The VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ESPO) is becoming the stuff of legend among video game ETFs thanks in large part to the fund’s exposure to the booming e-sports market. However, some of the more traditional aspects of the video game business, including hardware and software, are also relevant to ESPO’s performance.
ESPO seeks to track the performance of the MVIS Global Video Gaming and eSports Index (MVESPO). The index is a rules-based, modified capitalization-weighted, float-adjusted index intended to give investors a means of tracking the overall performance of companies involved in video gaming and eSports.
While e-sports is garnering plenty of headlines and cloud gaming is a growth arena in its own right, investors should also consider a fund’s exposure to software makers, particularly those with robust brand recognition and product pipelines that feature franchises popular with gamers.
“We expect companies with high-quality franchises and development capabilities will continue to attract large audiences, and further fragmentation of distribution should generally prove positive for the economic moats of the four game publishers we cover: Activision, EA, Take-Two and Ubisoft,” Morningstar said in a recent note.
Those four stocks combine for over 20% of ESPO’s roster, according to VanEck data.
Examining ESPO
ESPO components may include developing video games and related software, streaming services, and/or those involved in eSports events. To be included in the index, companies must generate at least 50% of their revenues from video gaming or eSports, which allows ESPO to have the highest concentration, among U.S.-listed ETFs, of pure-play names participating in this fast-growing space.
ESPO “provides targeted access to the largest companies involved in developing and publishing video games, esports, and related hardware,” said VanEck in a recent note. “The resulting portfolio is global, with heavy representation from the U.S. and Asia. Some of the names in the portfolio are more well-known than others. Most investors are probably already somewhat familiar with Tencent, Nvidia, and Nintendo. Here are a few other names that might be flying under the radar.”
Some ESPO software holdings continue to look attractive, particularly with new franchise installments due out soon.
“We believe the video game publishers we cover are fairly valued to undervalued despite our neutral view, relative to the market’s positive view, concerning the impact of subscription plans and cloud gaming and our slightly higher concern level about the potential of the regulation of microtransactions,” Morningstar said. “We prefer Activision Blizzard given its more diversified revenue by platform, strong core franchises, and potential upside from its larger exposure to esports.”
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The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.
