John Hancock Investment Management has launched a new actively managed ETF targeting US dividend-paying equities.

Andrew G. Arnott, CEO of John Hancock Investment Management.

The John Hancock US High Dividend ETF (JHDV US) has been listed on NYSE Arca with an expense ratio of 0.34%.

The fund is sub-advised by Manulife Investment Management with day-to-day operations headed up by Geoffrey Kelley, Global Head of Systematic Equity.

Andrew G. Arnott, CEO of John Hancock Investment Management, said: “Manulife Investment Management has provided sophisticated access to income opportunities for more than 25 years. We’re pleased to bring the expertise of the Manulife Investment Management systematic equity portfolio management team and a new high dividend ETF to US investors.”

The ETF’s objective is to deliver a high level of current income with long-term growth of capital as a secondary objective.

The fund invests in large and mid-cap US equity securities including common and preferred stocks, convertible securities, rights, warrants, and real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Utilizing a proprietary systematic approach, Manulife screens the universe for securities that have high and persistent dividends or dividends that are expected to grow over time. Such screening criteria may include quality factors, dividend yields, dividend growth, dividend persistence, and dividend payout.

Following this screening, the portfolio is then optimized based on several factors including beta and dividend yield at the security level, as well as turnover, position size, and sector exposure at the portfolio level.