Matt Gaden
Janus Henderson Investors today announced the launch of the Janus Henderson Global Research-Engineered Active ETF (ASX: JGBL), now listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
The ETF brings Janus Henderson’s research-engineered approach to Australian investors in an ASX-listed vehicle designed for core global equity allocations. The launch reflects a broader pattern Janus Henderson has observed globally: growing investor appetite for ETFs that combine the discipline of index-based diversification with the potential for research-driven outperformance – demand the firm says is now extending to the Australian market.
The approach combines fundamental research with disciplined portfolio construction. Rather than simply accepting individual company weights determined by the index, Janus Henderson’s research insights are used to identify where the portfolio should hold more or less of individual companies, while keeping overall market, country and sector exposures broadly aligned with the MSCI World Index. The ETF targets a tracking error of around 1.5% relative to the MSCI World Index, and active risk is concentrated in stock selection, rather than macroeconomic or sector positioning.
The investment team behind the strategy includes Joshua Cummings, John Jordan, and Jeremy Tjaden, who are part of a highly experienced investment team with a strong track record of delivering attractive long-term, risk-adjusted returns. Together, the team actively manages approximately $58 billion in assets across a range of research-led strategies.
The launch builds on an established Australian track record for this team. The Janus Henderson Global Research Equity (Core) strategy is already available to Australian investors through a managed fund and is managed by the same investment team using the same research-led investment philosophy. The Global Research Equity strategy has delivered double-digit annualised returns over the three-, five- and 10-year periods and has a 15-year track record in the Australian market.
Josh Cummings, Portfolio Manager at Janus Henderson Investors said, “We believe that deep fundamental research can meaningfully enhance investment outcomes. The newly available ETF gives Australian investors with benchmark-constrained global equity allocations access to Janus Henderson’s high-quality research in an ETF format. While demand for ETFs remains strong, many investors are looking beyond passive exposure, and this latest ETF is designed to meet that need.”
“The objective is to make fundamental stock selection the primary source of potential excess returns, while maintaining the disciplined risk characteristics required of a core global equity allocation.”
Matt Gaden, Head of Australia at Janus Henderson Investors said, “We are seeing Australian investors and advisers look for more choice in how they build their core global equity exposure. Many want to retain broad market exposure and disciplined risk characteristics, but also want the opportunity for fundamental research and active stock selection to add value.”
“Bringing this research-engineered approach to the ASX responds directly to that need. This new ETF gives Australian investors local access to an investment capability already available offshore, through an ETF structure that can sit at the core of a global equities portfolio.”
JGBL is the latest addition to Janus Henderson’s growing active ETF range, bringing the firm’s total to five in Australia. Alongside JGBL, the range includes the Australian Fixed Interest Active ETF (JFIX), Global Sustainable Equity Active ETF (FUTR), Sustainable Credit Active ETF (GOOD), and Tactical Income Active ETF (TACT).