Hancock Adds To Multi-Factor Lineup With International ETF

John Hancock added to its suite of multi-factor exchange traded funds last week with the first international member of the lineup. The John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF JHMD debuted last Friday.

As is the case with Hancock's other ETFs, the newly minted JHMD tracks an index developed in partnership with Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA). JHMD follows the John Hancock Dimensional Developed International Index.

JHMD allocates over a third of its combined weight to financial services and industrial stocks. Consumer discretionary and materials names combine for over a quarter of the new ETF's sector lineup, while healthcare and consumer staples stocks combine for 15.5 percent, according to issuer data.

In March, Hancock nearly doubled the size of its ETF lineup with the debuts of five multi-factor sector ETFs.

Those ETFs join consumer discretionary, financial services, healthcare and technology offerings from Hancock that also adhere to the Dimensional multi-factor methodology. Like its predecessors, Hancock's newest sector ETFs charge 0.5 percent a year, or $50 per $10,000 invested.

Hancock's sector ETFs focus on several factors (such as lower price, higher profitability and smaller market values) that research has proven can facilitate higher returns, according to Hancock.

JHMD is the 12^th ETF launched by Hancock over the past 18 months. In addition to JHMD and the sector ETFs, Hancock offers ETFs focusing on domestic large- and mid-cap equities.

“Dimensional began applying the concept of multifactor investing more than 30 years ago, and today the firm is one of the most respected managers in the industry. Dimensional's approach is rooted in decades of academic research into the factors that drive expected returns and they offer a compelling track record of delivering results to investors,” according to a statement issued by Boston-based Hancock.

Prior to the launch of JHMD, all of Hancock's ETFs were available on the Schwab ETF OneSource platform, the largest commission-free platform.

JHMD charges 0.45 percent per year, or $45 on a $10,000 investment.