The resurgence of alternative energy stocks and exchange traded funds in 2013 was one of the year’s more compelling and prominent ETF themes.
Predictably, some alternative energy ETFs captured investors’ attention more than others. Helped in large part by allocations to Elon Musk’s SolarCity (NasdaqGM: SCTY) and Tesla (NasdaqGM: TSLA), the Guggenheim Solar ETF (NYSEArca: TAN) and the Market Vectors Global Alternative Energy ETF (NYSEArca: GEX) were among the best non-leveraged ETFs last year. TAN, in particular, was also among the most popular. [Clean Energy ETFs Cleaned up in 2013]
That ebullience has carried over into 2014 where TAN already ranks as this year’s second-best non-leveraged ETF and its charts indicate the fund could be poised to further soar. [Solar ETF Ready to Breakout…Again]
TAN is not 2014’s only high-flying alternative energy ETF. The $81.8 million First Trust Global Wind Energy Fund (NYSEArca: FAN) is already up 5.3% after surging 65% last year and more gains could be on the way.
“FAN rallied 10% higher after breaking the daily downtrend line, with only one day of rest (Jan. 2). If the rally loses steam here, we could see the price action chop around for a few weeks, which would enable the 10-day moving average to catch up. This is where a low-risk buy point could emerge if the price action remains tight,” according to Deron Wagner of Morpheus Trading Group.
Wagner noted that FAN, TAN and the First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (NasdaqGS: QCLN), another ETF with solid Tesla and SolarCity exposure, have all run up in recent days.