AGF US Market Neutral Anti-Beta Fund

BTAL

Market cap $378M

Overview Fund Activity

15.97 USD

+0.06

0.38%

At close Updated Sep 12, 4:00 PM EDT

1 day

0.38%

5 days

-1.05%

1 month

-1.66%

3 months

-14.05%

6 months

-20.94%

Year to date

-13.25%

1 year

-21.68%

5 years

-30.23%

10 years

-21.64%

0

Funds holding %

of 7,462 funds

–

Analysts bullish %

Fund manager confidence

Based on 2025 Q2 regulatory disclosures by fund managers ($100M+ AUM)

50% more funds holding in top 10

Funds holding in top 10: 2 [Q1] → 3 (+1) [Q2]

30% more first-time investments, than exits

New positions opened: 26 | Existing positions closed: 20

9% more funds holding

Funds holding: 70 [Q1] → 76 (+6) [Q2]

0.78% less ownership

Funds ownership: 67.51% [Q1] → 66.73% (-0.78%) [Q2]

24% less repeat investments, than reductions

Existing positions increased: 19 | Existing positions reduced: 25

31% less capital invested

Capital invested by funds: $272M [Q1] → $187M (-$85.5M) [Q2]

See Fund Rankings

Financial journalist opinion

BTAL: A Smart, Yet Controversial Hedge To The S&P 500

BTAL offers a market-neutral strategy by going long low-beta and short high-beta U.S. stocks, providing S&P 500 hedging. The ETF plays the low vs. high beta spread, offering stronger short-term hedging and better long-term preservation than classic shorts. In my view, it must be included in a portfolio with a clear strategy; otherwise, it's dead weight, not added value.

BTAL: A Smart, Yet Controversial Hedge To The S&P 500

BTAL Battles With Short, High-Beta Stocks

AGF U.S. Market Neutral Anti-Beta Fund ETF is designed as a market-neutral equity hedge, long low-beta and short high-beta stocks, to benefit investors during market corrections. Despite its intent, the Fund has underperformed benchmarks and is best used only during significant market declines, not as a long-term core holding. Given current market conditions, I recommend a 'Sell' rating on BTAL. Despite my negative sentiment, BTAL could benefit from economic uncertainty and geopolitical risks.

BTAL Battles With Short, High-Beta Stocks

BTAL: Can Generate Positive Returns Even In A Recession

BTAL is a market neutral ETF that profits from the spread between low and high beta stocks, ideal for hedging in volatile markets. The fund is long low beta stocks and short high beta stocks, thriving in down markets and reducing portfolio volatility. BTAL has shown strong performance in past bear markets and is expected to outperform in today's environment with stretched valuations.

BTAL: Can Generate Positive Returns Even In A Recession

BTAL: Could This Market Neutral ETF Save Your Portfolio In 2025?

The AGF U.S. Market Neutral Anti-Beta Fund ETF is a strong hedge against market downturns, outperforming the S&P 500 during recent volatility. BTAL's strategy involves going long on low-beta stocks and short on high-beta ones, providing a negative correlation to the S&P 500. A 33-67 allocation between UPRO and BTAL could offer superior risk-adjusted performance, with lower volatility and better Sharpe ratios than the S&P 500 alone.

BTAL: Could This Market Neutral ETF Save Your Portfolio In 2025?

CNBC Television

Here are some ETFs that protect against inflation risk, with Astoria Portfolio Advisors' John Davi

John Davi, Astoria Portfolio Advisors Founder & CEO, joins CNBC's Courtney Reagan on ‘ETF Edge' to discuss Astoria's top ideas on how to hedge against tariff risks.

Here are some ETFs that protect against inflation risk, with Astoria Portfolio Advisors' John Davi

Zacks Investment Research

Play Defensive ETFs to Counter Stock Market Slump

Wall Street was in the red on Tuesday as strong economic data dampened chances of near-term Fed rate cuts. Defensive ETFs may help in this scenario.

Play Defensive ETFs to Counter Stock Market Slump

CTA And BTAL: My Recommended S&P 500 Hedges

The S&P 500 has doubled in the last five years, raising concerns about a potential market top and the need for portfolio hedging. Traditional bonds have struggled due to rising interest rates; alternatives may offer better downside protection. Diversifying with alternatives, like CTA's managed futures or BTAL's market hedge, can reduce portfolio volatility and enhance risk-adjusted returns without significantly cutting equity exposure.

CTA And BTAL: My Recommended S&P 500 Hedges

BTAL: A Wonderful ETF For Bear Markets

BTAL is an ETF with a 1.72% total expense ratio, negative long-term returns, and is down most years. Its design is crazy, like a fox. BTAL is a market-neutral fund designed to perform well only in bear markets. When the market is down 10%, it averages 8.8% gains. In the 10% worst months for stocks, when the S&P is down 7%, BTAL averages 5% gains.

BTAL: A Wonderful ETF For Bear Markets

BTAL Is Possibly The Most Misunderstood Market-Neutral ETF

BTAL is an anti-beta market-neutral ETF, not beta-neutral, with imbalanced long and short positions. High-beta stocks fall further in market crashes, underperform in calm markets, and perform well after market bottoms. Tactical holding of BTAL based on VIX levels can provide a small performance boost and reduce drawdowns in market crashes.

BTAL Is Possibly The Most Misunderstood Market-Neutral ETF

Zacks Investment Research

5 Niche ETFs That Outperformed Last Week

Wall Street had a tumultuous last week on growing inflation fears and rising geopolitical tensions. While most of the segments suffered losses last week, a few niche corners have performed really well.

See News Rankings

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