BNY Mellon plans to launch ETF focusing on innovation space

BNY Mellon plans to launch ETF focusing on innovation space
The BNY Mellon Innovators ETF will invest in innovation-driven companies, which are considered to be ‘leading-edge’ firms.
JAN 31, 2023
By  Bloomberg

The high-profile pain suffered by Cathie Wood’s flagship strategy over the past two years isn’t stopping rivals from stealing a page from her playbook.

BNY Mellon is looking to launch an exchange-traded fund focused on the crowded innovation space, becoming the latest in a line of issuers who have sought to tap into the huge demand enjoyed by Wood’s ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK).

The BNY Mellon Innovators ETF will seek “long-term capital growth,” according to a filing Monday that didn’t specify management fees or a ticker. The product will invest in innovation-driven companies, which are considered to be “leading-edge” firms thanks to their intellectual property, ground-breaking as well as advanced products and services that can be disruptive to existing business models.

“This is likely to be an aggressive growth ETF — but innovation is a ‘sexier’ name,” said James Seyffart at Bloomberg Intelligence.

Still, it’s important to keep in mind that those firms were “absolutely crushed in 2021 and 2022,” he added. BI estimates that there are around 20 innovation or innovation-adjacent ETFs, the best-known of which is Wood’s fund, which trades under the ticker ARKK.

That product gained tremendous prominence during the early phase of the pandemic, soaring almost 150% in 2020, though it has suffered since as its top holdings — tech companies that project growth far out into the future — buckled amid the Federal Reserve’s monetary tightening campaign.

These types of firms, among the most beaten-up last year, have enjoyed in rebound in January, with the Nasdaq 100 up about 9% since the end of December, compared with the S&P 500’s nearly 5% gain. ARKK has advanced 23% in what’s turning out to be its best month since November 2020.

“There are many other ETFs that try to model disruption and innovation,” said Jane Edmondson, co-founder of EQM Indexes, which helped develop the index for the XOUT ETF that is part of the category. “I do agree that industry innovation and disruption are important and that investors are slow to understand the impact of these changes, which creates investment opportunity.”

Latest News

NASAA moves to let state RIAs use client testimonials, aligning with SEC rule
NASAA moves to let state RIAs use client testimonials, aligning with SEC rule

A new proposal could end the ban on promoting client reviews in states like California and Connecticut, giving state-registered advisors a level playing field with their SEC-registered peers.

Could 401(k) plan participants gain from guided personalization?
Could 401(k) plan participants gain from guided personalization?

Morningstar research data show improved retirement trajectories for self-directors and allocators placed in managed accounts.

UBS sees a net loss of 111 financial advisors in the Americas during the second quarter
UBS sees a net loss of 111 financial advisors in the Americas during the second quarter

Some in the industry say that more UBS financial advisors this year will be heading for the exits.

JPMorgan reopens fight with fintechs, crypto over fees for customer data
JPMorgan reopens fight with fintechs, crypto over fees for customer data

The Wall Street giant has blasted data middlemen as digital freeloaders, but tech firms and consumer advocates are pushing back.

The average retiree is facing $173K in health care costs, Fidelity says
The average retiree is facing $173K in health care costs, Fidelity says

Research reveals a 4% year-on-year increase in expenses that one in five Americans, including one-quarter of Gen Xers, say they have not planned for.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.