ETF News You Missed This Week - Jan. 26 - Jan. 30, 2026

ETF Launches

Active equity ETFs lean into innovation and resilience

T. Rowe Price Innovation Leaders ETF (TNXT) launched with a global remit, targeting companies it views as leaders in innovation across developed and select emerging markets. The actively managed strategy combines top-down thematic research with bottom-up stock selection, focusing on firms with strong R&D intensity, pricing power, and durable competitive advantages.

J.P. Morgan followed with the JPMorgan International Dynamic ETF (JIDE), an actively managed developed-markets equity fund targeting large- and mid-cap stocks outside the U.S. The strategy blends fundamental stock selection with macro insights, incorporates ESG considerations, and allows limited derivatives use to express tactical views within a diversified portfolio.

First Eagle expanded its ETF footprint with two launches built around its conservative, value-oriented philosophy. The First Eagle US Equity ETF (USFE) targets resilient U.S. companies with strong balance sheets and disciplined management, while the First Eagle Mid Cap Equity ETF (FEMD) focuses on undervalued mid-cap opportunities, including turnarounds and businesses with underappreciated asset value.

Infrastructure and thematic equity exposure broaden

Harrison Street entered the ETF market for the first time with the Harrison Street Infrastructure Active ETF (NFRX). Managed by the firm’s private wealth division, the fund targets global listed infrastructure companies spanning utilities, energy, digital infrastructure, and transportation. The strategy emphasizes income generation, stability, and exposure to secular trends such as electrification and digitization.

CoreValues added a more policy-driven angle with the CoreValues America First Technology ETF (USMD). The actively managed fund tracks the Solactive America First Technology Index and invests in U.S.-listed companies across eight technology-related sectors, including semiconductors, robotics, and defense-linked innovation, with a focus on national competitiveness and security.

Flexible and total-return strategies gain ground

The Twin Oak Strategic Solutions ETF (TOS) launched as a total-return strategy investing across U.S. equities of all market capitalizations. The fund can also allocate to other ETFs, derivatives, and hedging instruments, blending bottom-up security selection with top-down risk management and the ability to dial defensiveness up or down as conditions change.

TrueShares added to its options-based lineup with the TrueShares Equity Hedge ETF (ONEH). The actively managed fund pairs a constant long-put hedge with a tactical call overlay, aiming to cushion drawdowns while maintaining participation during market recoveries.

Leveraged and single-stock ETFs push further into the spotlight

REX Shares and Tuttle Capital launched the T-REX 2X Long RDW Daily Target ETF (RDWU), providing 200% daily long exposure to Redwire Corp. The fund targets short-term traders seeking amplified exposure to themes tied to space and next-generation defense technology.

Tradr ETFs expanded the leveraged single-stock universe. The Tradr 2X Long Lumentum ETF (LITX), Tradr 2X Long Sandisk ETF (SNXX), and Tradr 2X Long Western Digital ETF (WDCX) each aim to deliver twice the daily performance of their respective underlying stocks, catering to high-conviction, momentum-driven trading strategies in the memory and data-storage space.

Fixed income sees active securitized strategies expand

BlackRock added two actively managed fixed income ETFs under the iShares banner, both focused on securitized credit.

The iShares Securitized Income Active ETF (SECU) provides exposure across RMBS, CMBS, ABS, and CLOs, targeting total return and income through active security selection.

Alongside it, the iShares Mortgage-Backed Securities Active ETF (MBBA) focuses more narrowly on agency mortgage-backed securities and AAA-rated assets, aiming to enhance income while diversifying core bond allocations.

Commodities and crypto exposures continue to diversify

On the alternatives front, Simplify introduced the Simplify Chinese Commodities Strategy No K-1 ETF (CCOM). The managed-futures strategy offers long and short exposure to more than 30 Chinese commodity markets while avoiding K-1 tax reporting, giving U.S. investors a differentiated way to access non-U.S. commodity dynamics.

In crypto, VanEck made headlines with the VanEck Avalanche ETF (VAVX), the first U.S.-listed product offering spot exposure to AVAX. The fund is waiving fees on the first $500 million in assets, or until February 28, 2026, before a 0.20% sponsor fee applies. The launch expands U.S. access to layer-one blockchain ecosystems beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Hybrid equity-crypto ETFs multiply

Cyber Hornet rounded out the week with a trio of hybrid strategies blending traditional equities and crypto futures.

The CYBER HORNET S&P 500 and Ethereum 75/25 Strategy ETF (EEE) allocates 75% to S&P 500 exposure and 25% to Ether futures.

The CYBER HORNET S&P 500 and XRP 75/25 Strategy ETF (XXX) follows a similar structure, pairing U.S. equities with XRP futures.

Completing the lineup, the CYBER HORNET S&P 500 and Solana 75/25 Strategy ETF (SSS) combines S&P 500 exposure with Solana futures. All three funds rebalance monthly, with flexibility to adjust more frequently in response to market volatility.

Filings

Global equity and value strategies broaden their reach

Traditional equity investing is far from standing still, with several filings expanding value and growth strategies across geographies and market caps.

First Trust filed for the First Trust WCM Global Equity ETF (WCMG), a global value-oriented strategy managed by WCM Investment Management. The fund will target undervalued companies across developed, emerging, and frontier markets, using a bottom-up approach and maintaining at least 40% exposure outside the U.S. While regional concentrations are permitted, the strategy avoids heavy overexposure to any single industry.

Lazard also leaned into valuation discipline with the Lazard India Equity Opportunities ETF, an actively managed fund investing at least 80% in Indian equities across all market caps. The strategy targets undervalued companies and may concentrate in select sectors, with optional currency hedging and a non-diversified structure.

Hanwha joined the regional theme with the PLUS Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance Index ETF (KMCA), which will track the Akros Korea Manufacturing Core Alliance Index. The index emphasizes South Korea’s strategic industrial backbone, led by AI semiconductors at roughly 40% weight, alongside batteries, shipbuilding, defense, nuclear energy, and robotics. The fund will be non-diversified and rebalanced quarterly.

Thornburg converts mutual fund DNA into ETF wrappers

Thornburg expanded its ETF share-class ambitions with filings tied to existing small- and mid-cap strategies.

The Thornburg Focus Growth Fund (TFGZ) will serve as an ETF share class of the firm’s Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund, investing at least 80% in growth companies categorized as industry leaders, consistent growers, or emerging growth firms.

On the value side, Thornburg filed for the Thornburg American Opportunities Fund (TAOZ), an ETF share class of its Small/Mid Cap Core Fund. The actively managed strategy follows a value-driven framework, allocating across basic value stocks, consistent earners, and emerging franchises with strong U.S. economic ties.

Fidelity builds out systematic active equity and climate screens

Fidelity was among the most active filers, extending both its enhanced systematic equity lineup and its climate-focused index offerings.

On the index side, Fidelity filed for the Fidelity® MSCI North American Subset Index ETF, which will track the MSCI Global Select 500 – North America Subset Series C Index. The index selects U.S. and Canadian large- and mid-cap stocks with lower carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, using statistical sampling and potential derivatives to replicate performance.

Fidelity also added four actively managed “Enhanced” equity ETFs. The Fidelity® Enhanced Small Cap Value ETF and Fidelity® Enhanced Small Cap Growth ETF will target their respective Russell 2000® benchmarks, while the Fidelity® Enhanced Mid Cap Value ETF and Fidelity® Enhanced Mid Cap Growth ETF focus on Russell Midcap® value and growth universes. Each fund will invest at least 80% in index-aligned equities, apply a research-driven systematic process, and may use derivatives to fine-tune exposure.

Structured outcome ETFs multiply across issuers

Structured outcome strategies continue to dominate ETF filings, with buffers, caps, and ladders becoming standard building blocks.

Corgi Funds filed for 12 structured buffer ETFs offering exposure to the S&P 500 via SPY and the Nasdaq-100 via QQQ. Each fund features either a 10% or 15% downside buffer with capped upside, structured over 12-month outcome periods beginning monthly from May through August 2026. Objectives are classified as non-fundamental and can be changed with 60 days’ notice.

Pacer followed with filings for eight Swan SOS Moderate ETFs, one for each month from February through December. Each fund offers a 15% downside buffer with capped upside linked to SPY. In addition, Pacer filed for a laddered fund-of-funds structure designed to hold multiple series simultaneously, smoothing timing risk through rolling exposure across reset periods.

Roundhill pushed structured risk even further with a trio of high-conviction, all-or-nothing designs. The Roundhill Dow 75,000 Target 2030 ETF uses FLEX call options on DIA to pay off only if the Dow Jones Industrial Average exceeds a predefined level by expiration. Similar structures appear in the Roundhill Innovation-100 50,000 Target 2030 ETF, tied to a tech-heavy Innovation-100 Index, and the Roundhill S&P 500® 10,000 Target 2030 ETF, which uses FLEX options on SPY and IVV. In all cases, failure to reach the target level could result in a total loss of invested capital.

Options engineering moves beyond equity overlays

Several filings showcased increasingly sophisticated uses of derivatives, extending beyond traditional covered calls.

Calamos filed for the Calamos Tax-Aware Collateral ETF, an actively managed strategy built around box spreads using FLEX options on SPY. The fund aims to generate a fixed, market-neutral return by capturing the difference between option strike prices, potentially laddered across maturities.

Calamos also filed for the Calamos Autocallable Growth ETF, which will gain exposure to a synthetic autocallable index linked to a volatility-targeted U.S. equity benchmark based on E-Mini S&P 500 futures. The ETF plans to use total return swaps, box spreads, and U.S. Treasuries to replicate the payoff profile of autocallable notes, blending contingent income and conditional principal protection.

Worth Charting added a more aggressive income angle with the Worth Charting Options Income ETF (WRTH). The actively managed fund will sell uncovered calls and puts using a short-term strangle strategy on large-cap U.S. stocks, holding Treasuries and cash as collateral and allowing leverage of up to 125% of net assets.

Income-focused bond strategies get the covered-call treatment

Amplify continued to expand income-oriented ETFs that apply equity-style option overlays to bond exposure.

The Amplify LQD Investment Grade 12% Target Income ETF will track the Bloomberg U.S. Investment Grade Corporate Bond 12% Income Covered Call Index, pairing exposure to LQD with weekly at-the-money call writing to target a 12% annualized yield.

Alongside it, the Amplify HYG High Yield 10% Target Income ETF will follow a similar structure, combining high-yield bond exposure via HYG with weekly call writing to target a 10% annualized income stream.

Thematic ambition scales up dramatically

Corgi Funds stood out with a sweeping filing for 29 thematic ETFs, spanning aerospace, AI cybersecurity, battery energy storage, regional Bay Area and NYC exposure, beauty and aesthetics, coffee and energy drinks, crypto infrastructure, data surveillance, genomics, grid equipment, lifestyle brands, longevity, natural gas power, freight and logistics, quantum computing, robotics, sports betting, travel, Venezuela, defense, BNPL, space, Magnificent Seven stocks, digital banking, semiconductors, drones, and intellectual property royalties.

Gabelli added a more focused thematic angle with the Gabelli Renaissance in Industrial Technology ETF (GRIT), an actively managed strategy targeting undervalued industrial technology companies across market caps and geographies, with an emphasis on catalysts that could unlock value.

Leveraged innovation reaches into the IPO pipeline

Leverage Shares filed for six new leveraged ETFs offering 3x long and short exposure to Motive Technologies (MTVE), CBRS Holdings (CBRS), and Xanadu Quantum Technologies (XNDU), all tied to upcoming IPOs. The funds are designed to track daily price movements post-listing, pushing leveraged ETF design further into speculative, event-driven territory.

Other Updates

Yorkville America Equities intends to fold the God Bless America ETF (YALL) into the Truth Social Funds lineup under Trump Media’s Truth.Fi platform. The fund will be rebranded as the Truth Social God Bless America ETF, while its investment strategy, ticker, and management team remain unchanged. The transaction is slated to close in the second quarter of 2026.

Please note this article is for information purposes only and does not in any way constitute investment advice. It is essential that you seek advice from a registered financial professional prior to making any investment decision.