NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WisdomTree (NASDAQ:WETF), an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) and exchange-traded product (“ETP”) sponsor and asset manager, today announced the one-year anniversary of the WisdomTree Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Enhanced Yield ETF (AGGY).1

AGGY Outperformed Popular Active and Passive Strategies

AGGY seeks to track the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Enhanced Yield Index2 which draws from the same universe of securities as the Barclays US Aggregate Index (Agg)3, but increases weights to higher yielding securities in an effort to boost income potential. This yield-enhanced methodology has not only outperformed the market cap-weighted Barclays Aggregate benchmark; its index performance has also beaten the largest actively managed total-return bond ETFs as well.

The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Enhanced Yield Index has returned 7.67% since fund inception and has delivered an additional 120 bps of return compared to the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index as of 7/31/2016.4 View standardized performance for AGGY here.

“In the current low-interest rate environment, many have begun looking outside the Agg to boost income potential, by dipping into the more speculative sectors of the market. AGGY can provide investors with an opportunity to enhance income from within the investment grade market, while broadly maintaining the traditionally desirable risk characteristics of the Agg,” said Rick Harper, WisdomTree Head of Fixed Income and Currency.

Overweight in Credit and Underweight in Treasuries

In addition to outperforming the most popular market cap-weighted core strategies, AGGY has also beaten 98% of the funds in its respective Morningstar category over the one-year period that ended 7/31/2016. AGGY’s underlying exposures provide insight into the cause of this outperformance. By decreasing allocations to U.S. Treasuries at a time when they may offer little relative value and overweighting exposure to credit, AGGY has tapped into areas of the Agg that may have better risk/return attributes.

“Many investors overlook the potential in re-weighting the components of the Agg to create unique investment solutions.  By taking a different approach, AGGY addresses the need for income enhancement while mitigating risk across a variety of market environments. In our view, AGGY can play a critical role within broad-based fixed income portfolios,” added Harper.

1 The Fund’s gross expense ratio of 0.20% and the net expense ratio of 0.12% reflect a contractual waiver of 0.08% through 12/31/16.

2 On August 24, 2016, Bloomberg announced the completion of the acquisition of the indexing business of Barclays and accordingly the Barclays indexes are being rebranded as the “Bloomberg Barclays” indexes.

3 Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index: Represents the investment-grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, as well as mortgage and asset backed securities.

4 Source: WisdomTree

Performance is historical and does not guarantee future results.  Current performance may be lower or higher than quoted. Investment returns and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investors shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.  Performance data for the most recent month-end is available at www.wisdomtree.com

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund before investing. To obtain a prospectus containing this and other important information, please call 866.909.WISE (9473) or visit wisdomtree.com. Investors should read the prospectus carefully before investing.

There are risks associated with investing, including possible loss of principal. Fixed income investments are subject to interest rate risk; their value will normally decline as interest rates rise. Fixed income investments are also subject to credit risk, the risk that the issuer of a bond will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline. Investing in mortgage- and asset-backed securities involves interest rate, credit, valuation, extension and liquidity risks and the risk that payments on the underlying assets are delayed, prepaid, subordinated or defaulted on. Due to the investment strategy of the Fund, it may make higher capital gain distributions than other ETFs. Please read the Fund’s prospectus for specific details regarding the Fund’s risk profile.

Morningstar, Inc., 2016. All rights reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. Past performance, rankings and ratings are no guarantee of future results. The % of Peer Group Beaten is the funds’ total-return percentile rank compared to all funds within the same Morningstar Category and is subject to change each month. The Percent Rank in Category is the funds’ total-return percentile rank relative to all funds within the same Morningstar Category and is subject to change each month. Regarding number of funds, 1 = Best and 100 = Worst.

For the one-year period, AGGY ranked 24 out of 1,091 funds in its peer group, US ETF/MF Intermediate-Term Bond.

Rick Harper is a registered representative of Foreside Fund Services, LLC.
WisdomTree Funds are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, in the U.S. only.
Foreside Fund Services, LLC is not affiliated with Barclays.

Barclays Capital Inc. and its affiliates (“Barclays”) is not the issuer or producer of the Fund and Barclays has no responsibilities, obligations or duties to investors in the Fund. This Barclays Index is a trademark owned by Barclays Bank PLC and licensed for use by WisdomTree with respect to the WisdomTree trust as the Issuer of the Fund. Barclays only relationship to WisdomTree is the licensing of these Barclays Indexes which is determined, composed and calculated by Barclays without regard to WisdomTree or the Funds. While WisdomTree may for itself execute transaction(s) with Barclays in or relating to these Barclays Indexes in connection with the Funds that investors acquire from WisdomTree, investors in the Funds neither acquire any interest in these Barclays Indexes nor enter into any relationship of any kind whatsoever with Barclays upon making an investment in the Funds. The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Barclays, and Barclays makes no representation or warranty (express or implied) to the owners of the Funds, the Issuer or members of the public regarding the advisability, legality or suitability of the Funds or use of these Barclays Indexes or any data included therein. Barclays shall not be liable in any way to the Issuer, investors, or to other third parties in respect of the use or accuracy of these Barclays Indexes or any data included therein or in connection with the administration, marketing, purchasing or performance of the Funds.

WTPR-0058

About WisdomTree
WisdomTree Investments, Inc., through its subsidiaries in the U.S., Europe, Japan and Canada (collectively, “WisdomTree”), is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) and exchange-traded product (“ETP”) sponsor and asset manager headquartered in New York. WisdomTree offers products covering equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities and alternative strategies.  WisdomTree currently has approximately $39.5 billion in assets under management globally. 

WisdomTree® is the marketing name for WisdomTree Investments, Inc. and its subsidiaries worldwide.

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