5 Aug 2026
Trend vs. Carry: Why You Need Both — And What Happened in Q2
In this Q2 2026 commentary, Rodrigo Gordillo and Adam Butler review the Return Stacked® ETF suite, highlighting how combining trend and carry strategies capture unique signals during supply and demand shocks. The conversation also covers merger arbitrage as an overlooked corporate bond alternative, alongside the mechanics of gold and Bitcoin stacking. Finally, the two discuss the launch of the International Stocks & Managed Futures ETF (RSIT), which quickly grew to over $60 million in assets, and the addition of new agricultural markets to the trend and carry strategies.
Topics Discussed
• Diversification of risk using trend and carry strategies within investment portfolios
• Launch and performance of RSIT (International Developed Trend ETF) and addition of agricultural markets
• Understanding and capturing carry (roll yield) in energy and futures markets
• Mechanics and performance of Return Stacking ETFs including RSSB, RSSX, and RSBA
• Benefits of merger arbitrage as a diversifier and corporate bond alternative
• Managing behavioral challenges and providing transparency to advisors using Return Stacking
• Minimizing hidden financing and funding costs when using futures overlays
The performance data quoted above represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost, and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted above.
For prospectus and performance and risks visit the fund pages.
RSST – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsst-return-stacked-us-stocks-managed-futures/
RSIT - https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsit-international-stocks-managed-futures/
RSBT – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsbt-return-stacked-bonds-managed-futures/
RSSY – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssy-return-stacked-us-stocks-futures-yield/
RSBY – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsby-return-stacked-bonds-futures-yield/
RSBA – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rsba-return-stacked-bonds-merger-arbitrage/
RSSB – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssb-return-stacked-global-stocks-bonds/
RSSX – https://www.returnstackedetfs.com/rssx-return-stacked-us-stocks-gold-bitcoin/
BTGD – https://quantifyfunds.com/stackedbitcoingoldetf/btgd/
RSSX does not invest directly in Bitcoin or Gold. Exposures to gold and bitcoin will be done via exchange traded funds and futures contracts, hence the fund does not invest directly in bitcoin or any other digital asset, and does not invest directly in gold or gold bullion
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of Return Stacked® ETFs lineup before investing. This and other important information about the Return Stacked® ETF lineup is contained in their respective prospectus. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the Funds, please click the links above. Investments involve risk. Principal loss is possible. Unlike mutual funds, ETFs may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. Brokerage commissions may apply and would reduce returns.
Tidal Investments, LLC (“Tidal”) serves as investment adviser to the Funds and the Funds’ Subsidiary.
Newfound Research LLC (“Newfound”) serves as investment sub-adviser to RSST, RSIT, RSBT, RSSY, RSBY, RSBA, RSSB, and RSSX.
ReSolve Asset Management SEZC (Cayman) (“ReSolve”) serves as futures trading advisor to the Return Stacked® Bonds & Managed Futures ETF (RSBT), the Return Stacked® U.S. Stocks and Managed Futures ETF (RSST), the Return Stacked® U.S. Stocks & Futures Yield ETF (RSSY), the Return Stacked® Bonds & Futures Yield ETF (RSBY), Return Stacked® U.S. Stocks & Gold/Bitcoin ETF (RSSX), Return Stacked® International Stocks & Managed Futures (RSIT) and their respective Subsidiaries.
Quantify Chaos Advisors, LLC (“Quantify”) serves as the sub-adviser to the STKd 100% Bitcoin & 100% Gold ETF (BTGD). Quantify has entered into a brand licensing agreement with Newfound and Resolve granting Quantify the right to use the “STKd” brand, a derivative of Return Stacked®. Neither the Trust nor the Adviser is a party to this agreement. In exchange for the branding rights, Quantify will pay Newfound and ReSolve a fee based on a percentage of the Fund’s unitary management fee.
The Return Stacked® ETFs suite is distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Foreside is not related to Tidal, Newfound, ReSolve or Quantify.
Definitions:
Duration: refers to the average life of a debt instrument and serves as a measure of that instrument’s interest rate risk. Beta: how much an investment moves vs. a benchmark (like the market). Alpha: refers to returns above that of a passive market benchmark SocGen: is a common abbreviation for Société Générale S.A. Trend index: tracks returns from trend-following strategies, aiming to capture gains from sustained market price movements across assets. FTSE 100 Index: Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index DAX index: Deutscher Aktienindex is the benchmark stock market index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange Nikkei 225 or Nikkei Stock Average is the leading stock market index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) Alpha merger Index: tracks returns from merger arbitrage strategies, aiming to capture deal-related profits independent of the broader market.
A fund’s NAV is the sum of all its assets less any liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding. The market price is the most recent price at which the fund was traded.
Investments involve risk. Principal loss is possible. Unlike mutual funds, ETFs may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. Brokerage commissions may apply and would reduce returns. Bitcoin Investment Risk: The Fund’s indirect investment in bitcoin, through futures contracts and Underlying Funds, exposes it to the unique risks of this emerging innovation. Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile, and its market is influenced by the changing bitcoin network, fluctuating acceptance levels, and unpredictable usage trends. Not being a legal tender and operating outside central authority systems like banks, bitcoin faces potential government restrictions. The value of bitcoin has historically been subject to significant speculation, making trading and investing in bitcoin reliant on market sentiment rather than traditional fundamental analysis. Blockchain Technology Risk: Blockchain technology, which underpins bitcoin and other digital assets, is relatively new, and many of its applications are untested. The adoption of blockchain and the development of competing platforms or technologies could affect its usage. Cayman Subsidiary Risk: By investing in the Fund’s Cayman Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The futures contracts and other investments held by the Subsidiary are subject to the same economic risks that apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in the Fund’s Prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. Commodity Risk: Investing in physical commodities is speculative and can be extremely volatile. Commodity-Linked Derivatives Tax Risk: The tax treatment of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be adversely affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority. As a registered investment company (RIC), the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from certain qualifying sources of income under the Internal Revenue Code. If, as a result of any adverse future legislation, U.S. Treasury regulations, and/or guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service, the income of the Fund from certain commodity-linked derivatives, including income from the Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary, were treated as non-qualifying income, the Fund may fail to qualify as RIC and/or be subject to federal income tax at the Fund level. The uncertainty surrounding the treatment of certain derivative instruments under the qualification tests for a RIC may limit the Fund’s use of such derivative instruments. Commodity Pool Regulatory Risk: The Fund’s investment exposure to futures instruments will cause it to be deemed to be a commodity pool, thereby subjecting the Fund to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission rules. Because the Fund is subject to additional laws, regulations, and enforcement policies, it may have increased compliance costs which may affect the operations and performance of the Fund. Credit Risk: Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will not be able to make principal and interest payments when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer. Derivatives Risk: Derivatives are instruments, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other assets, rates, or...
