As the KOSDAQ index experiences a rally, the performance of 'KOSDAQ Active ETFs' has soared. The competition among asset management firms for market share is heating up.
According to the Korea Exchange, in the past month, several KOSDAQ Active ETFs have ranked among the top performers in the domestic ETF market, excluding leveraged products. These actively managed ETFs, where fund managers select leading stocks, have achieved returns of 20% to 30%, significantly outpacing the index's rise of 8.77% during the same period.
The KOSDAQ Active ETF market officially launched on March 10, 2026, with the simultaneous listings of TIME Asset Management's 'TIME KOSDAQ Active' and Samsung Active Asset Management's 'KoAct KOSDAQ Active.' Following this, new entrants such as Midas Asset Management's 'MIDAS KOSDAQ Active' on May 19, Mirae Asset Management's 'TIGER KOSDAQ Active' on June 2, and DS Asset Management's first ETF, 'DS KOSDAQ Active,' on July 14, have joined the fray.
Notably, in the recent month-long performance competition, DS Asset Management has shown remarkable strength. Its 'DS KOSDAQ Active' recorded a return of 33.33%.
The success of DS Asset Management is attributed to its agile portfolio rebalancing strategy. Initially focused on companies in the AI semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment sectors, the fund has quickly expanded its scope to include stocks related to semiconductor substrates, inspection equipment, post-processing, and advanced packaging. Currently, top holdings in the DS Asset Management portfolio include Simtech, Sam CNS, Lino Industry, and EoTechnics.
Mirae Asset Management's 'TIGER KOSDAQ Active' achieved a return of 24.96%, while Samsung Active Asset Management's 'KoAct KOSDAQ Active' returned 24.01%. Midas Asset Management's 'MIDAS KOSDAQ Active' saw a return of 22.12%, and Hanwha Asset Management's 'PLUS KOSDAQ 150 Active' reached 21.02%. All these funds have reported returns exceeding 20% in the past month, significantly outperforming passive products like 'KODEX KOSDAQ 150' (8.82%) and 'TIGER KOSDAQ 150' (8.86%).
A financial industry official stated, 'As the market has formed in the first half of the year, the track records of asset management firms are now being compared, leading to intensified competition for market share in the KOSDAQ Active ETF sector.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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