In many ways, 2020 was an unforgettable year for investors. Despite rapid initial declines in equities in February and March, stocks not only recovered but hit record highs in subsequent months. And as the new year begins, high notes are being hit on all four broader U.S. indices.
Yet, as the earnings season marches ahead, several stocks, as well as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) might come under short-term pressure, mainly due to profit-taking in overbought equities.
Today, we introduce two ETFs that could see declines as investors decide to take some money off the table.
1. iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF
Current Price: $355.72
52-Week Range: $176.23 - $366.03
Dividend Yield: 0.34%
Expense Ratio: 0.46%
Digitalization trends due the pandemic have provided tailwinds for tech stocks, including software shares, to power ahead. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (NYSE:IGV) has been one of the funds to benefit from the run-up in these stocks. The fund has exposure to software companies in interactive media, technology and communication services sectors.
IGV, which tracks the S&P North American Expanded Technology Software Index, has 111 holdings. The ETF started trading in July 2001 and has $5.7 billion in net assets.
As far as sector allocations are concerned, Application Software leads the fund with 62.86%, followed by Systems Software (28.15%) and Interactive Home (6.71%). Almost all of the firms are based in the U.S., while 1.12% of the weighting comes from Canada.
Top 10 stocks comprise more than 50% of the fund. Tech giant Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), which reported earning on Jan. 26; customer relationship management (CRM) enterprise software provider Salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM); Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE), whose multimedia and creativity software products are used globally; Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), which is well-known for its database software; and enterprise cloud computing solutions provider Servicenow (NYSE:NOW) lead the roster.
IGV returned around 42% in the past 52 weeks, hitting a record high of $366.03 on Dec. 23. Trailing P/E and P/B ratios of 49.27 and 12.94, respectively, meaning the valuation is on the frothy side.
Those investors who also expect the fund to give up some of its recent gains in the coming weeks could find a better long-term value around $340. Options are also available on the fund, making it possible for experienced investors to devise more complex strategies.
2. KraneShares MSCI China Environment Index ETF
Current price: $52.78
52-week range: $14.43 - $54.01
Dividend yield: N/A
Expense ratio: 0.79%
Mark J. Greeven, professor of Innovation and Strategy at IMD Switzerland states:
“The world’s most populous country emits more greenhouse gases than the U.S. and Europe combined, while half of the world’s coal is burned in its factories and power stations.”
According to a recent report by Germany-based Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS):
“China’s leadership acknowledges climate change and environmental degradation as real and pressing threats to long-term regime survival and economic prosperity. However, while a trend towards a concerted push for sustainability shows in national-level policies, the lack of forceful sectoral and local-level incentives leaves China with a mixed track record on sustainability.”
Our second fund, the Kraneshares MSCI China Environment ETF (NYSE:KGRN) provides exposure to Chinese companies that derive at least 50% of revenues from environmentally sound products and services.
KGRN, which currently holds 44 companies, tracks the returns of the MSCI China IMI Environment 10/40 Index. The focus of the index is on five environmental themes: alternative energy, sustainable water, green building, pollution prevention and energy efficiency.
The fund started trading in December 2017. The top 10 firms make up around 60% of the $150 million in net assets. Among the leading names in the fund are electric vehicle (EV) darlings Nio (NYSE:NIO) and Xpeng (NYSE:XPEV), solar glass manufacturer Xinyi Solar Holdings (HK:0968), BYD (OTC:BYDDY), which stands for Build Your Dreams and is among Warren Buffett's holdings and China Conch Venture Holdings (HK:0586), which offers environmental protection solutions.
Since the start of the year, KGRN is up about 19%, recently hitting a record high. We believe in the long-term potential of many of the names in the fund as well as the secular environmental trends in China. However, potential investors might wait for a pullback toward the $50 level.