Schroders launches active Europe and Japan equity ETFs

Schroders has launched two actively managed UCITS ETFs: the Schroder Europe Equity Active UCITS ETF and the Schroder Japan Equity Active UCITS ETF. The funds target companies in Europe and Japan that exhibit Value and Quality characteristics. They will list first on XETRA Deutsche Börse and later on the London Stock Exchange, Borsa Italiana and SIX Swiss Exchange.

The ETFs are managed by Schroders’ Quantitative Equity Products (QEP) team and use the same investment philosophy and process that the firm applies across its Equity ETF range and the Schroder QEP Global Core strategy. The Schroder Europe Equity Active UCITS ETF is benchmarked to the MSCI Europe (Net TR) Index and the Schroder Japan Equity Active UCITS ETF is benchmarked to the MSCI Japan (Net TR) Index. Managers aim to limit departures from those benchmarks while implementing active stock-selection decisions.

Schroders began listing UCITS active ETFs in September 2025 and added a Custom Global Equity ETF and a US Equity ETF in the first half of 2026. The firm reports its UCITS ETF franchise holds about USD 3.7 billion in assets under management less than a year after the initial launch.

Schroders reports the Schroder QEP Global Core strategy has been in place for more than 25 years and outperformed its benchmark in 21 of 26 calendar years since launch. The firm cites that track record as consistent with the approach used for the new regional ETFs.

Tom Stephens, Head of ETFs at Schroders, commented that the funds will give clients “greater choice” in how they access the firm’s active investment expertise and are designed to keep index-relative risk limited while aiming for incremental alpha.

The listings on multiple European exchanges provide investors with several venues to trade the ETFs. Trading will begin on XETRA, with secondary listings to follow on the London Stock Exchange, Borsa Italiana and SIX Swiss Exchange.

The new ETFs broaden Schroders’ active ETF offering by providing region-focused quantitative exposure to equities selected on Value and Quality metrics.