EPRE Press Release
An actively managed ETF that provides exposure to companies that place value on their environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors.
WHEATON, IL – (BUSINESS WIRE) – May 26, 2021 – First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust”), a leading exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) provider and asset manager, announced today that it has launched a new actively managed ETF, the First Trust TCW ESG Premier Equity ETF (NYSE Arca: EPRE) (the “fund”). The fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in U.S. equity securities with an emphasis on large capitalization companies that meet ESG criteria, as determined by TCW Investment Management Company LLC (TCW), the fund’s sub-advisor.
ESG investing considers a company’s environmental, social and governance factors via independent ratings to align investment strategies with personal values. TCW believes a focus on these factors can provide competitive advantages for a company. “The First Trust TCW ESG Premier Equity ETF is a highly active, concentrated portfolio of companies that prudently manage their environmental, social, and financial resources and generate consistent and growing levels of free cash,” said Joseph R. Shaposhnik, Portfolio Manager at TCW. “We strongly believe that utilizing ESG performance data helps us uncover better managed businesses for the benefit of investors.”
TCW uses both qualitative and quantitative screening criteria to supplement its fundamental research and portfolio selection. The screening process focuses on companies whose shares are trading at prices that are below intrinsic value, as determined by TCW. The portfolio is selected using rigorous fundamental analysis and quantitative ESG framework to drive the security selection and execution strategies.
“While many ESG strategies focus primarily on excluding stocks that score poorly on certain environmental, social, or governance metrics, we believe that professional management can add value. By leveraging the best thinking of the world-class team at TCW, this actively managed ETF provides another unique tool for investment professionals,” said Ryan Issakainen, CFA, Senior Vice President, ETF Strategist at First Trust.
Joseph R. Shaposhnik, the fund’s portfolio manager, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund.
For more information about First Trust, please contact Ryan Issakainen at (630) 765-8689 or RIssakainen@FTAdvisors.com.
