Korea Investment Trust Management launches ACE High-Dividend Plus Covered Call Active ETF

Korea Investment Trust Management announced Monday the listing of a new exchange-traded fund, the ACE High-Dividend Plus Covered Call Active ETF.

The ETF holds 20 high-dividend stocks with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix added to the portfolio. Stocks are selected for inclusion based on dividend yield, dividend growth rate, shareholder return policy and the ability to recover from ex-dividend price drops.

The inclusion of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix reflects not only the potential for capital gains from share price appreciation but also each company's dividend policy. Samsung Electronics returned more than 11 trillion won (approximately $7.28 billion) to shareholders in 2025 through regular and special dividends combined. SK Hynix, meanwhile, voted at its annual general meeting in March to reduce its capital reserve by about 4 trillion won and transfer the amount to retained earnings. Because such a capital reduction constitutes a return of capital rather than a profit distribution, it is not subject to dividend income tax.

The fund also employs an at-the-money call option selling strategy on the KOSPI 200. The option selling ratio is expected to be maintained at around 30 percent, in line with the benchmark index's option selling ratio. At launch, the fund will use KOSPI 200 weekly options to collect premiums twice a week, with those premiums and stock dividends serving as the source for monthly distributions.

Korea Investment Trust Management is also running a promotional event to mark the ETF's listing. The event runs through July 3, and participants can enter by purchasing at least 10 shares of the ACE High-Dividend Plus Covered Call Active ETF and submitting a screenshot of the purchase on the event page. After the event period closes, 200 winners will be selected by draw to receive chicken and beverage gift vouchers. Full details are available on the ACE ETF website.

"As an active ETF, our fund managers plan to actively identify and include companies conducting capital reduction dividends," said Nam Yong-su, head of the ETF division at Korea Investment Trust Management. "When the KOSPI 200 weekly option expiration is expanded to five times a week, we will quickly adapt to pursue even higher distribution levels. For investors who have been torn between chasing dividends and riding market gains, the ACE High-Dividend Plus Covered Call Active ETF should be a strong option."

Korea Investment Trust Management is also running a separate purchase event for three semiconductor-related products through June 26. The eligible ETFs are the ACE Global Semiconductor TOP4 Plus ETF, the ACE AI Semiconductor TOP3+ ETF, and the ACE Global AI Custom Semiconductor ETF. To participate, investors must buy at least 10 shares in total — either 10 or more shares of a single ETF or a combined 10 or more shares across all three — and verify the purchase on the event participation page.