JPMorgan shutting down ETFs that use hedge fund strategies

JPMorgan shutting down ETFs that use hedge fund strategies
The firm has had more success with its BetaBuilders funds, which track broad benchmarks at low prices
MAY 19, 2020

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is planning to close a handful of ETFs that echo strategies used by hedge funds.

The $22.6 million JPMorgan Long/Short ETF (JPLS), the $53.9 million JPMorgan Managed Futures Strategy ETF (JPMF), the $53.8 million JPMorgan Diversified Alternatives ETF (JPHF) and the $25.1 million JPMorgan Event Driven ETF (JPED) will be liquidated in June, the bank said in a statement Friday.

JPMorgan's JPGE has seen net outflows so far this year

In addition, JPMorgan will close two other funds: the $14.2 million JPMorgan Diversified Return Europe Equity ETF (JPEU) and the $60.8 million JPMorgan Diversified Return Global Equity ETF (JPGE).

Alternatives can help diversify portfolios because their returns aren’t necessarily correlated with the movement of the stock or bond markets, where most investors deploy the majority of their capital. But some of these strategies can be hard to access, hence the appeal of a daily-traded ETF -- or even mutual or closed-end funds -- to make investing easier.

“Investors don’t understand them and, more importantly, they don’t understand how to use them well in a diversified portfolio,” said Ben Johnson, co-head of passive strategy at Morningstar Inc., referring to alternative funds in general.

Still, alternative ETFs have steadily gathered assets this year, despite a drop in March as the coronavirus pandemic roiled global markets. So far in May, the funds have added $157 million.

JPMorgan has had more success with its BetaBuilders series, which eschews more specialized strategies for broad developed-market benchmarks at low prices. Following their June 2018 release, the bank’s ETF assets jumped to near $30 billion within a 14-month span. JPMorgan has also filed to start its first actively managed ETF with partially concealed holdings.

“We regularly monitor and evaluate our product lineup as market and economic conditions evolve,” Bryon Lake, head of Americas ETF for J.P. Morgan Asset Management, said in the statement. “This process allows us to optimize and scale our product offerings to better meet client objectives and market demand.”

Latest News

OnePoint BFG, Modern Wealth expand Florida presence
OnePoint BFG, Modern Wealth expand Florida presence

OnePoint BFG has added a $400 million team from Northwestern Mutual while Modern Wealth scooped a veteran-led LPL team overseeing nearly $710 million in assets.

Dan Arnold is back, and he’s leading a startup
Dan Arnold is back, and he’s leading a startup

Arnold is executive chairman of Stirlingshire Investments, which is both an independent B-D and RIA.

Wirehouse wrap: JPMorgan snags $530M advisor from Wells Fargo in Palo Alto
Wirehouse wrap: JPMorgan snags $530M advisor from Wells Fargo in Palo Alto

Also, Merrill and Wells Fargo each announced a spree of hiring, drawing experienced advisors managing more than $2 billion from across the East and West Coasts.

Advisors lean on outsourced models as AI adoption surges
Advisors lean on outsourced models as AI adoption surges

New Escalent research shows younger advisors are driving a shift away from self-built portfolios toward technology-enabled solutions.

Baird lands $220M Edelman advisor in Arizona expansion push
Baird lands $220M Edelman advisor in Arizona expansion push

A CFP with 27 years of experience joins Baird's Chandler office, the latest in a string of advisor additions fueling the firm's Southwest growth.

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income