Investors may be quick to assume that timber does not have much potential for investment. The opposite is true, however, as the price of timber has risen 5% annually. The Claymore Beacon Timber ETF (NYSEArca:CUT) exchange traded fund is a play on lumber prices and any moves in the housing market.
“During America’s last major inflationary period – from 1973 to 1981, when inflation averaged 9.2% – timberland values increased by an average of 22% per year” Larry D. Spears wrote for Money Morning. [What’s Propping up the Timber ETFs?]
Timber can be a hedge in any market against inflation, as the price of timber outpaces inflation. Furthermore, the Timberland Index has risen 15% per year, in comparison to the 9.61% annualized return for the S&P 500. Most recently, in 2008, when the S&P 500 lost 38%, the NCREIF Timberland Index 9.5%, reports Spears. [Timber ETF Ready to Turn?]
Timber is also benefitting from the rising global demand. Supply and demand for lumber is bullish on a global scale,and when you factor in the prospect of the U.S. housing market rebounding the case gets stronger.
ETFs offer investment choices for those investors that want to mitigate the risk of a single company. For instance, CUT is composed of companies from around the world that own or lease forest land, harvest trees for lumber and other wood-based products, and that produce such finished products as lumber, paper and even packaging. All have a minimum market capitalization of $300 million, and trade in the United States.
CUT has gained 28% over the past 6 months, and has a dividend yield of about 3%.