ETF Evaluator:
AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Global Large-Stock Blend Over the Last Year
| 48.9% | Sarmaya Thematic ETF (LENS) |
| 33.3% | AXS Green Alpha ETF (NXTE) |
| 30.2% | AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF (KNO) |
| 29.8% | First Eagle Global Equity ETF (FEGE) |
| 28.9% | Invesco Global Equity Net Zero ETF (IQSZ) |
Risk
Index
Risk
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ETF Details
AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF Overview
AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF (KNO) is an actively managed International Equity Global Large-Stock Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). AXS launched the ETF in 2015.
The investment seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation.
The fund invests primarily in equities the advisor considers to be highly innovative companies or “knowledge leaders.” The portfolio will include a diversified mix of mid- and large-cap companies from the developed world including North America, Europe and Asia. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the fund’s assets will be invested in securities the fund’s advisor identifies as knowledge leaders at the time of investment, with not more than 25% in any one industry.
About AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF (KNO)
There are 1 members of the management team with an average tenure of 2.03 years: Travis Trampe (2024). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI World Equal Weighted NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and MSCI World ex USA Equal Weighted NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF has 80 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 35.3% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity ETF group. AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF has 43.5% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 55.8% There is 43.5% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF has 0.7% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $44 million in total assets, which is below the $2 billion average for the Global Large-Stock Blend category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
KNO Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Global Large-Stock Blend category. AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF has an expense ratio of 0.84%, which is 71% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a F. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 0%, which indicates that it holds its assets around /years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 50% for the Global Large-Stock Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF returned -3.0%, which earned it a grade of F, as the Global Large-Stock Blend category had an average return of 0.0%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF has a trailing yield of 0.88%, which is below the 1.66% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 22.3%, 13.1 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A. The fund has returned 30.2% over the past year (grade of A), 16.2% over the past three years (grade of C) and 7.3% per year over the past five years (grade of D) and 10.0% per year over the past 10 years (grade of F).
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KNO Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| KNO Return (NAV) | -3.0% | 12.7% | 30.2% | 16.2% | 7.3% | 10.0% |
| KNO Return (Price) | -5.9% | 10.5% | 26.5% | 15.0% | 6.5% | 9.6% |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 2.941% | 2.167% | 3.762% | 1.209% | 0.792% | 0.368% |
| Global Large-Stock Blend Avg | 0.0% | 3.1% | 19.1% | 15.1% | 8.5% | 11.5% |
| KNO Grade (NAV) | F | A | A | C | D | F |
| +/- Category (NAV) | -3.0% | 9.6% | 11.1% | 1.1% | -1.1% | -1.5% |
| KNO Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
KNO Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| KNO Return (NAV) | 22.3% | 19.7% | 5.1% | 17.5% | -22.8% | 13.1% | 17.0% | 25.9% | -11.4% | 27.6% | 7.0% |
| KNO Return (Price) | 18.1% | 20.5% | 5.1% | 17.5% | -23.2% | 13.5% | 16.8% | 26.7% | -12.3% | 27.8% | 6.9% |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.189% | 0.039% | -0.012% | -0.003% | 0.016% | 0.033% | -0.011% | 3.2% | 7.7% | 0.8% | -2.6% |
| Global Large-Stock Blend Avg | 9.2% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 18.7% | -17.7% | 17.3% | 18.3% | 26.8% | -9.1% | 23.4% | 8.1% |
| KNO Grade (NAV) | A | D | F | D | F | F | B | D | D | A | F |
| +/- Category | 13.1% | -0.7% | -8.6% | -1.2% | -5.2% | -4.2% | -1.3% | -0.9% | -2.3% | 4.3% | -1.1% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 1.08 |
| R-Squared: | 71% |
| Standard Deviation: | 16.1% |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.20 |
| Category Risk Rating: | High |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.31 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Above Average |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 0.9% |
| Total Assets: | $ 44 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 44 Mil |
| Turnover: | na |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.84% |
| Index Fund: | No |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI World Equal Weighted NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 1 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 2.0 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 2.0 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Trampe Travis (2024) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 80 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 35.3% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 43.5% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 55.8% |
| Foreign Stock: | 43.5% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.7% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | AXS |
| Phone Number: | 833-297-2587 |
| Website: | |
| Inception Date: | July 7, 2015 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.84% (Rating: High) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.49% |
