Rider Bear-Fighter ETF (WIZ)
Best New Smart Beta or Factor ETF – 2019
Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF (ECOW)
Fidelity Targeted International Factor ETF (FDEV) and Fidelity Targeted Emerging Markets Factor ETF (FDEM)
PIMCO RAFI ESG U.S. ETF (RAFE)
Strategy Shares Newfound/ReSolve Robust Momentum ETF (ROMO)
GraniteShares XOUT US Large Cap ETF (XOUT)
Best New Active ETF – 2019
ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF)
Avantis U.S. Equity ETF (AVUS)
Aware Ultra-Short Duration Enhanced Income ETF (AWTM)
PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF (EMNT)
JPMorgan Core Plus Bond ETF (JCPB)
Thematic ETF of the Year – 2019
Global X Cloud Computing ETF (CLOU)
Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF (FRDM)
The Goldman Sachs Motif Data-Driven World ETF (GDAT)
VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (GRNB)
People's Choice
Schwab 1-5 Year Corporate Bond ETF (SCHJ), Schwab 5-10 Year Corporate Bond ETF (SCHI) & Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHQ)
North Shore Global Uranium Mining ETF (URNM)
Xtrackers S&P 500 ESG ETF (SNPE)
iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL)
Avantis U.S. Equity ETF (AVUS)
John Hancock Multifactor Media and Communications ETF (JHCS)
ProShares S&P Technology Dividend Aristocrats ETF (TDV)
Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports & Digital Entertainment ETF (NERD)
Freedom 100 Emerging Market ETF (FRDM)
Best New ESG ETF – 2019
PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ESG ETF (EMNT)
Alpha Architect Freedom 100 Emerging Market ETF (FRDM)
Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NUHY)
iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders (SUSL)
Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG)
ETF Hidden Gem – 2019
Cambria Emerging Shareholder Yield ETF (EYLD)
Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF (FRDM)
VanEck Vectors Green Bond ETF (GRNB)
Pacer U.S. Export Leaders ETF (PEXL)
ETF Issuer of the Year – 2019
Global X
Innovator ETFs (Innovator Capital Management)
iShares
J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Vanguard
New ETF Issuer of the Year – 2019
Avantis
Hoya Capital Real Estate
ProcureAM
Syntax Advisors
Tidal ETF Services (SoFi)
Most Innovative ETF Issuer of the Year – 2019
Alpha Architect
ARK Investment Management
Innovator ETFs (Innovator Capital Management)
Tidal ETF Services (SoFi)
Best ETF Issuer Website – 2019
Vanguard Financial Advisor Services
New ETF Ticker of the Year – 2019
Pacer Cash Cows Fund of Funds ETF (HERD)
Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports & Digital Entertainment ETF (NERD)
AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (YOLO)
ETFs & Issuers Methodology
ETF.com Award winners were selected in a three-part process designed to leverage the insights and opinions of leaders throughout the ETF industry.
Step 1
The awards process began with open nominations, which ran from Dec. 4, 2019, to Jan. 4, 2020. Self-nominations were accepted. Nominators could nominate in as many categories as they liked. You cannot win if you are not nominated, and no nominations were accepted after the deadline. There are no exceptions to these rules.
Step 2
Following the open nominations process, the ETF.com Awards Nominating Committee—made up of ETF.com editorial staff—reviewed nominations. Nominations were screened for eligibility (appropriate timing and category). If more than five unique entries were received in the nominations process, the members of the Nominating Committee force-ranked their top five, resulting in a final slate for each category. Votes were resolved on a majority basis, and ties were broken where possible with head-to-head runoff votes. If ties were unable to be broken, more than five finalists were allowed. The Nomination Committee completed its work by Jan. 10, 2020, with the nominees published on ETF.com thereafter.
Step 3
Winners among these finalists were selected by a majority vote of the ETF.com Awards Selection Committee, a group of independent ETF experts from across the ETF community. Committee members recused themselves from voting in any category in which they or their firms appear as finalists. Ties were decided where possible with head-to-head runoff votes. Voting was completed by Jan. 31, 2019, but results are kept confidential until they are announced in March, and published in the April ETF Report.
2019 Awards Selection Committee: ETFs & Issuers
Kim Arthur, Main Management
Eric Balchunas, Bloomberg Intelligence
Ben Blaisdell, US Trust
John Davi, Astoria Advisors
Emily Doak, Charles Schwab Investment Advisory
Debbie Fuhr, ETFGI
Nate Geraci, ETF Prime/ETF Store
Matt Hougan, Inside ETFs
Ben Johnson, Morningstar
Elisabeth Kashner, FactSet
Ben Lavine, 3D Asset Management
Tom Lydon, ETFtrends.com
Tyler Mordy, Forstrong Global Asset Management
Todd Rosenbluth, CFRA
Dan Weiskopf, ETF Think Tank
Service Provider Methodology
ETF.com Awards for service providers are selected in a three-part process designed to leverage the insights and opinions of leaders throughout the ETF industry.
Step 1
The awards process begins with open nominations, which ran from Dec. 4, 2019, to Jan. 4, 2020. Self-nominations were accepted. Nominators were allowed to nominate in as many categories as they liked. You cannot win if you are not nominated, and no nominations will be accepted after the deadline. There are no exceptions to these rules.
Step 2
Following the open nominations process, the ETF.com Awards Nominating Committee—made up of ETF.com editorial staff—reviewed nominations. Nominations are screened for eligibility (appropriate timing and category). If more than five unique entries were received in the nominations process, the members of the Service Provider Judging Committee force-ranked their top five, resulting in a final slate for each category. Votes were resolved on a majority basis, and ties broken where possible with head-to-head runoff votes. If ties were unable to be broken, more than five finalists were allowed. The Service Provider Judging Committee completed its work by Feb. 14, 2020, with the nominees published on ETF.com.
Step 3
Winners among these finalists are selected by a majority vote of the ETF.com Awards Service Provider Judging Committee. Ties are decided where possible with head-to-head runoff votes. Voting will be complete by February 28, 2019, but results will be kept confidential until they are announced in March, and published in the April ETF Report.
2019 Awards Service Provider Judging Committee:
The committee for the Service Provider Awards is an industry effort. ETF.com reached out to each of the U.S. issuers asking for the contact details of an individual whom those firms would like to vote for on their behalf. A representative for NYSE, Nasdaq and Cboe Global Markets were also contacted. Any of the contacts who decline to vote before the deadlines given are disqualified for that round of voting, but are included for the following round. The names of the individual committee members will be available upon request following the announcement of winners.
