Franklin Templeton Launches Actively Managed ETF Suite

Franklin Templeton Investments today launched a new suite of actively managed ETFs to its Franklin LibertyShares platform.

The suite includes two new active ETFs, Franklin Liberty U.S. Low Volatility ETF (FLLV) and Franklin Liberty Investment Grade Corporate ETF (FLCO), as well as Franklin Liberty Short Duration U.S. Government ETF (FTSD), an active ETF launched in 2013.

Patrick O’Connor, Global Head of ETFs for Franklin Templeton Investments, said investors have embraced the ETF wrapper for its benefits, which may include liquidity, tax efficiency and transparency.

“Now they want the opportunity to seek better risk-adjusted returns over the long term,” O’Connor said. “Through Franklin LibertyShares, we are providing investors with simple and efficient options to help them address their desired outcomes. Our actively managed ETFs can help investors meet their investment needs by serving as a core or complementary portfolio holding.”

Franklin LibertyShares’ suite of actively managed ETFs currently includes one equity and two fixed income ETFs.

FLLV seeks capital appreciation with an emphasis on lower volatility than the broader U.S. equity market, as measured by the Russell 1000 Index. The fund applies a fundamentally driven “bottom up” research process to identify stocks that exhibit strong fundamental characteristics and screens for stocks with the lowest realized volatility scores, based on a proprietary quantitative model, relative to their corresponding sectors. Risk considerations are incorporated into the final stock selection process.

Meanwhile, FLCO seeks to provide a high level of current income as is consistent with prudent investing, while seeking preservation of capital by investing at least 80% of its net assets in investment grade corporate debt securities and investments. The fund may invest up to 40% of its net assets in foreign securities, including those in developed markets, and up to 15% of its net assets in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.

Finally, FTSD seeks to provide a high level of current income as is consistent with prudent investing, while seeking preservation of shareholders’ capital by investing at least 80% of its net assets in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities. The fund targets an estimated average portfolio duration of three years or less.

With the introduction of its new actively managed ETFs, Franklin Templeton expands its Franklin LibertyShares fund offerings to seven ETFs.

The existing strategic beta fund suite includes three LibertyQ multi-factor core portfolio ETFs—Franklin LibertyQ Global Equity ETF (FLQG), Franklin LibertyQ Emerging Markets ETF (FLQE) and Franklin LibertyQ International Equity Hedged ETF (FLQH)—and one ETF that focuses on stocks with high and persistent dividend income, Franklin LibertyQ Global Dividend ETF (FLQD).

For more information on new fund products, visit our new ETFs category.

This article was provided by our partners at ETFTrends.