The 3D Printing ETF (PRNT) is an index fund from a team better known for its actively-managed products. The advisory firm, led by Catherine Wood, has an impressive track record doing what most stock pickers fail to do: beating the market. PRNT is one of ARK’s few passive products. The fund tracks a tiered, equal-weighted index of approximately 50 companies involved in 3D printing, including hardware, software, printing centers, scanners and materials. Each business line is assigned a certain weight within the index. Eligible companies hail from the U.S., developed markets outside the U.S., and Taiwan.
The 3D Printing ETF (PRNT) is an index fund from a team better known for its actively-managed products. The advisory firm, led by Catherine Wood, has an impressive track record doing what most stock pickers fail to do: beating the market. PRNT is one of ARK’s few passive products. The fund tracks a tiered, equal-weighted index of approximately 50 companies involved in 3D printing, including hardware, software, printing centers, scanners and materials. Each business line is assigned a certain weight within the index. Eligible companies hail from the U.S., developed markets outside the U.S., and Taiwan.
3D printing is a niche market that garnered considerable attention during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic — think 3D-printed face shields and ventilator splitters. But niche investment products like PRNT are designed for high-conviction investors seeking concentrated exposure. PRNT has been on the market since 2016 but has been slow to pick up assets, which isn’t unusual for niche ETFs but can make for thin liquidity. With a management fee of 66 basis points, PRNT is pricey for passive but comparable to other ETFs with narrow industry focus, especially since PRNT is one-of-a-kind. Those looking for broader (and cheaper) technology index funds would be better off with ultra-low-cost products from massive-passive shops like iShares and Vanguard. Those looking for broader technology exposure combined with Ark’s expertise can find some of the same 3D printing companies — such as Stratasys Ltd. and Protolabs — in Ark’s flagship Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK).