International and clean energy ETFs are leading the pack in 2019, holding five out of the seven best-performing ETF spots this year.
The best performing non-leveraged ETFs for 2019 by year-to-date performance are (as of June 17, 2019):
1. Invesco Solar ETF (TAN): 47.17% YTD
The Invesco Solar ETF follows the MAC Global Solar Energy Index, made up of companies in the solar energy industry. Investing 90% of its assets in the fund, holdings primarily include those in the solar information technology sector (54.95%), with First Solar Inc (FSLR) as its primary holding. Other industries include utilities (23.33%), industrials (17.49%), and real estate (4.23%).
Total Expense Ratio: 0.75%
2. Invesco DWA Technology Momentum ETF (PTF): 37.02% YTD
The Invesco DWA Technology Momentum ETF follows the Dorsey Wright Technology Technical Leaders Index. The index seeks out companies that are showing relative strength, consisting of a minimum of 30 securities from the NASDAQ US Benchmark Index. “Relative strength is the measurement of a security’s performance in a given universe over time as compared to the performance of all other securities in that universe,” according to the fund’s fact sheet.
Total Expense Ratio: 0.74%
3. Global X MSCI Greece ETF (GREK): 34.64% YTD
GREK invests in large and liquid Greek companies. The fund follows the MSCI All Greece Select 25/50 Index, created to “represent the performance of the broad Greece equity universe,” according to the fund’s fact sheet. The broad Greece equity universe includes securities in the MSCI Global Investable Market Index Methodology plus companies that have Greek headquarters and carry out the majority of their operations in the country. “The index only includes securities with a minimum liquidity threshold of USD 25,000,000 average daily traded value, subject to 15 constituents being included in the Index,” according to the funds fact sheet. “If not, securities are added in the decreasing order of average daily traded value until 15 securities are selected.”
Total Expense Ratio: 0.59%
4. Renaissance IPO ETF (IPO): 34.58% YTD
IPO provides investors exposure to “newly public companies ahead of their inclusion in core equity portfolios,” according to the fund’s fact sheet. The fund tracks the Renaissance IPO Index, a rules-based index designed to hold large, liquid newly-listed U.S. IPOs. “The Renaissance IPO ETF includes the most economically significant newly public companies. Sizable IPOs are added on a fast entry basis and the rest are added during scheduled quarterly reviews.”
Expense Ratio: 0.60%
5. iShares MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF (AGT): 33.37% YTD
The iShares MSCI Argentina and Global Exposure ETF follows the MSCI All Argentina 25/50 Index which tracks the performance of the broad Argentina equity universe. “The Broad Argentina Equity Universe includes securities that are classified in Argentina according to the MSCI Global Investable Market Index Methodology, together with companies that are headquartered or listed in Argentina and carry out the majority of their operations in Argentina.”
The key reason to invest, according to iShares, is because Argentina is the second largest South American county and recently introduced new foreign investor-friendly policies. Top holdings by weight include Mercadolibre Inc (MELI), Tenaris SA (TEN), Globate SA (GLOB), Banco Macro ADR Representing Ten S (BMA), and Grupo Financiero Galicia ADR REPTG (GGAL).
Expense Ratio: 0.59%
6. Global X MSCI Argentina ETF (ARGT): 33.32% YTD
ARGT also tracks the MSCI All Argentina 25/50 Index. “The index targets a minimum of 25 securities and 20 issuers at construction,” according to the fund’s fact sheet. “The index is designed to take into account the 25% and 50% concentration constraints required for a funds to qualify as a regulated investment company (RIC) in the United States.”
Total Expense Ratio: 0.59%
7. Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW): 33.24% YTD
The Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF follows the WilderHill Clean Energy Index. The index consists of stock from publicly traded U.S. companies involved in clean energy and conservation. Top holdings include Enphase Energy Inc (ENPH), Daqo New Energy Corp ADR (DQ), JinkoSolar Holding Co Ltd ADR (JKS), SolarEdge Technologies Inc (SEDG), and SunPower Corp (SPWR).
Total Expense Ratio: 0.77%
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