iShares Managed Futures Active ETF (ISMF) belongs to the Systematic Trend category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with ISMF. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to ISMF
ISMF charges 0.80% annually. There are 5 ETFs in the Systematic Trend category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplify DBi CTA Managed Futures Index ETF | 0.35% | 31.52M | Feb 2026 | ISMF vs SDMF | |
| Global X Dorsey Wright Thematic ETF | 0.50% | 7.96M | Oct 2019 | ISMF vs GXDW | |
| JPMorgan Managed Futures Plus ETF | 0.59% | 16.08M | May 2026 | ISMF vs JPFP | |
| Invesco Managed Futures Strategy ETF | 0.65% | — | Mar 2025 | ISMF vs IMF | |
| Simplify Managed Futures Strategy ETF | 0.78% | 1.57B | Mar 2022 | ISMF vs CTA |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to ISMF
ISMF has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 89. No ETFs in the Systematic Trend category have higher risk-adjusted ranks; the top alternatives shown here go as high as 74.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF | 74 | 1.89B | May 2019 | ISMF vs DBMF | |
| Invesco Managed Futures Strategy ETF | 73 | — | Mar 2025 | ISMF vs IMF | |
| American Beacon AHL Trend ETF | 66 | 133.25M | Aug 2023 | ISMF vs AHLT | |
| Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Managed Futures ETF | 65 | 466.84M | Sep 2023 | ISMF vs RSST | |
| Fidelity Managed Futures ETF | 64 | 255.42M | Jun 2025 | ISMF vs FFUT |
Top Performing ISMF Alternatives (YTD)
ISMF is at 6.41% YTD. There are 9 ETFs in the Systematic Trend category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 13.81%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria Chesapeake Pure Trend ETF | 13.81% | — | May 2024 | ISMF vs MFUT | |
| Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Managed Futures ETF | 13.30% | 466.84M | Sep 2023 | ISMF vs RSST | |
| Global X Dorsey Wright Thematic ETF | 13.19% | 7.96M | Oct 2019 | ISMF vs GXDW | |
| Invesco Managed Futures Strategy ETF | 11.36% | — | Mar 2025 | ISMF vs IMF | |
| American Beacon AHL Trend ETF | 9.50% | 133.25M | Aug 2023 | ISMF vs AHLT |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to ISMF
ISMF has 7.97% 1-year volatility. No ETFs in the Systematic Trend category have lower 1-year volatility; the lowest-volatility alternatives shown here go as low as 10.43%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco Managed Futures Strategy ETF | 10.43% | — | Mar 2025 | ISMF vs IMF | |
| Fidelity Managed Futures ETF | 11.22% | 255.42M | Jun 2025 | ISMF vs FFUT | |
| KFA Mount Lucas Index Strategy ETF | 11.39% | 300.41M | Dec 2020 | ISMF vs KMLM | |
| Virtus AlphaSimplex Managed Futures ETF | 11.53% | 31.52M | May 2024 | ISMF vs ASMF | |
| iMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF | 12.47% | 1.89B | May 2019 | ISMF vs DBMF |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to ISMF
ISMF has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.94%. There is 1 ETF in the Systematic Trend category with a shallower 1-year drawdown, going as shallow as -3.59%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco Managed Futures Strategy ETF | -3.59% | — | Mar 2025 | ISMF vs IMF | |
| Fidelity Managed Futures ETF | -4.33% | 255.42M | Jun 2025 | ISMF vs FFUT | |
| Virtus AlphaSimplex Managed Futures ETF | -5.02% | 31.52M | May 2024 | ISMF vs ASMF | |
| iMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF | -6.10% | 1.89B | May 2019 | ISMF vs DBMF | |
| KFA Mount Lucas Index Strategy ETF | -8.04% | 300.41M | Dec 2020 | ISMF vs KMLM |
Other ETFs from iShares
The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include SGOV, IBIT, IVV and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $838B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.71% | 95.28B | May 2020 | ISMF vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 2 | -28.88% | 48.04B | Jan 2024 | ISMF vs IBIT | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 59 | 8.20% | 837.93B | May 2000 | ISMF vs IVV | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 95 | 100.58% | 46.67B | Jul 2001 | ISMF vs SOXX | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 14 | 0.77% | 41.34B | Jul 2002 | ISMF vs TLT | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 75 | 9.19% | 41.89B | Jun 2014 | ISMF vs DGRO | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Silver, Precious Metals | 31 | -13.49% | 32.53B | Apr 2006 | ISMF vs SLV | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 22 | -4.73% | 64.29B | Jan 2005 | ISMF vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 67 | 20.47% | 81.35B | May 2000 | ISMF vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Equities | 58 | 9.86% | 32.95B | Mar 2008 | ISMF vs ACWI |
Often Compared With ISMF
Investors most often compare ISMF with IALT, SOFR, SPY. These 20 comparison targets span 20 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare ISMF with Any Fund or Stock
Compare ISMF with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair ISMF with funds that move differently
iShares Managed Futures Active ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to ISMF.
Explore ISMF Diversifiers