Jun 18, 2025 Equity
Systematic investing is an active approach to investing that emphasizes data-driven insights, scientific testing of investment ideas, and advanced computer modelling techniques to construct portfolios.
This process includes a comprehensive examination of empirical evidence by seasoned investment experts — testing different combinations of variables and comparing the results to known outcomes. This ability to validate insights means portfolio decisions are firmly evidence-based and not dependent on human conviction alone. Today’s data rich environment — data creation and storage has increased by a factor of 100 over the past 15 years1 — gives power to systematic managers who use large language models (LLMs) and machine learning algorithms to extract signals from a sea of data.
Learn more about systematic investing
The increase in investment signals used by BlackRock Systematic
Source: BlackRock Systematic investment signal library as of March 31, 2025. For illustrative purposes only.
Chart description: Line graph showing the increase in the number of signals BlackRock's Systematic team monitors from 2012 to 2025.
There are tens of thousands of data inputs, which can help lead to investment signals. For example, looking across online job postings as COVID-19 lockdowns eased, BlackRock’s systematic team found that demand for dog walkers was a significant data point. This data showed real-time movement toward reopening on a state-by-state level, reflecting a wider availability of vaccines and return to office mandates. This is one example of how we use alternative data sets — in this case, job postings for dog walkers — to uncover timely insights on the economy and companies.
Source: BlackRock, Burning Glass Technologies with information as of June 2021. Sample looks at U.S. job postings. There is no guarantee that research capabilities will contribute to a positive investment outcome.
Chart description: Line graph showing how the number of U.S. job postings for dog walkers increased dramatically in late 2020-early 2021 as COVID restrictions began to loosen.
To be clear, having expert investors at every step of the process is essential. Systematic investing combines human expertise with technology to bring together the art and the science of investing. We believe the systematic principles of investing at scale with big data, technology and human insight can serve many different investment goals, including seeking alpha — or returns in excess of a broad benchmark — through our exchange traded funds (ETFs).
The consistent outperformance targeted by our systematic ETFs can help boost returns while also reducing overall risk and volatility — desirable outcomes in any market cycle, and especially valuable in today’s environment of heightened volatility.
Here are examples of actively managed iShares ETFs that leverage BlackRock’s systematic platform.
Systematic investing has a rich history of evolution. At its core, it combines rigorous thinking and economic intuition with advanced forecasting techniques — including statistical analysis, economic modeling, and now, machine learning and artificial intelligence. These methods are applied to an ever-expanding universe of data sources. In today’s digital age that data goes beyond traditional financial information to capture sources like news stories, web traffic, social media sentiment, and consumer geolocation patterns.
We see a world of opportunity in systematic investing. Combining human insight with the power of AI and big data brings new levels of precision and efficiency to the investment process — helping uncover actionable insights and drive better portfolio outcomes.
iShares ETFs are available to purchase through a brokerage account or with a financial advisor.
iShares funds are available through online brokerage firms. All iShares ETFs and ETPs trade commission free online through Fidelity.
By clicking on the button below, you will leave BlackRock’s website.
Contact a financial professional to discuss how iShares ETFs and ETPs can fit in your investment portfolio.
Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds' prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses, which may be obtained by visiting the iShares ETF and BlackRock Fund prospectus pages. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
Any links to third-party websites are provided for use at your own discretion. Each third party is solely responsible for the content presented and availability of its website. BlackRock does not control, monitor or maintain third-party websites, their content or the products/services they offer. Content may change without notice. When you leave BlackRock’s website and enter a third-party website, you will be subject to that site’s terms, policies and/or notices, including those related to privacy and security, as applicable. Please review those policies and notices on the third-party website.
Before engaging Fidelity or any broker-dealer, you should evaluate the overall fees and charges of the firm as well as the services provided. Free commission offer applies to online purchases of select iShares ETFs in a Fidelity account. The sale of ETFs is subject to an activity assessment fee (from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). For iShares ETFs, Fidelity receives compensation from the ETF sponsor and/or its affiliates in connection with an exclusive long-term marketing program that includes promotion of iShares ETFs and inclusion of iShares funds in certain Fidelity Brokerage Services platforms and investment programs. Please note, this security will not be marginable for 30 days from the settlement date, at which time it will automatically become eligible for margin collateral. Additional information about the sources, amounts, and terms of compensation can be found in the ETF’s prospectus and related documents. Fidelity may add or waive commissions on ETFs without prior notice.
The Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).
©2024 BlackRock, Inc or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved. BLACKROCK, iSHARES, iBONDS, LIFEPATH, ALADDIN and the iShares Core Graphic are trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners.
iCRMH1124U/S-3985892
iShares ETFs are available to purchase through a brokerage account or with a financial advisor.
iShares funds are available through online brokerage firms. All iShares ETFs and ETPs trade commission free online through Fidelity.
By clicking on the button below, you will leave BlackRock’s website.
Contact a financial professional to discuss how iShares ETFs and ETPs can fit in your investment portfolio.
Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds' prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses, which may be obtained by visiting the iShares ETF and BlackRock Fund prospectus pages. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
Any links to third-party websites are provided for use at your own discretion. Each third party is solely responsible for the content presented and availability of its website. BlackRock does not control, monitor or maintain third-party websites, their content or the products/services they offer. Content may change without notice. When you leave BlackRock’s website and enter a third-party website, you will be subject to that site’s terms, policies and/or notices, including those related to privacy and security, as applicable. Please review those policies and notices on the third-party website.
Before engaging Fidelity or any broker-dealer, you should evaluate the overall fees and charges of the firm as well as the services provided. Free commission offer applies to online purchases of select iShares ETFs in a Fidelity account. The sale of ETFs is subject to an activity assessment fee (from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). For iShares ETFs, Fidelity receives compensation from the ETF sponsor and/or its affiliates in connection with an exclusive long-term marketing program that includes promotion of iShares ETFs and inclusion of iShares funds in certain Fidelity Brokerage Services platforms and investment programs. Please note, this security will not be marginable for 30 days from the settlement date, at which time it will automatically become eligible for margin collateral. Additional information about the sources, amounts, and terms of compensation can be found in the ETF’s prospectus and related documents. Fidelity may add or waive commissions on ETFs without prior notice.
The Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).
©2024 BlackRock, Inc or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved. BLACKROCK, iSHARES, iBONDS, LIFEPATH, ALADDIN and the iShares Core Graphic are trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners.
iCRMH1124U/S-3985892
iShares ETFs are available to purchase through a brokerage account or with a financial advisor.
iShares funds are available through online brokerage firms. All iShares ETFs and ETPs trade commission free online through Fidelity.
By clicking on the button below, you will leave BlackRock’s website.
Contact a financial professional to discuss how iShares ETFs and ETPs can fit in your investment portfolio.
Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds' prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses, which may be obtained by visiting the iShares ETF and BlackRock Fund prospectus pages. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
Any links to third-party websites are provided for use at your own discretion. Each third party is solely responsible for the content presented and availability of its website. BlackRock does not control, monitor or maintain third-party websites, their content or the products/services they offer. Content may change without notice. When you leave BlackRock’s website and enter a third-party website, you will be subject to that site’s terms, policies and/or notices, including those related to privacy and security, as applicable. Please review those policies and notices on the third-party website.
Before engaging Fidelity or any broker-dealer, you should evaluate the overall fees and charges of the firm as well as the services provided. Free commission offer applies to online purchases of select iShares ETFs in a Fidelity account. The sale of ETFs is subject to an activity assessment fee (from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). For iShares ETFs, Fidelity receives compensation from the ETF sponsor and/or its affiliates in connection with an exclusive long-term marketing program that includes promotion of iShares ETFs and inclusion of iShares funds in certain Fidelity Brokerage Services platforms and investment programs. Please note, this security will not be marginable for 30 days from the settlement date, at which time it will automatically become eligible for margin collateral. Additional information about the sources, amounts, and terms of compensation can be found in the ETF’s prospectus and related documents. Fidelity may add or waive commissions on ETFs without prior notice.
The Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).
©2024 BlackRock, Inc or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved. BLACKROCK, iSHARES, iBONDS, LIFEPATH, ALADDIN and the iShares Core Graphic are trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners.
iCRMH1124U/S-3985892
iShares ETFs are available to purchase through a brokerage account or with a financial advisor.
iShares funds are available through online brokerage firms. All iShares ETFs and ETPs trade commission free online through Fidelity.
By clicking on the button below, you will leave BlackRock’s website.
Contact a financial professional to discuss how iShares ETFs and ETPs can fit in your investment portfolio.
Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds' prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses, which may be obtained by visiting the iShares ETF and BlackRock Fund prospectus pages. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
Any links to third-party websites are provided for use at your own discretion. Each third party is solely responsible for the content presented and availability of its website. BlackRock does not control, monitor or maintain third-party websites, their content or the products/services they offer. Content may change without notice. When you leave BlackRock’s website and enter a third-party website, you will be subject to that site’s terms, policies and/or notices, including those related to privacy and security, as applicable. Please review those policies and notices on the third-party website.
Before engaging Fidelity or any broker-dealer, you should evaluate the overall fees and charges of the firm as well as the services provided. Free commission offer applies to online purchases of select iShares ETFs in a Fidelity account. The sale of ETFs is subject to an activity assessment fee (from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). For iShares ETFs, Fidelity receives compensation from the ETF sponsor and/or its affiliates in connection with an exclusive long-term marketing program that includes promotion of iShares ETFs and inclusion of iShares funds in certain Fidelity Brokerage Services platforms and investment programs. Please note, this security will not be marginable for 30 days from the settlement date, at which time it will automatically become eligible for margin collateral. Additional information about the sources, amounts, and terms of compensation can be found in the ETF’s prospectus and related documents. Fidelity may add or waive commissions on ETFs without prior notice.
The Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).
©2024 BlackRock, Inc or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved. BLACKROCK, iSHARES, iBONDS, LIFEPATH, ALADDIN and the iShares Core Graphic are trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners.
iCRMH1124U/S-3985892
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1 Source: IDC, as of May 2024.
Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds' prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses, which may be obtained by visiting the iShares Fund and BlackRock Fund prospectus pages. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of the date indicated and may change as subsequent conditions vary. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable, are not necessarily all-inclusive and are not guaranteed as to accuracy. As such, no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility arising in any other way for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by BlackRock, its officers, employees or agents. This material may contain “forward-looking” information that is not purely historical in nature. Such information may include, among other things, projections and forecasts. There is no guarantee that any of these views will come to pass. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the viewer.
The Fund is actively managed and does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index, may have higher portfolio turnover, and may charge higher fees than index funds due to increased trading and research expenses.
Active funds are subject to management risk, which means the fund manager's techniques may not produce desired results, and the selected securities may not align with the fund's investment objective. Legislative, regulatory, or tax developments may also affect the fund manager's ability to achieve the investment objective.
Funds that concentrate investments in specific industries, sectors, markets or asset classes may underperform or be more volatile than other industries, sectors, markets or asset classes and the general securities market.
There is no guarantee that the classification system used to determine the Factor Rotation model for the U.S. Equity Factor Rotation ETF will achieve its intended results. The fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities which may result in higher transaction costs to the fund. The fund is actively managed and does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.
AI technology relies on large data sets, which can lead to inaccuracies. Companies in AI face competition, rapid obsolescence, and depend on demand from various industries. Regulatory scrutiny could limit AI development, with data collection facing closer examination and potential fines. Country-specific regulations could also impact AI and big data companies.
Technology companies may be subject to severe competition and product obsolescence.
A fund's use of derivatives may reduce a fund's returns and/or increase volatility and subject the fund to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation. A fund could suffer losses related to its derivative positions because of a possible lack of liquidity in the secondary market and as a result of unanticipated market movements, which losses are potentially unlimited. There can be no assurance that any fund's hedging transactions will be effective.
International investing involves risks, including risks related to foreign currency, limited liquidity, less government regulation and the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse political, economic or other developments. These risks often are heightened for investments in emerging/ developing markets or in concentrations of single countries.
This material contains general information only and does not take into account an individual's financial circumstances. This information should not be relied upon as a primary basis for an investment decision. Rather, an assessment should be made as to whether the information is appropriate in individual circumstances and consideration should be given to talking to a financial professional before making an investment decision.
The Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, "BlackRock").
©2025 BlackRock, Inc or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved. BLACKROCK, iSHARES, iBONDS, LIFEPATH, ALADDIN, THE MARKET IS YOURS and the iShares Core Graphic are trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners.
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