The Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM (the “Moat Index”) underwent its quarterly review on September 15, 2023 in which it systematically targets attractively priced, high quality U.S. companies. Below are some key takeaways from the September review and how the Moat Index is positioned as we enter the last quarter of the year. The full review results are available here: 3Q2023 Index Reconstitution.
Key Takeaways:
- Growth Exodus Led by Tech
The Index continued its shift away from growth stocks, which began in June 2023, to more of a blend/value posture. The tech sector saw the largest reduction in exposure, signaling growth as an overvalued segment of the US market. Tech stocks are now the largest underweight in the Moat Index, about 12% relative to the S&P 500 Index.
- Value Fills the Void
The Moat Index’s tech sector void was filled by companies from value-oriented sectors such as industrials (Honeywell, TRX Corp), financials (Charles Schwab, MarketAxess) and consumer staples (Estee Lauder, Campbell Soup).
- Only Three of the Magnificent 7
The market has taken a liking to a new moniker representing the seven companies driving the vast majority of U.S. market returns: Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. Amid stretched valuations this quarter, the Moat Index removed Meta Platforms leaving only Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft in the Moat Index at around a 5.3% weighting relative to nearly 28% exposure for the Magnificent 7 in the S&P 500 Index.
Access Quality Companies and Attractive Valuations
VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (MOAT) and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund follow a simple philosophy: find quality companies, buy them when they’re undervalued and sell them when they’re overvalued.
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Important Disclosures
Source for all data unless otherwise noted: Morningstar.
This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities, financial instruments or digital assets mentioned herein. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, tax advice, or any call to action. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are for illustrative purposes only, are valid as of the date of this communication, and are subject to change without notice. Actual future performance of any assets mentioned is unknown. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of third party data. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck or its other employees.
Holdings will vary for the MOAT ETF and its corresponding Index. For a complete list of holdings in the ETF, please click here: MOAT – VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF – Holdings.
Effective June 20, 2016, Morningstar implemented several changes to the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index construction rules. Among other changes, the index increased its constituent count from 20 stocks to at least 40 stocks and modified its rebalance and reconstitution methodology. These changes may result in more diversified exposure, lower turnover, and longer holding periods for index constituents than under the rules in effect prior to this date. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
An investor cannot invest directly in an index. Returns reflect past performance and do not guarantee future results. Results reflect the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any. Certain indices may take into account withholding taxes. Index returns do not represent Fund returns. The Index does not charge management fees or brokerage expenses, nor does the Index lend securities, and no revenues from securities lending were added to the performance shown.
The Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM was created and is maintained by Morningstar, Inc. Morningstar, Inc. does not sponsor, endorse, issue, sell, or promote the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF or VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund and bears no liability with respect to the funds or any security. Morningstar® is a registered trademark of Morningstar, Inc. Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM is a service mark of Morningstar, Inc.
The Morningstar moat-driven indexes represent various regional exposures and consist of companies identified as having sustainable, competitive advantages and whose stocks are attractively priced, according to Morningstar.
The Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM Intended to track the overall performance of attractively priced companies with sustainable competitive advantages according to Morningstar’s equity research team.
An investment in the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (MOAT®) may be subject to risks which include, among others, risks related to investing in equity securities, consumer discretionary sector, health care sector, industrials sector, information technology sector, financials sector, medium-capitalization companies, market, operational, high portfolio turnover, index tracking, authorized participant concentration, no guarantee of active trading market, trading issues, passive management, fund shares trading, premium/discount risk and liquidity of fund shares, non-diversification and index-related concentration risks, all of which may adversely affect the Fund. Medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks.
You can lose money by investing in the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Fund. Any investment in the Fund should be part of an overall investment program rather than a complete program. The Fund is subject to risks which may include, but are not limited to, risks related to competitive advantage assessment, equity securities, financials sector, health care sector, high portfolio turnover, index tracking, industrials sector, industry concentration, information technology sector, market, medium-capitalization companies, non-diversification, operational, passive management, and underlying fund investments risk, all of which may adversely affect the Fund. Medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks. The Fund’s assets may be concentrated in a particular sector and may be subject to more risk than investments in a diverse group of sectors.
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