DS KOSDAQ Active ETF Gains 3.49% on Debut as Korean Stocks Fall 1.92%

DS Asset Management's first active ETF, 'DS KOSDAQ Active', listed on the KOSDAQ market on July 14 and gained 3.49% while the KOSDAQ index fell 1.92%, delivering a 5.41 percentage point outperformance on its debut. The ETF's portfolio concentrated on memory expansion cycle beneficiaries, with holdings in semiconductor equipment manufacturers Test (up 16.68%) and PSK (up 10.24%) driving the gains. The strong debut contrasted with the broader decline in Korean stocks and losses across competing KOSDAQ active ETFs, as retail investors net purchased 2.339 billion won of the fund on listing day.

According to the Korea Exchange, the 'DS KOSDAQ Active' ETF's 3.49% gain on July 14 stood out against the KOSDAQ index's 1.92% decline. Competing KOSDAQ active ETFs from other asset managers recorded losses: 'TIME KOSDAQ Active' fell 1.83%, 'PLUS KOSDAQ150 Active' dropped 1.23%, and 'KOACT KOSDAQ Active' declined 0.43%.

Retail Investors Net Bought 2.339 Billion Won on Listing Day

Retail investors net purchased 2.339 billion won worth of 'DS KOSDAQ Active' on July 14, ranking the ETF 22nd among all stocks by retail net buying volume. The buying pattern contrasted with retail losses on leveraged products the same day, as individual investors who purchased the 'KODEX KOSDAQ150 Leverage' ETF (95.7 billion won net bought) recorded losses exceeding 5% due to the index decline.

Portfolio Concentrated 30.36% in Four Semiconductor Equipment Companies

DS Asset Management structured the ETF's core theme around memory expansion cycle beneficiaries, allocating approximately 30.36% of the portfolio to four companies: Test, PSK, PSK Holdings, and VM. The fund held 29 total stocks, with 13 holdings (approximately 33% by weight) comprising companies not included in the KOSDAQ150 index. Non-index holdings included LTC (4.66%), CMTX (4.32%), MK Electronics (4.22%), and GST (3.79%). The annual management fee stands at 1.00%.

Asset Management Industry Assessed First-Day Performance

An asset management industry official stated, "It is difficult to predict the overall success or management capability of a product based on a single day's returns," while adding, "This is the first step proving that DS Asset Management, which has demonstrated stock discovery capabilities, can succeed in the ETF market."

FAQ

What was the performance of DS KOSDAQ Active ETF on its listing day?

DS KOSDAQ Active ETF gained 3.49% on July 14 while the KOSDAQ index fell 1.92%, achieving a 5.41 percentage point outperformance on its debut.

How much did retail investors buy of DS KOSDAQ Active on listing day?

Retail investors net purchased 2.339 billion won worth of DS KOSDAQ Active ETF on July 14, ranking it 22nd among all stocks by retail net buying volume.