- Business
- ProShares is a leading U.S. exchange-traded fund (ETF) sponsor and asset manager that designs, issues, and manages a broad suite of investment products aimed at providing exposure to targeted benchmarks and investment themes; its primary business activity is the creation, marketing, and administration of leveraged and inverse ETFs, as well as traditional and thematic index-based funds. The company develops and licenses investment strategies, handles fund administration, risk management, compliance, and distribution support, and provides related advisory and operational services to financial advisors, institutional investors, and individual investors.
Main products and services:
Leveraged ETFs and inverse ETFs that aim to deliver multiples or inverse performance of underlying indices (including large-cap, broad market, technology, commodity, and thematic exposure), with daily rebalancing and risk controls; plain-vanilla and smart-beta index-based ETFs and notes that seek to track or outperform specified benchmarks; thematic and sector-focused ETFs spanning technology, healthcare, financials, communication services, and other industries; fixed income and commodity exposure ETFs offering diversified access to bonds, inflation-protected securities, and physical commodities; currency and volatility-focused strategies that provide exposure to macro and risk-management themes; retirement and wealth-management friendly ETF options including income, growth, and capital appreciation profiles; fund strategy licenses and support services enabling third-party sponsors to develop and launch similar investment products.
Geographic operations and clients:
Headquartered in the United States with distribution and marketing activities nationwide; serves individual investors, financial advisors, family offices, banks, broker-dealers, registered investment advisors (RIAs), institutional clients, and subscribing asset managers; products distributed through broker-dealers and custodians across the U.S. and international markets where applicable.
Founding year and headquarters:
Founded in 2006; headquarters located in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.
Subsidiaries and parent relationships:
Operates as a subsidiary of a larger asset-management and financial services organization focused on ETF product development, distribution, and administration; maintains relationships with a network of global market makers, authorized participants, and distribution partners to facilitate fund creation, liquidity, and market access.
Industry and segments:
Financial products and services for exchange-traded funds; investment management and wealth management support; data and market access through sponsor and distribution channels; product development and licensing for ETF strategies and related financial instruments.
Target markets and customers:
Retail and institutional investors seeking cost-effective access to investment strategies; financial intermediaries including broker-dealers, RIAs, and banks; institutional asset owners and consultants evaluating thematic, leveraged, and inverse exposure risks and opportunities.
Recent major changes:
Partnerships and alliances: collaborates with global distribution partners and market participants to expand ETF availability and liquidity; strategic affiliations that enhance product breadth and cross-border distribution. Funding and acquisitions: ongoing capital deployment to develop new ETF concepts and refresh existing lineups through internal investments and potential external collaborations. Product launches and service offerings: continuous introduction of new leveraged and inverse ETFs, thematic funds, and strategic beta offerings; expansion of risk-managed and currency-related ETF capabilities. Strategic shifts and expansions: refines product pipeline toward higher-margin, rule-based and theme-driven strategies; expands client coverage through enhanced platform tools and advisory support. Name changes and reorganizations: operational branding updates align with corporate marketing and sponsor relationships as part of broader brand architecture; no major renaming reported in the last 1-2 years. Operational changes: enhancements to fund administration, risk controls, and liquidity management; acceleration of distribution through digital channels and advisor-focused platforms.
Additional context:
Industry: exchange-traded funds and asset management; business segments include ETF sponsorship, fund administration, distribution, and risk management services. Primary customers are retail investors and financial professionals; geographic reach is primarily the United States with selective international distribution. Founding year and headquarters reaffirm ProShares as established in 2006 with core operations centered in the U.S. The company maintains affiliations with partner fund sponsors and distributors to broaden its product ecosystem and market access.