The ETF, which was designed by ANZ ETFs to generate yield while mitigating volatility, produced a six-month return of 11.94 per cent over the second half of 2015.
The double-digit return comes as ETFs continue to gain in popularity, with the industry expected to grow by $8 billion this year.
ANZ ETFs head, Kris Walesby, said: “We are delighted our ‘all weather’ product suite is providing Australian investors with attractive returns – particularly during times of market downturn.”
According to ANZ, the ETF provides a “volatility screen” by selecting the 50 highest-yielding and least volatile stocks on the S&P 500.
With the ETF industry poised for significant inflows this year, State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) pointed out that this trend is actually unsurprising.
Data produced by SSGA’s ETF arm indicated that there have been two distinct periods where investors have gravitated towards ETFs – the 2008 global financial crisis and now.
Amanda Skelly, head of SSGA Australia ETFs, said in the current volatility-driven market, stock picking is too difficult.
“While dramatic share market declines often trigger worrying and irrational behaviour, they also trigger a shift to investment products that provide access to a diversified portfolio of company stocks, bonds and commodities, like [ETFs],” she said.
In a chart produced by the ASX, it was reported that CBA’s share price fell from over $84 in August 2015 to less than $70 at the end of September. NAB has also experienced a price decline, down from over $34 in August last year to a current low of under $27.
