BlackRock expanded its active ETF platform with the launch of the iShares Managed Futures Active ETF, a liquid alternative strategy designed to capture trend-following signals across asset classes and deliver differentiated sources of return. ISMF provides investors access to BlackRock’s Systematic investment capabilities in the convenience and efficiency of the ETF wrapper.

“Managed Futures strategies have proven effective in delivering differentiated, counter-cyclical returns for investors over decades,” said Raffaele Savi, Global Head of BlackRock Systematic. “ISMF can help more investors hedge and diversify their portfolios, regardless of market conditions.”

Managed by Jeffrey Rosenberg, Richard Mathieson, and Stephanie Lee, ISMF harnesses the deep resources and capabilities of BlackRock’s $306 billion Systematic investment platform.¹ BlackRock Systematic combines the power of big data and advanced technologies with human expertise to deliver predictable and repeatable alpha to clients. BlackRock’s Systematic team has been a pioneer in quantitative investment strategies for 40 years, including over 10 years of experience running dedicated trend strategies.

ISMF dually serves as a potential portfolio hedge against market weakness and as a diversifier by investing in non-traditional asset classes, including futures and derivatives, which have a tendency of low long-term correlation to traditional stocks and bonds across market cycles. The strategy’s dynamic risk-management systems and trend-following quantitative models allow ISMF to swiftly adjust to market conditions, offering the potential for counter-cyclical upside with a consistent risk profile, especially during periods of sustained market weakness.

“Investors are increasingly turning to BlackRock in their search for innovative ETF solutions that offer diversified sources of return,” said Jessica Tan, Head of Americas for Global Product Solutions at BlackRock. “ISMF exemplifies BlackRock’s commitment to product innovation, combining our pioneering systematic capabilities with our proven expertise in managing ETFs.”

Managed Futures is an $18 billion category within the broader liquid alternative space, with Managed Futures ETF assets specifically more than tripling to over $3.3 billion since 2021 as more investors seek uncorrelated sources of returns and the potential for upside during periods of sustained market trends.²

ISMF bolsters BlackRock’s $41 billion active ETF platform with a data-driven, trend-following liquid alternative offering.³

Source: BlackRock

Growth in managed futures ETFs–

Jan 2022: 5 ETFs, $329 mil AUM
Feb 2025: 9 ETFs, $2.87 bil AUM$DBMF represents about half those assets, followed by $CTA then $KMLM https://t.co/GpDJEiruIu

— Ryan Jackson (@TheETFObserver) March 13, 2025