FlexShares Files Plans for 6 Dividend ETFs

FlexShares, the ETF unit of Northern Trust NTRS, could be looking to boost the size of its ETF lineup in a big way. The firm, which currently sponsors four funds, has filed plans with the Securities and Exchange Commission to possibly introduce six new dividend ETFs. The filing for the funds did not include tickers or expense ratios. If the funds come to market, the filing indicates they will trade on the New York Stock Exchange. FlexShares filed plans for the following ETFs: the FlexShares Quality Dividend Index Fund, the FlexShares Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund , the FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund, the FlexShares International Quality Dividend Index Fund, the FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund and the FlexShares International Quality Dividend Defensive Index Fund. FlexShares currently sponsors the FlexShares Morningstar Global Upstream Natural Resources Index ETF GUNR, the FlexShares iBoxx 3-Year Target Duration TIPS Index Fund TDTT, the FlexShares iBoxx 5-Year Target Duration TIPS Index Fund TDTF and the FlexShares Morningstar U.S. Market Factor Tilt Index ETF TILT. GUNR is the largest with almost $446 million in assets under management.