Hartford Schroders ESG US Equity ETF (HEET) is an exchange-traded fund that seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of equities and equity-related securities of U.S. companies screened for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. The fund primarily holds large-cap U.S. equities selected through a proprietary ESG framework developed by its sub-adviser, Schroders, emphasizing sustainable business practices across sectors such as technology, healthcare, financials, and consumer goods; it employs active management to outperform benchmarks while integrating ESG criteria to mitigate risks and capture growth opportunities in responsible investing. Sponsored by Hartford Funds and sub-advised by Schroder Investment Management North America Inc., HEET operates within the asset management industry, targeting institutional and retail investors seeking ESG-aligned U.S. equity exposure; it trades on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., with a focus on the U.S. domestic market.
Launched in August 2021 as Hartford Funds' inaugural ESG-focused ETF under its strategic partnership with Schroders—established in 2016 to expand active mutual funds and ETFs—HEET was headquartered at Hartford Funds' base in Wayne, Pennsylvania. In a major strategic shift, Hartford Funds announced the closure and liquidation of HEET in June 2023 following a routine product lineup review, with trading halting after July 21, 2023, and final liquidation on or about July 28, 2023; this decision reflected low assets under management and evolving investor demand in the ESG ETF space, resulting in automatic redemption of remaining shares at net asset value. No relaunches, acquisitions, or expansions related to HEET have occurred since liquidation, aligning with Hartford Funds' ongoing portfolio optimization amid broader sustainable investing trends.