ETF issuer First Trust Advisors has launched a new index-based ETF, the First Trust S-Network Streaming & Gaming ETF (NYSE Arca: BNGE).
It has also announced that two existing funds have undergone changes. The First Trust NASDAQ Global Auto Index Fund (Nasdaq: CARZ) changed to First Trust S-Network Future Vehicles & Technology ETF and the First Trust Nasdaq Retail ETF (Nasdaq: FTXD) changed to the First Trust S-Network E-Commerce ETF (Nasdaq: ISHP).
The funds add to First Trust’s Digitalization and Enhanced Mobility themes, expanding First Trust’s overall thematic ETF lineup to a total of 26 funds.
“As consumer trends, behaviours and needs continue to evolve at a rapid pace, new index-based tools are needed to track the growth and development of companies that do not neatly fit into traditional sector classifications,” says Robert Hughes, Chief Commercial Officer of Alerian and S-Network Global Indexes. “We are excited to work with First Trust to introduce solutions that provide the marketplace with greater insights into unique companies offering emerging technologies, products and services.”
BNGE seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield, before the fund’s fees and expenses, of an index called the S-Network Streaming & Gaming Index, which provides exposure to companies engaged in online services related to gaming and content streaming that enable remote users to access online content; publish online content; participate in prospective wagering; spectate or participate in competitive video gaming; and/or that provide products, services and technology that are necessary for the streaming and gaming industries.
CARZ begins tracking a new index on January 26, 2022. The fund’s new investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield, before the fund’s fees and expenses, of an index called the S-Network Electric & Future Vehicle Ecosystem Index, which provides exposure to companies that are materially engaged in the development and sales of electric and autonomous vehicle technologies, including those companies that manufacture electric and autonomous vehicles; companies involved in enabling technologies such as batteries, sensors and semiconductors; and companies that mine rare earth metals used for energy storage and conversion.
ISHP begins tracking a new index on January 26, 2022. The fund’s new investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield, before the fund’s fees and expenses, of an index called the S-Network Global E-Commerce Index, which provides exposure to companies that are materially engaged in the global e-commerce industry, including the online retail, online marketplace, content navigation and e-commerce infrastructure business segments.
“As a leading provider of thematic ETFs, we believe BNGE, CARZ and ISHP provide compelling tools for investment professionals to gain exposure to investment trends in specialized industries,” says Ryan Issakainen, CFA, Senior Vice President, ETF Strategist at First Trust. “In our view, many of these technologies are just getting started. As they mature, and as the next generation of consumers gains more buying power, we believe these trends may accelerate.”
