ETF News You Missed This Week - September 21 - 25, 2026

ETF Launches

AI Infrastructure Funds Target Chips, Robotics and Bottlenecks

KraneShares launched the KraneShares Actuator ETF (TORK), targeting companies that manufacture actuators and related components used in robotics, including motors, precision gearboxes, controllers and sensors. REX Shares introduced the REX AI Chipmaking ETF (CHIP), which focuses on global suppliers of wafer fabrication, advanced packaging and metrology equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing.

Exchange Traded Concepts and xETFs launched the xETFs AI Bottlenecks ETF (NECK), an actively managed strategy targeting companies positioned around potential constraints in memory, networking, optics, power, cooling and computing infrastructure. iShares took a broader approach with the iShares Future AI Beneficiaries ETF (AIBF), which tracks U.S. companies expected to generate revenue gains or cost savings from adopting artificial intelligence.

Equity Launches Expand Sector and International Exposure

Portfolio Building Block ETFs debuted three sector strategies: the Portfolio Building Block World Ex US Industrials ETF (PBWN), Portfolio Building Block US Banks ETF (PBUB) and Portfolio Building Block World Consumer Staples ETF (PBCS). The funds provide targeted exposure to non-U.S. industrials, major U.S. banking companies and global consumer staples, respectively.

Invesco expanded its QQQ Innovation Suite internationally with the Invesco Nasdaq International Innovators 100 ETF (QQI), tracking 100 large- and mid-cap companies outside the U.S. selected using research and development intensity, revenue growth and profitability. Ninepoint Partners made its U.S. ETF debut with the Ninepoint North American Energy Independence ETF (ENRG), an actively managed portfolio spanning energy producers, infrastructure, nuclear and uranium, and critical minerals.

American Beacon and The London Company launched the American Beacon The London Company Income Equity ETF (TLIE), an actively managed portfolio of income-producing equities, while Man Group introduced the Man Active Global Infrastructure ETF (MGIN), targeting infrastructure companies and asset owners across utilities, energy, transportation, communications and real estate.

Active Managers Add ETF Share Classes and Conversions

Hotchkis & Wiley launched the Hotchkis & Wiley Mid-Cap Value ETF (HWMV) as an ETF share class of its existing Mid-Cap Value Fund, providing exchange-traded access to the same actively managed portfolio.

Calamos Investments converted its Timpani SMID Growth mutual fund into the Calamos Timpani Active SMID Growth ETF (CTAG). The fund uses an active “fundamental momentum” approach to select small- and mid-cap growth companies and became the first actively managed mutual fund-to-ETF conversion to list on the Texas Stock Exchange.

Main Management launched the Main Active Rotation ETF (SECA) through a Section 351 exchange. The actively managed fund rotates among sector ETFs and individual equities and can also use covered calls, cash-secured puts and SEC-registered bitcoin ETFs.

Options Strategies Expand Across Income, Buffers and Inverse Exposure

First Trust launched six single-stock FT Vest Target Income ETFs: the FT Vest AMD Target Income ETF (XVAD), FT Vest Amazon Target Income ETF (XVAZ), FT Vest Alphabet Target Income ETF (XVGL), FT Vest Microsoft Target Income ETF (XVMS), FT Vest Meta Target Income ETF (XVMT) and FT Vest Palantir Target Income ETF (XVPT). The strategies combine stock exposure with call selling and seek monthly distributions based on an income target above the S&P 500's forward dividend yield.

First Trust also added two Nasdaq-100 structured-outcome funds. The FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Dual Directional Buffer ETF – September (DQSE) combines capped upside with a dual-directional return profile and downside buffer, while the FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Quarterly 15 Buffer ETF (QQBF) seeks capped QQQ returns while buffering the first 15% of losses over its quarterly target period.

VistaShares launched the Shield S&P 500 Enhanced Protection ETF (VOOB) and Shield Nasdaq-100 Enhanced Protection ETF (QQQB). The actively managed funds seek protection against the first 8% of monthly losses and 50% protection against further declines without placing a cap on potential gains.

VegaShares introduced the VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Conservative Income ETF (VAIC), using swaps to access a laddered portfolio of synthetic autocallables. Yorkville America, meanwhile, launched the 2X Inverse MANGOS Plus Daily Target ETF (MNGB), targeting -200% of the daily performance of the Yorkville America MANGOS Plus ETF (FRUT).

Municipal and Target-Maturity Bond Lineups Grow

State Street Investment Management expanded its MyIncome suite with the State Street My2036 Corporate Bond ETF (MYCP), State Street My2032 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (MYHF) and State Street My2032 Municipal Bond ETF (MYML). Each actively managed fund is designed to liquidate around December 15 of its target year.

Northern Trust Asset Management added state-specific municipal exposure with the Northern Trust New York Intermediate Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (TXNY) and Northern Trust California Intermediate Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (TXCA), both targeting high-quality intermediate-duration municipal bonds.

Victory Capital launched the VictoryShares Short-Duration Municipal ETF (VMSD) and VictoryShares Municipal High Yield ETF (VMHY), providing actively managed approaches to short-duration investment-grade and higher-yielding municipal debt.

Tuttle and Strive Target Bitcoin Treasury Preferreds

Tuttle Capital and Strive Asset Management launched the T-Strive Digital Credit Preferred Income ETF (DCAP), an actively managed strategy seeking income from preferred securities issued by Bitcoin treasury companies. The fund initially targets exposure to Strategy's STRC and Strive's SATA through direct holdings and derivatives and does not invest directly in Bitcoin.

ETF Filings

Northern Trust Prepares Four Index Conversions and a Tax-Aware ETF

Northern Trust Asset Management filed for four ETFs expected to succeed existing mutual funds through reorganizations in early 2027. The Northern Trust MSCI EAFE ETF would track developed markets outside the U.S. and Canada, while the Northern Trust MSCI US 500 ETF, Northern Trust MSCI US 400 ETF and Northern Trust MSCI US 2000 ETF would target large-, mid- and small-cap segments of the U.S. market, respectively.

Northern Trust also filed for the Northern Trust Tax-Advantaged Ultra-Short Income ETF, an actively managed strategy expected to receive the assets of its Tax-Advantaged Ultra-Short Fixed Income Fund. The ETF would seek to maximize after-tax returns across taxable and tax-exempt fixed income, with at least 80% of assets invested in fixed-income securities.

AI Buildout Drives Equity and Bond ETF Filings

Allspring Global Investments filed for the Allspring AI Infrastructure Bond ETF, targeting debt issued by companies involved in areas including AI development, semiconductors, data centers, cloud networks, power generation and cooling. ProShares similarly filed for the ProShares AI Hyperscaler Bond ETF, which would track investment-grade bonds from major AI infrastructure spenders including Microsoft, Alphabet, Oracle, Amazon and Meta.

WisdomTree filed for the WisdomTree AI Infrastructure Fund, an actively managed global equity strategy spanning semiconductors, networking, servers, data-center power, chipmaking equipment and cloud operators. Roundhill filed for the Roundhill CPU ETF (XCPU), targeting companies generating at least half their revenues from CPUs and integrated systems.

SWP Investment Management filed for the SWP AI-Driven Equity ETF (SWPI), which would use machine learning to select a concentrated 21-stock portfolio from the Russell 1000.

Direxion Takes Prediction Markets Into AI, Weather and Private Companies

Direxion filed for four ETFs tied to prediction-market contracts tracking company-specific performance metrics for SpaceX, Tesla, OpenAI and Anthropic. The strategies would use event contracts rather than directly tracking company shares, with exposure primarily obtained through total return swaps.

Direxion also filed for the Direxion AI Prosperity Prediction Markets ETF and Direxion AI Doomsday Prediction Markets ETF, offering different exposures to event contracts covering AI adoption, employment, GDP, inflation, computing infrastructure and financial markets.

Direxion's prediction-market filings also include the Direxion El Niño ETF and Direxion La Niña ETF. The funds would use event contracts linked to weather and climate outcomes including rainfall, snowfall, hurricanes, droughts, wildfires and temperature records.

Sports ETFs Expand Across Basketball, Baseball and Hockey

Volatility Shares filed for 30 professional basketball team ETFs, with each proposed fund linked to a CME team-specific Sports Performance Index driven by official game statistics and results rather than franchise valuations.

Baseball generated an even larger wave of filings. Roundhill and Volatility Shares each filed for 30 ETFs tied to individual MLB teams, while LeagueShares proposed both standard and leveraged ETFs covering every MLB team. The strategies would primarily use futures linked to team-specific performance indexes that rise or fall based on on-field statistics and achievements.

REX filed for an extensive Alpha Sports ETF lineup covering both MLB and NHL teams. Its proposed BaseballShares and HockeyShares funds would offer standard exposure to team-performance indexes alongside 2x leveraged versions seeking twice the daily performance of the corresponding standard ETFs.

Leveraged Filings Target Tankers, Crypto, Nuclear and AI Compute

Defiance filed for the Defiance Daily Target 2X Long BWET ETF, an actively managed strategy seeking twice the daily share-price performance of the Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF. The proposed fund would obtain leveraged exposure primarily through swaps and listed options tied to BWET, which itself provides exposure to crude oil tanker freight futures.

Volatility Shares filed for the 2x Bitcoin Cash ETF (BCSH) and 2x Uniswap ETF (UNIX), designed to deliver twice the daily price performance of Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap without holding the underlying tokens directly.

GraniteShares filed for the GraniteShares 2x H100 Daily ETF and GraniteShares 2x B200 Daily ETF, targeting twice the daily performance of affiliated ETFs linked to rental markets for Nvidia H100 and B200 GPU computing capacity. GraniteShares also proposed 2x long and 2x short ETFs tied to Westinghouse Electric ahead of the nuclear technology company's planned stock listing.

Leverage Shares filed for six single-stock ETFs providing 2x long and 2x short daily exposure to PROENERGY Holdings, Holtec Nuclear and Figure AI, spanning power generation, nuclear technology and humanoid robotics.

WisdomTree Builds Out Autocallable and Defined-Outcome Strategies

WisdomTree filed for three actively managed structured strategies. The WisdomTree Structured Gold Fund would use derivatives including swaps, equity-linked notes and autocallables to seek enhanced performance relative to gold while potentially generating positive returns in flat or modestly declining markets.

The WisdomTree U.S. Core Defined Outcome Fund would apply similar instruments to U.S. equities, while the WisdomTree Unconstrained Defined Outcome Fund would combine global equities and commodities through a laddered portfolio of defined-return investments.

REX also filed for the REX Nasdaq Autocallable Income ETF and REX Nasdaq Defensive Autocallable Income ETF. Both would use swaps linked to laddered synthetic autocallables tied to volatility-targeted Nasdaq-100 exposure, with the Defensive strategy employing a buffer structure.

First Trust filed for the FT Vest Autocallable Sector Barrier & Income ETF, which would maintain a ladder of synthetic autocallable contracts linked to SPY, QQQ and selected sector ETFs to pursue conditional income and downside protection.

Gold Strategies Pair Precious-Metals Exposure With Income and Juniors

Fidelity filed for the Fidelity Yield Enhanced Gold ETF, combining gold exposure with an options-based income strategy. The proposed ETF would invest through gold ETPs and derivatives while writing calls to generate additional income.

Merk Investments filed for the Merk Junior Gold Miners ETF, which would track the Solactive True Junior Gold Miners Index. The benchmark targets smaller precious-metals explorers, developers and emerging producers, generally maintaining around 60 holdings.

Grayscale filed for The ZCSH High Income ETF, an actively managed strategy seeking income and indirect exposure to Zcash. Rather than holding ZEC directly, the fund would primarily use options on Zcash ETPs, including Grayscale's ZCSH, in a synthetic covered-call strategy.

Active Equity Filings Span Real Estate, Dividends and International Markets

PGIM filed for the PGIM U.S. Real Estate ETF (PREI), an actively managed strategy focused primarily on U.S. real estate companies, including REITs and other equity-related securities.

Silvercrest filed for the Silvercrest Large Cap Core Equity ETF (SCE), which would hold roughly 50–70 primarily S&P 500 stocks, while John Hancock proposed the John Hancock Disciplined Value Mid Cap Select ETF (JDVM), targeting undervalued mid-cap equities.

Virtus filed for the Virtus High Dividend ETF (VDIV), combining a U.S. dividend portfolio with regional rotations across Europe, Japan and Asia ex-Japan. Transamerica filed for the Transamerica International Equity Active ETF (TAVI), focused primarily on developed-market equities, while LarrainVial proposed the LV Active Latin American Equity ETF (LVLA), targeting 30–70 Latin American holdings.

Touchstone filed for the Touchstone Dynamic Large Cap Growth ETF (TDLG), an active quantitative large-cap growth strategy expected to hold up to 120 securities. Touchstone separately plans to convert its existing Dynamic Large Cap Growth Fund into the ETF through a tax-free reorganization expected around January 22, 2027.

MFS Sets Core Bond ETF Conversion

MFS filed for the MFS Active Core Bond ETF, an actively managed strategy expected to invest at least 80% of assets in investment-grade debt spanning corporate, government, mortgage-backed, asset-backed and foreign securities.

MFS separately plans to convert its existing MFS Core Bond Fund into the new ETF through a tax-free reorganization expected around March 22, 2027. The ETF would be managed in a substantially similar manner to the mutual fund.

PGIM, Kayne Anderson and Winton Add Specialized Active Strategies

PGIM filed for the PGIM Investment Grade CLO ETF (XCLO), an actively managed strategy investing at least 80% of assets in investment-grade CLOs, with a primary focus on AA/Aa- and A/A-rated tranches.

Kayne Anderson filed for the Kayne Energy Equity ETF (KEI) and Kayne Power Equity ETF (KGRD). KEI would invest across oil, natural gas, LNG and energy infrastructure, while KGRD would target electricity generation, grids, natural gas infrastructure, nuclear power, renewables and energy storage.

Winton Capital Management filed for the Winton Managed Futures ETF and Winton US Equities & Managed Futures ETF. The first would systematically take long and short positions across equities, commodities, currencies and fixed income, while the second would combine a managed-futures allocation with broad U.S. large-cap equity exposure.

Other Updates

Teucrium will close and liquidate the Teucrium xETFs 2x Long Daily BNB ETF (XBNB), with trading expected to end October 2 and liquidation scheduled for approximately October 9.

TrueMark Investments appointed RiverNorth Capital Management as sub-adviser to manage the pre-merger SPAC sleeve of the TrueShares Convequity ETF (PVEX), effective September 28, with no increase to the fund’s management fee.

The Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF will switch from index tracking to active management after September 30 and be renamed the Roundhill Metaverse ETF, while the RH Tactical Rotation ETF will become the Adaptive Tactical Rotation ETF on October 1, with no other changes specified.

Separately, iShares updated the index methodology for the iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estate ETF (IDGT) to explicitly include AI data centers, effective September 21.

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.