Investors can also consider the factor based SPDR MSCI Spain Quality Mix ETF (NYSEArca: QESP) as an alternative to the cap-weighted EWP. The quality factor “captures excess returns to stocks that are characterized by low debt, stable earnings growth and other ‘quality’ metrics,” according to MSCI.
QESP is also heavily exposed to the financial services sector with a weight of 33.5% to that group. The factor-based Spain ETF also offers some leverage to the recovering Spanish consumer with over 10% of its weight going to consumer sectors. [Quality Approach to Country ETFs]
“It’s the valuation that I think is grossly undervalued here. With eurozone bond yields at record lows, European stocks should be trading at premiums to their long-term averages. But, in Spain’s case, the CAPE of 11.6 is significantly below its long-term average of 15.6. Rather than add 0.1% to annual returns, I believe 0.5%-1.0% seems more reasonable. That would put us closer to 8% annual returns,” adds Sizemore.
iShares MSCI Spain Capped ETF
ETF Trends editorial team contributed to this post.