Market insights and analysis

In August, 19 exchange-traded products (“ETPs”) were added to the ETF Deathwatch list and 15 were removed, bringing the total to 330.

Eight products were removed due to improved health and seven were delisted.

All of the additions for the month were due to low trading volume. The low volume in these products could be due to the nature of their investment product. These ETPs may have enough assets under management (“AUM”) to keep them from closure. However, our system takes into account both AUM and volume. If both remain low, these funds may be considered for closure.

Forty-seven ETPs on Deathwatch this month have been in the market for at least 10 years. These include many short ETPs.

The average asset level of the threatened ETPs on ETF Deathwatch increased from $9.35 million to $9.71 million, and 22 products had less than $2 million in assets. The average age of products on the list increased from 51.74 months to 51.81 months, and the number of products at least 5 years of age decreased from 103 to 101. The largest ETP on the list had an AUM of $24.76 million, while the smallest had assets of just $644,008.

Here is the Complete List of 330 ETFs and ETNs on ETF Deathwatch for August 2021 compiled using the objective ETF Deathwatch Criteria.

The 19 ETPs added to ETF Deathwatch for August:

1. AI Powered International Equity ETF (AIIQ)
2. Blue Horizon New Energy Economy100 ETF (BNE)
3. Direxion Daily Cloud Computing Bear 2X Shares (CLDS)
4. Innovator Double Stacker 9 Buffer ETF-January (DBJA)
5. Invesco DB Silver Fund (DBS)
6. First Trust TCW Emerging Markets Debt ETF (EFIX)
7. Gabelli Growth Innovators ETF (GGRW)
8. ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged US High Dividend Low Volatility ETN Series B (HDLB)
9. iShares iBonds Dec 2026 Term Treasury ETF (IBTG)
10. Invesco US Large Cap Core ESG ETF (IVLC)
11. Global X Funds Global X China Innovation ETF (KEJI)
12. Upholdings Compound Kings ETF (KNGS)
13. iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF (KWT)
14. TrueShares Structured Outcome March ETF (MARZ)
15. Xtrackers S&P MidCap 400 ESG ETF (MIDE)
16. Credit Suisse S&P MLP Index ETN (MLPO)
17. ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Preferred Stock ETN (PFFL)
18. Xtrackers S&P SmallCap 600 ESG ETF (SMLE)
19. Wilshire wShares Enhanced Gold Trust (WGLD)

The 8 ETPs removed from ETF Deathwatch due to improved health:

1. iShares ESG Aware Conservative Allocation ETF (EAOK)
2. Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Leaders Equity ETF (EMSG)
3. First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF (RFEU)
4. Direxion High Growth ETF (HIPR)
5. CP High Yield Trend ETF (HYTR)
6. Direxion S&P 500 High minus Low Quality ETF (QMJ)
7. Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF (WINC)
8. Global X S&P 500 Covered Call & Growth ETF (XYLG)

The 7 ETPs removed from ETF Deathwatch due to delisting:

1. iShares Russell 1000 Pure US Revenue ETF (AMCA)
2. iShares Adaptive Currency Hedged MSCI EAFE ETF (DEFA)
3. iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Mexico ETF (HEWW)
4. First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Asia Pacific ETF (RFAP)
5. iShares Factors US Blend Style ETF (STLC)
6. iShares Factors US Mid Blend Style ETF (STMB)
7. iShares Factors US Small Blend Style ETF (STSB)