Advisors and investors looking to actively managed strategies this year would do well to consider the Neuberger Berman Core Equities ETF (NBCR ). The fund currently outperforms major equity benchmarks year-to-date.
The current administration recently enacted blanket tariffs on China, while delaying implementing significant tariffs on two of the U.S.’s largest trade partners until March. Threats of steel and aluminum tariffs, also delayed to March, collectively create enhanced risk in 2025 markets. Add in geopolitical risks and economic uncertainty in the U.S. and it creates a recipe for ongoing volatility.
Active management could prove a boon in complex, volatile markets. The ability to remain nimble and be selective about stock exposures makes actively managed strategies worth consideration this year. NBCR offers core equity exposure to high-quality companies. The managers have the potential to gain access to a stock within a single trading day, keeping the portfolio flexible.
NBCR outperforms the S&P 500 on a total return basis YTD, measured using the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY ). It also outperforms its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Index — measured using the iShares Russell 1000 ETF (IWB ) — over the same period. Launched in August 2024, the fund currently trends above its 50-day simple moving average, according to Y-Charts data. Funds trending above their SMAs indicate buy territory for trend followers.
The fund seeks long term alpha within large-caps while minimizing tracking errors. The management team averages 20 years of experience and has managed a comparable strategy since 2004. They collectively manage over $10 billion in AUM through a variety of strategies with the firm.
NBCR offers a largely sector-neutral portfolio of equities. It invests in companies from the Russell 1000 Index, while seeking to outperform the Index. The PMs, alongside the Global Equity Research Team, select stocks using fundamental analysis that measures cash flow, balance sheet health, growth and valuation projections, and more. The process also includes meeting with a company’s management team and visiting the sites of a company. Securities in the fund represent the most attractive companies within their respective industries, according to the team’s research.
NBCR carries an expense ratio of 0.30% with waivers that expire August 31, 2025. After that, the net expense ratio rises to 0.39% until August 31, 2027.
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