What is the  FLKR ETF ?
5 min read
By Beqa Bumbeishvili, ETF Insider

What is the FLKR ETF ?

In the ever-evolving landscape of finance, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have gained significant popularity among investors seeking diversified exposure to various financial instruments. FLKR ETF, in particular, offers an intriguing investment opportunity. In this article, we will delve into the details of FLKR ETF, exploring its underlying components, benefits of investment, and essential considerations before investing.

FLKR ETF: Overview

The FLKR ETF is a passively managed investment fund that seeks to replicate the performance of the FTSE South Korea Capped Index. This index is a carefully crafted basket of securities representing South Korean large- and mid-capitalization stocks. With its free float-adjusted market capitalization weighting and capping methodology, the FTSE South Korea Capped Index aims to ensure diversification and avoid excessive concentration in a single issuer. As of May 31, 2023, the index consisted of 161 securities, spanning a wide range of market capitalizations from $241 million to $365.42 billion.

FLKR ETF Underlying and Exposure: What Does It Track and How?

The investment approach of FLKR ETF is rooted in indexing, commonly referred to as a "passive" strategy. This means that the fund attempts to closely match the performance of the FTSE South Korea Capped Index before accounting for fees and expenses. To achieve this, the fund manager has two strategies at their disposal: replication and representative sampling.
Replication Strategy: The ETF will invest in all the component securities of the FTSE South Korea Capped Index in their respective weightings. In an ideal scenario, this ensures that the ETF closely mirrors the performance of the index.
Representative Sampling Strategy: Under certain circumstances, replicating the entire index may not be feasible. In such cases, the fund manager will select a subset of securities that collectively represent the investment profile of the FTSE South Korea Capped Index. This approach aims to maintain similarity in risk factors, performance attributes, market capitalization, and industry weightings.
Moreover, to enhance performance and better align with the underlying index, the FLKR ETF may employ equity futures, equity total return swaps, foreign currency forward contracts, and currency futures contracts.

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FLKR ETF: Benefits of Investing in this ETF

Investing in FLKR ETF offers several advantages for investors:
Diversification: FLKR ETF provides exposure to a broad range of South Korean companies, reducing individual stock risk.
Liquidity: Being an ETF, FLKR trades on stock exchanges like individual stocks, making it easy to buy or sell at market prices.
Cost-Efficient: With a passive investment strategy, FLKR ETF typically incurs lower management fees compared to actively managed funds.
Transparency: The underlying index's composition is publicly available, allowing investors to know what they own.
Flexibility: Investors can purchase FLKR ETF shares through brokerage accounts, making it accessible to a wide range of investors.

FLKR ETF: Considerations Before Investing

While FLKR ETF presents promising investment opportunities, it is essential to consider the following factors before making a decision:
Market Risks: As with any investment, FLKR ETF is subject to market volatility and economic fluctuations.
Currency Risk: Investing in foreign securities exposes investors to currency exchange rate fluctuations, impacting returns.
Sector Concentration: The ETF's performance may be heavily influenced by the technology sector's performance, given the index's concentration in this industry.

Non-Diversified Fund: Being a non-diversified fund, FLKR ETF invests a greater proportion of its assets in fewer issuers, potentially heightening risk exposure.

Conclusion:

The FLKR ETF provides investors with an opportunity to gain exposure to the South Korean market through a passively managed investment vehicle. By tracking the FTSE South Korea Capped Index, the ETF seeks to provide returns that closely correspond to the index's performance. However, like any investment, prospective investors should perform due diligence and consider their risk tolerance and investment objectives before making decisions.

Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. The author is not providing any investment advisory services. Investors are encouraged to consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

FLKR ETF issuer
FLKR ETF official page

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FAQ

  • What is the FLKR ETF?

    The FLKR ETF, also known as the iShares Bloomberg 2026 Term High Yield and Income ETF, is an exchange-traded fund that aims to provide investors with exposure to a portfolio of U.S. dollar-denominated, taxable, fixed-rate, high-yield corporate bonds scheduled to mature between January 1, 2026, and December 15, 2026.

  • What is the underlying index that the FLKR ETF aims to track?

    The FLKR ETF seeks to track the performance of the Bloomberg 2026 Term High Yield and Income Index, which consists of a selection of high-yield and BBB-rated corporate bonds maturing within the specified time frame.

  • What types of bonds are included in the FLKR ETF?

    The FLKR ETF includes U.S. dollar-denominated, taxable, fixed-rate, high-yield corporate bonds that are rated "high yield" by at least two of the three major rating agencies (Moody's, S&P Global Ratings, and Fitch) and BBB-rated bonds from the Corporate Index. The bonds must have an outstanding face value of $250 million or more at the time of inclusion.

  • How does the FLKR ETF work?

    The FLKR ETF follows a passive or indexing approach, aiming to replicate the performance of its underlying index. It invests in a representative sample of bonds that collectively have an investment profile similar to that of the Bloomberg 2026 Term High Yield and Income Index. The ETF will hold at least 80% of its assets in the component instruments of the Underlying Index and invest no more than 10% of its assets in futures, options, swaps contracts, or other fixed income securities not included in the Underlying Index.

  • What are the advantages of investing in the FLKR ETF?

    Investing in the FLKR ETF can provide investors with exposure to a diversified portfolio of high-yield and investment-grade corporate bonds that are scheduled to mature within a specific time frame. It simplifies access to the high-yield bond market, reduces some risks associated with active management, and offers potential income generation from bond yields.