What distinguishes an actively managed ETF from an index-based ETF?

An actively managed ETF is characterized by its investment strategy that involves the active selection and trading of assets to achieve specific investment goals, rather than merely replicating the performance of a benchmark index. This flexibility allows portfolio managers to respond to market conditions, research opportunities, and individual security performance, which can lead to better risk-adjusted returns compared to a passive strategy.

The statement that actively managed ETFs may actively trade assets without indexing constraints encapsulates the essence of how they differ from index-based ETFs, which are inherently designed to track the performance of a specific index. In contrast, an actively managed ETF's investment approach is more dynamic and can shift in response to market trends, allowing for strategies that can involve sector rotation, undervalued stocks, or tactical positioning based on economic forecasts.

The other options present misconceptions about actively managed ETFs. For example, active ETFs do not solely track an index, which is true for index-based ETFs. Additionally, these funds typically do require a portfolio manager who makes informed investment decisions—contrary to the idea that they operate without one. Lastly, while the expense ratios can vary, actively managed ETFs are often not cheaper than index-based ETFs due to the higher overhead associated with active management strategies.