WisdomTree (NasdaqGM: WETF), the ETF issuer behind one of the largest suites of hedged currency funds, has filed plans with the Securities and Exchange Commission to possibly introduce the WisdomTree Germany Hedged Equity Fund, which will trade under the ticker “DXGE.”
DXGE will track the WisdomTree Germany Hedged Equity Index (WTGEH). “The Index consists of dividend-paying companies incorporated in Germany and traded on German Stock Exchanges that derive less than 80% of their revenue from sources in Germany,” according to WisdomTree.
DXGE excludes companies that derive a large amount of their revenue from Germany, an approach that is similar to what the popular WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (NYSEArca: DXJ), this year’s top asset-gathering ETF, does with Japanese companies. [Hedge Funds’ Favorite ETFs]
DXGE will compete directly with the db-X MSCI Germany Currency Hedged Equity Fund (NYSEArca: DBGR). Deutsche Bank has its own extensive lineup of currency hedged ETFs. That lineup grew earlier this month when the German bank introduced three new ETFs. [Deutsche Introduces Three New Currency Hedged ETFs]
Top holdings in the WisdomTree Germany Hedged Equity Index include Deutsche Telekom, Daimler, BMW, Allianz and BASF.
Four sectors – automakers and parts suppliers, capital goods, materials and insurance companies – receive double digit weights in the index. The index has a dividend yield of 3.43% and a P/E ratio of almost 17.1, according to WisdomTree data.
In addition to DXJ, WisdomTree currently issues three other currency hedged ETFs, including the WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity Fund (NYSEArca: HEDJ), which has $415.6 million in assets.
ETF Trends editorial team contributed to this post. Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of DXJ.