Global asset manager New York Life Investments announced today the launch of the IQ Healthy Hearts ETF (HART) by its ETF solutions provider company IndexIQ, in alignment with the American Heart Association (AHA).

According to New York Life Investments, the launch marks the first thematic “dual impact” ESG ETF for IndexIQ, and fits with its broader strategy to balance investment returns and social by good offering investors an innovative thematic strategy tied to key sustainability priorities that advance social causes and important global initiatives.

The new ETF aligns with the AHA’s overall mission of helping people live longer, healthier lives, and invests in companies that reflect the organization’s core initiatives, research and programming.  Focus areas are on companies involved in diagnosis and/or treatment of cardiovascular disease, manufacturing and distribution of healthy food or wellness products, services allowing people to access information about their health and to make heart-healthy choices, and solutions for people to track their fitness and engage in a healthy lifestyle.

Top portfolio holdings for the new ETF include Eli Lilly, Apple, Johnson and Johnson, NIKE, and Novo Nordisk.

Yie-Hsin Hung, Chief Executive Officer, New York Life Investment Management, said:

“Sustainable investing has long been at the heart of our approach at New York Life Investments, and we are delighted to team with the American Heart Association to introduce a thematic, and impact-oriented investment strategy that harnesses our long-standing investment expertise with their enduring and powerful mission to help people live healthier lives. HART reflects that an investment strategy is not about generating potential returns alone – when it’s done in a constructive and sustainable way, it can also be a path toward advancing social good.”

In connection with the launch, New York Life Investments and IndexIQ announced that they will make ongoing contributions to AHA’s Social Impact Fund, which aims to enhance communities by investing in local entrepreneurs and organizations that are breaking down the social and economic barriers to health equity.

Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer, American Heart Association, said:

“While overall death rates from heart disease and stroke declined over the past two decades until a recent plateau, these gains were not equitably shared among all people. Our Social Impact Fund is one of the many new ways we are working to address this issue and improve health equity. We are grateful to be aligned with a like-minded, purpose-driven enterprise such as New York Life Investments, which is launching a product that affords investors potential returns that can also benefit their local communities and the social entrepreneurs that are contributing toward building an equitable, sustainable, and healthier future.”