ETF Innovators: How Capital Group powers active ETFs
The ETF industry has undergone a fundamental shift in recent years. Once synonymous with passive, index-based investing, ETFs have become a vehicle for active managers seeking to deliver differentiated returns. Today, active ETFs now outnumber passive funds among US-listed exchange-traded products for the first time.1
Scott Davis, Head of ETFs at Capital Group, joins us on this episode of ETF Innovators to discuss how the firm integrates over 90 years of investment expertise into modern ETF structures. "We've designed a suite that allows us to achieve a multitude of investor objectives," Davis explained. The firm has launched 25 active ETFs in the United States and four in Canada, employing Capital Group's fundamental research methodology, where portfolio managers and analysts collaborate to identify investment opportunities.
As the US$17 trillion ETF market2 continues to expand globally, Capital Group sees active ETFs as a cornerstone of portfolio innovation. The firm's strategy focuses on expanding its suite with solutions tailored to different investor lifecycles – from income-focused strategies during accumulation to capital appreciation vehicles for retirement. With active ETFs still in their relative infancy outside North America, the opportunity to reshape how investors build portfolios remains substantial.
About ETF Innovators
ETF Innovators is a short-form video series hosted by Valerie Grimba, Director, Global ETF Strategy, that spotlights how RBC clients are driving innovation in ETFs. The series tracks the evolution of the global ETF landscape and spotlights the leaders, ideas, and strategies powering the next wave of performance.
- Katie Greifeld, "Active ETFs Now Outnumber Passive Funds in Industry Watershed," Bloomberg News, June 16, 2025, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-16/active-etfs-now-outnumber-passive-funds-in-industry-watershed-momen
- ETFGI, "June 2025 Global ETFs and ETPs Industry Landscape Insights Report" (London: ETFGI, July 17, 2025), https://etfgi.com/news/press-releases/2025/07/etfgi-reports-assets-invested-etfs-industry-globally-reached-new-record.


