American Century Investments upped its ETF game with today’s launch of four low-cost, actively managed equity products, which join the first ETF in this suite that debuted last week.
This roster of funds goes by the moniker of Avantis Investors by American Century Investments, reflecting the partnership between the Kansas City, Mo.-based global asset manager and Avantis Investors, the company’s Los Angeles subsidiary that was created earlier this year and includes several former executives and portfolio managers from Dimensional Fund Advisors who are charged with creating actively managed funds.
The four new ETFs and their expense ratios and investment focus are as follows:
• Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV); 0.36%; non-U.S. developed market small-cap value companies
• Avantis International Equity ETF (AVDE); 0.23%; non-U.S. developed market companies across all market capitalizations
• Avantis U.S. Equity ETF (AVUS); 0.15%; U.S. companies across all market capitalizations
• Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV); 0.25%; U.S. small-cap value companies
The fifth fund in this group, the Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM), launched last week. It charges a fee of 0.33% and contains a broad range of large-, mid- and small-cap companies.
The Avantis funds invest in companies that portfolio managers believe have strong profits and low valuations. High-profitability companies are considered those with higher cash-based operating profits, while value companies are those with lower prices relative to book value or other fundamental value.
All of the above-mentioned five strategies will be offered in mutual funds that are expected to have the same investment objectives and fees as the ETFs. The mutual funds are slated to launch this autumn.