The Bottom Line: 24 sustainable MFs and ETFs were launched in April, expanding to 50 the Y-T-D number of sustainable investment options available to investors.
Mutual fund and ETF launches: January 1, 2022 – April 30, 2022Source:Morningstar Direct
Observations:
- The largest number of new sustainable fund launches so far in 2022 occurred in April when 24 sustainable mutual funds and sustainable ETFs came to market. This brings to 50 the number of sustainable funds launched during the first four months of the year, excluding new share classes.
- Mutual funds led the list of new investment company launches, with 30 investment fund offerings, or 60%, followed by 20 ETFs.
- Continuing to expand its sustainable offerings, Fidelity (FMR) alone launched 16 new funds in April. These included eight funds directed exclusively to certain clients of FMR or its affiliates, including Strategic Advisers, LLC. (SAI), that are not available for sale to the general public.
- Equity-oriented sustainable investment funds dominated, with a combined total of 30 funds. At the same time, a large number of fixed income funds, 18 in total, were launched.
- 13 fixed income funds were launched in April alone, including four municipal bond funds—three FMR actively managed mutual funds and one SSGA SPDR Nuveen sub-advised actively managed ETF.