BlackRock's Jay Jacobs on 3 Key ETF Themes for 2026: AI, Income, and Diversification

Key ETF Themes for 2026

• 🎯 Jay Jacobs, U.S. Head of Equity ETFs at BlackRock, outlines three primary themes for ETF investors in 2026.
• 💡 These themes address investor needs for growth opportunities, income generation, and portfolio diversification.

Growth Opportunities: Artificial Intelligence

• 🚀 The leading growth theme identified is artificial intelligence (AI).
• 🔍 Investors are encouraged to focus on AI leaders, with ETFs like BAI mentioned for identifying winners and losers within the AI sector.

Income Generation Strategies

• 💰 With potential rate decreases and a wave of baby boomer retirements, income is a key focus.
• 📈 Covered call strategies are highlighted as a way to generate income while still capturing potential upside in the market.

Diversification Beyond Traditional Assets

• 📊 In an environment of potential volatility, diversification is crucial.
• 💎 Investors are looking beyond stocks and bonds to assets like Bitcoin and precious metals (gold, silver) for diversification.
• 🧩 These unique assets offer different behavior patterns compared to traditional investments.

Multi-Strategy ETF Opportunities

• 🧩 BlackRock has launched i alt i, a multi-strategy alternative ETF.
• 🌐 This ETF aims to provide diversification by combining various sources of alternative returns, macro and micro bets, and different asset classes within a single ticker.