Invesco debuts four nontransparent ETFs

Invesco debuts four nontransparent ETFs
The funds don't report their holdings daily, in an attempt to shield their strategies from front-running or replication by rivals
DEC 22, 2020
By  Bloomberg

Invesco Ltd. is launching four ETFs that don’t report their holdings daily, seeking to shield its strategies from front-running or replication by rivals.

The active nontransparent exchange-traded funds will use a structure that conceals a portion of their positions. The $1.2 trillion asset manager plans to publish a “tracking basket” on its website each day that's designed to give investors an idea of how the ETFs’ assets might be performing. The net asset value of the products will be offered twice a day, providing authorized participants with the information needed to create and redeem shares.

The Invesco nontransparent ETFs are part of one of this year’s hottest trends in the $5.3 trillion ETF industry. Assets in the active nontransparent category could triple to $3 billion by the end of next year, Bloomberg Intelligence predicts. Advocates contend that the new structure will help ETFs win over investors from mutual funds, while skeptics question how much demand there will be for less transparency and the higher costs associated with the active products.

“We really tried to understand, are we solving a problem or are we jumping on a train only because everybody is talking about it?” said Anna Paglia, head of ETFs and indexed strategies for Invesco. “We asked our investment personnel: ‘Hey, we are really good at certain things, why aren’t we offering those things in an ETF wrapper?’ And transparency was an issue for many of our managers. They really had concerns about front-running.”

The Invesco Focused Discovery Growth ETF (IVDG) tracks companies in the early phase of their business cycle, while the Invesco Real Assets ESG ETF (IVRA) is focused on those that meet the firm’s environmental, social and governance standards. Each fund has an expense ratio of 0.59%.

There’s also the Invesco Select Growth ETF (IVSG) of large and mid-sized companies with attractive growth outlooks compared to their valuations, and the Invesco US Large Cap Core ESG ETF (IVLC).

Latest News

The 2025 InvestmentNews Awards Excellence Awardees revealed
The 2025 InvestmentNews Awards Excellence Awardees revealed

From outstanding individuals to innovative organizations, find out who made the final shortlist for top honors at the IN awards, now in its second year.

Top RIA Cresset warns of 'inevitable' recession amid tariff uncertainty
Top RIA Cresset warns of 'inevitable' recession amid tariff uncertainty

Cresset's Susie Cranston is expecting an economic recession, but says her $65 billion RIA sees "great opportunity" to keep investing in a down market.

Edward Jones joins the crowd to sell more alternative investments
Edward Jones joins the crowd to sell more alternative investments

“There’s a big pull to alternative investments right now because of volatility of the stock market,” Kevin Gannon, CEO of Robert A. Stanger & Co., said.

Record RIA M&A activity marks strong start to 2025
Record RIA M&A activity marks strong start to 2025

Sellers shift focus: It's not about succession anymore.

IB+ Data Hub offers strategic edge for U.S. wealth advisors and RIAs advising business clients
IB+ Data Hub offers strategic edge for U.S. wealth advisors and RIAs advising business clients

Platform being adopted by independent-minded advisors who see insurance as a core pillar of their business.

SPONSORED Compliance in real time: Technology's expanding role in RIA oversight

RIAs face rising regulatory pressure in 2025. Forward-looking firms are responding with embedded technology, not more paperwork.

SPONSORED Advisory firms confront crossroads amid historic wealth transfer

As inheritances are set to reshape client portfolios and next-gen heirs demand digital-first experiences, firms are retooling their wealth tech stacks and succession models in real time.