Pass on this ETF: AI Powered Equity ETF

Article Excerpt

AI POWERED EQUITY ETF $30.90 (Nasdaq symbol AIEQ) uses machine learning and natural language processing capabilities running on IBM’s Watson platform to select a portfolio of U.S. publicly listed stocks. Using artificial intelligence (AI), the ETF’s computer processes regulatory filings, news stories, management profiles, sentiment gauges, and financial models. The computer then proceeds to build scoring models for each company that include aspects of financial health, news flow, and management. In the next phase, the computer identifies companies with what it sees as having the greatest potential for appreciation. The fund, launched in October 2017, has an asset base of $107.4 million. It charges an MER of 0.75%. Current holdings include Palantir Technologies, Cloudflare, Datadog, Upstart Holdings, and Alphabet. Since inception, the fund has generated a return of 29.1%—well below the 80.0% return of the S& P 500 index. “Black boxes” that aim to predict the future have been around a long time. None have ever worked consistently. In the real world, market patterns continually change as…