BlackRock’s (NYSE: BLK) iShares, the world’s largest issuer of exchange traded funds, will look to capitalize on the success of its low-cost core suite of ETFs with the addition of 10 funds to that group.
The new additions to the iShares core lineup include four new funds and six existing ETFs. iShares rolled out its initial batch of core ETFs in October 2012. The concept has proven successful with the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEArca: IEMG) growing to $4.6 billion in assets under management. While the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEArca: IEFA) has pulled in $$2.3 billion.
Initially seen as an effort to woo cost-conscious retail investors, the iShares core ETFs have also been popular with institutional investors. [Core ETFs a Hit With Institutional Investors]
New pricing and new names for the six existing iShares ETFs that will become core funds will go into effect on June 12th, according to a statement from BlackRock. That is the same day the four new core products are expected to debut.
The $3.8 billion iShares High Dividend ETF (NYSEArca: HDV), which hit an all-time high today, is one of the existing iShares ETFs that will become a core product. [Dividend ETFs for Diversity]
HDV’s annual fee will be reduced to 0.12% from 0.4% and the fund is now known as the iShares Core High Dividend ETF.