- Business
- Pacer Nasdaq International Patent Leaders ETF (PATN) is an exchange-traded fund that seeks to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the Nasdaq International Patent Leaders Index. The fund invests in a portfolio of the top 100 large- and mid-cap companies outside the United States, ranked by the estimated value of their patent portfolios as determined by third-party provider IPR Strategies; these holdings span developed and emerging markets across sectors including information technology, communication services, health care, consumer staples, industrials, and consumer discretionary, with major country exposures in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France, and Germany. Key holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Tencent Holdings Ltd., ASML Holding NV, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SAP SE, Toyota Motor Corp., Novartis AG, Nestle S.A., AstraZeneca PLC, and L'Oreal S.A.; the fund employs a full replication strategy, is weighted by full market capitalization, non-diversified, rebalanced and reconstituted semi-annually in June and December, and distributes qualified dividends with a net expense ratio of 0.65%. Launched on September 16, 2024, PATN is managed by Pacer Advisors, Inc., distributed by Pacer Financial, Inc., and issued through Pacer Funds Trust, with the sponsor headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania. In tandem with its debut, Pacer ETFs partnered with Nasdaq to develop the underlying index, emphasizing patent valuations as indicators of innovation and growth potential in international markets beyond traditional sectors like financials and energy. The firm, which began ETF operations around 2015, reported assets under management exceeding $46 billion across its lineup as of December 31, 2024, reflecting a 31% increase for the year amid 10 new product launches including extensions to its popular Cash Cows series.