An Investment Strategy in Active ETFs

Abstract

Previous evidence suggests that selectivity or active management positively affects mutual fund performance, hedge fund performance, and passive ETF performance. I examine whether active ETF performance is also positively affected by active management. First, I look at active ETF performance estimated via the Fama–French–Carhart four-factor model. Second, using weekly return data on 10 active ETFs for the period 2008–2012, I find an investment strategy in active ETFs that earns a positive risk-adjusted excess return, based on R2 as extracted from the regression of the ETFs’ excess return on the four-factors’ excess return.