At a glance
ROMO charges 0.92% a year, above the 0.86% average of the 7 funds most like it (the 6th cheapest of 8). It has $25.1M in assets, the 8th largest of that group; it paid 8.29% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, annual. Over the past year it returned +6.9% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), the weakest of those 8 funds; over three years it returned +16.2% a year. At its worst it fell 28.7% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 19.9% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 13 months and 20 months after the lows.
The short version
Strategy Shares Newfound/ReSolve Robust Momentum ETF (ROMO) owns other ETFs, following an index that rotates among US, developed international and emerging-market stock funds and can shift fully into US Treasury (government bond) funds when stocks lose momentum. Unlike options-based buffer funds, it has no cap on gains, but its weekly signals did not stop a 28.7% drop in the 2020 COVID crash; it costs 0.92% a year after a fee waiver.
Price history
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ROMO +6.9% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROMO official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +9.19% | — | +7.58% | — | +6.29% |
| Newfound/Re Solve Robust Equity Momentum Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) index, same period | — | +10.38% | — | +8.40% | — | +6.80% |
| MSCI ACWI Gross Total Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) index, same period | — | +22.87% | — | +11.70% | — | +13.27% |
| S&P Target Risk Balanced Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) index, same period | — | +16.59% | — | +7.05% | — | +8.12% |
| ROMO price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +7.1% | +6.9% | +16.2% | +5.9% | — | +6.6% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, ROMO returned +6.9%, 8th of 8 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +5.9%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 28.7% and regained its old high 12.7 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-18.9%); its best was 2021 (+21.4%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 28.7% (Feb 19, 2020 to Mar 23, 2020), recovered by Apr 15, 2021.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +7.1% | — |
| 2025 | +9.3% | +9.19% |
| 2024 | +20.7% | +20.55% |
| 2023 | +11.1% | +11.12% |
| 2022 | -18.9% | -18.81% |
| 2021 | +21.4% | +21.33% |
| 2020 | -3.5% | -3.39% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Lost 28.7% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 28.7%, back to its old high 12.7 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 19.3% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 19.9%, back to its old high 20.3 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.8200 | +1075.0% |
| 2024 | $0.2400 | -62.5% |
| 2023 | $0.6400 | +236.8% |
| 2022 | $0.1900 | +11.8% |
| 2021 | $0.1700 | -29.2% |
| 2020 | $0.2400 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 5 securities; the ten largest made up 99.68% of assets.
| Fund held | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| ISHARES CORE S P 500 ETF Other | 56.23% | |
| ISHARES CORE MSCI EAFE ETF Other | 38.47% | |
| ISHARES CORE MSCI EMERGING MARKETS ETF Other | 2.47% | |
| ISHARES 1 3 YEAR TREASURY BOND ETF Other | 2.23% | |
| ISHARES 7 10 YEAR TREASURY BOND ETF Other | 0.27% |
By country
United States 99.68%By asset type
Other 99.68%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors withdrew a net $1.3M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +3.13%, -0.74%, +0.59%.
How it works
ROMO aims to track the Newfound/ReSolve Robust Equity Momentum Index, a rules-based index co-developed by Newfound Research and ReSolve Asset Management and calculated by Solactive. At least 80% of assets go into the index's components, which are ETFs, so ROMO is a fund of funds. The index picks from stock ETFs covering the US, developed international and emerging markets, and from US Treasury ETFs holding short-term (1–2 year) or intermediate-term (7–10 year) government debt. It usually holds one to five ETFs.
Weights come from momentum (recent price strength) and trend signals over several time frames. Each stock region is compared with Treasuries; regions that are strongest and trending up get more weight. The fund can hold up to 100% in US or developed international stocks but no more than 25% in emerging markets. When stocks lag Treasuries on these measures, Treasury ETFs take their place, up to 100%. As of July 31, 2026, the largest holdings were the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (56.2%) and the developed-market iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (38.5%).
The index rebalances weekly and is rebuilt each December. Portfolio turnover (the portion of holdings replaced in a year) was 303%, which can add trading costs and taxable gains. Because the signals react to past prices, a sudden crash can strike before the fund shifts.
What it really costs
- ROMO charges 0.92% a year, versus an average of 0.86% for the similar funds below (6th of 8, cheapest first).
- Of that, 0.49% is the management fee; the rest covers other fund expenses.
- The fee includes a 0.37% waiver from the adviser, which may end.
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $94 in the first year and $1,524 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROMO | $94 | $372 | $672 | $1,524 |
Structure and tax notes
- Invests in other funds rather than directly in stocks or bonds, so its holdings are those funds.
In a retirement portfolio
Its momentum rules can put the entire fund in a single stock region or in Treasuries, and it still fell 28.7% in 2020, so it fits as a smaller side holding rather than a core one.
ROMO could add global stocks with a rule for moving into Treasury bond funds, but its history shows the limits. It launched in 2019, after the 2008 crisis. It fell 28.7% in the 2020 COVID crash and took 12.7 months to recover; in the 2022 bear market it lost 19.9% and needed 20.3 months to get back. Its worst calendar year was 2022, down 18.81%. Someone drawing income in such a year would be cashing in shares after a deep fall.
The fund pays once a year; its trailing 12-month yield was 8.29% as of October 27, 2026. With 303% turnover, payouts can include realized gains and may vary widely. The expense ratio is 0.92% after a fee waiver; the SEC's example puts costs on $10,000 at $1,524 over ten years. Past results don't predict the future, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want a rules-based index, not a manager's judgment, to set weekly weights across US, international and emerging-market stocks and Treasuries.
- Those holding it in an IRA or similar tax-advantaged account, where payouts from a fund with 303% turnover won't create yearly tax bills.
- Investors wanting a small side position beside a core stock fund, who can accept past drops of 28.7% in 2020 and 19.9% in 2022.
Look elsewhere if
- Those needing reliable crash protection: its momentum rules didn't prevent a 19.46% loss in the first quarter of 2020.
- Low-cost global stock investors: it charges 0.92% and returned 7.58% a year over five years through 2025, versus 11.7% for the MSCI ACWI global index.
- Investors wanting steady income: it pays once a year, and its 8.29% trailing yield as of October 27, 2026 may not repeat.
Close alternatives
Matched by other buffer (defined-outcome) funds, largest first.
| Fund | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROMO this fund | 0.92% | $25.1M | +6.9% | +16.2% |
| BUFR FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF | 0.95% | $10.49B | +11.6% | +16.8% |
| BUFD FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF | 0.95% | $2.04B | +9.5% | +13.9% |
| PJAN Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - Ja… | 0.79% | $1.44B | +10.5% | +14.8% |
| PDEC Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - De… | 0.79% | $984.1M | +11.6% | +14.9% |
| FDEC FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - December | 0.85% | $1.31B | +12.9% | +18.5% |
| FJAN FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - January | 0.85% | $1.47B | +12.3% | +17.4% |
| FFEB FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer Fund - February | 0.85% | $1.42B | +12.9% | +18.6% |
Questions investors ask
What does ROMO invest in?
ROMO invests in other ETFs rather than individual stocks or bonds. As of July 31, 2026, it held five: the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (56.2%), iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (38.5%), iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (2.5%), iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (2.2%) and iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (0.3%). The index behind it reweights weekly and can move up to 100% into Treasury ETFs when stocks lose momentum against Treasuries.
Is ROMO a good fund for retirement?
It may fit as a small side holding rather than a core one. ROMO's rules can shift it from stocks into Treasury ETFs, but it still fell 28.7% in the 2020 COVID crash and 19.9% in the 2022 bear market, taking 20.3 months to recover from the latter. It costs 0.92% a year after a fee waiver, pays once a year, and held about $25 million as of July 31, 2026, a small size for an ETF.
How has ROMO performed compared with global stocks?
It has lagged global stocks. Through December 31, 2025, ROMO returned 9.19% over one year, 7.58% a year over five years and 6.29% a year since its November 2019 launch. The MSCI ACWI global stock index returned 22.87%, 11.7% and 13.27%. Over five years ROMO edged the S&P Target Risk Balanced Index, a stock-and-bond benchmark (7.05%), and trailed its own index (8.4%). As of October 27, 2026, its one-year return was 6.9% and its three-year annualized return was 16.2%.
Does ROMO pay a dividend?
Yes, but only once a year. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $2.82 per share, a trailing yield of 8.29%. That figure may not repeat. ROMO holds stock and Treasury ETFs and trades heavily (303% turnover), so its annual payout can include realized gains as well as dividends and interest, and the amount can swing from year to year. In a taxable account, payouts are generally taxed in the year they are paid.
What's the difference between ROMO and BUFR?
They take different routes to limiting losses. ROMO uses momentum rules to move between stock ETFs and Treasury ETFs and puts no cap on gains. BUFR, the FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF, is a buffer (defined-outcome) fund: buffer strategies use options to absorb part of a loss over a set period in exchange for a cap on gains. BUFR charges 0.95% versus ROMO's 0.92%. As of October 27, 2026, BUFR returned 11.6% over one year and 16.8% a year over three, versus 6.9% and 16.2% for ROMO.