- Business
- New York Life Investments ETF Trust - NYLI Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF (QAI) is an exchange-traded fund that seeks investment results tracking, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the NYLI Hedge Multi-Strategy Index. The index employs a systematic model to select and weight long and short positions across multiple asset classes and alternative strategies, including fixed income relative value, global macro, long/short equity, event-driven, emerging markets, and managed futures, replicating the risk-adjusted return characteristics of hedge funds generally without direct investment in hedge funds or hedge fund components. Core holdings encompass a diversified portfolio of exchange-traded funds such as iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF, Franklin Senior Loan ETF, Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF, and Vanguard Short-Term Government Bond Index Fund, alongside short positions in assets like Invesco CurrencyShares Euro Trust and Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund.
In a significant rebranding initiative, the fund, formerly known as IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF, was renamed NYLI Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF effective August 28, 2024, as part of New York Life Investments' effort to unify its MainStay and IndexIQ product lineup under the NYLI brand. Launched on March 25, 2009, and domiciled in the United States, QAI trades on the NYSE Arca exchange with total net assets of approximately $710.77 million as of September 30, 2025, a net expense ratio of 0.88% after waivers, and around 40 holdings rebalanced to maintain alignment with hedge fund beta characteristics.
The fund targets investors seeking efficient multi-strategy exposure as a low equity beta alternative and volatility dampener, offering historically high correlation to broad hedge fund indices like the Barclay Hedge Fund Index with reduced sensitivity to equity markets, interest rates, and traditional risk sources. It operates primarily in U.S. markets but gains global reach through underlying holdings spanning international equities, fixed income, commodities, currencies, and derivatives across developed and emerging regions. Managed by New York Life Investment Management LLC, a division of New York Life Insurance Company headquartered in New York, the ETF emphasizes transparency, liquidity, and daily accessibility without manager-specific risks inherent in direct hedge fund investments.