Morningstar to launch analyst ratings of ETFs

To be initiated later this year

Morningstar is planning to begin applying its forward-looking analyst ratings to around 300 exchange traded funds (ETFs) later this year.

The investment research firm will initially assign analyst ratings to around 300 ETFs, some 100 of which will be European-based vehicles. Hortense Bioy, Morningstar's director of European passive funds research, said the ratings are "a natural extension" of the research already conducted by the firm on around 650 ETFs. The firm launched analyst ratings for index funds back in 2013. She said: "With ETFs increasingly used strategically to build investment portfolios and the range of ETF options continuing to grow, investors need help to make informed decisions. "Assigning the qualita...