ETF Focused on Exports Enters Market (Revised)
Just when trade war tensions between the United States and China have peaked and investors are fretting over the future of export-oriented large-cap U.S. stocks, Pacer Funds launched a fund on export-driven companies. The fund, Pacer U.S. Export Leaders ETF PEXL tracks the performance of companies which are raking in significant foreign sales.
While the timing of the launch of the fund does not look favorable, the underlying strength of these companies probably has led the issuer to go for the launch.
Inside PEXL
This isa strategy-driven exchange traded fund that looks to offer global market growth by screening the S&P 900 and picking the top 100 large and mid-cap U.S. companies with a high proportion of foreign sales and free cash flow growth over the past five years.
No stock accounts for more than 1.19% of the fund. Advanced Micro Devices (1.19%), Iqvia Holdings (1.16%) and United Contl Hldgs (1.15%) are the top three stocks. Information Technology sector accounts for the maximum share of the fund with about 44.6% exposure, followed by Health Care (15.3%) and Consumer Discretionary (11.0%). The fund charges 60 bps in fees.
How Does It Fit in a Portfolio?
Per the factsheet, high foreign sales show that the company is well-poised to benefit from global growth. The fund offers exposure to stocks that have strong balance sheets and brand recognition as well as are well-connected globally.
Though trade war tensions are a key threat right now for export-driven companies as higher import tariffs and lower trade volume will likely dent global trade, the relation is mainly sour between the United States and China (read: Tariffs Likely to Dent US Earnings: ETFs in Focus).
On Jul 25, as the United States and European Union agreed to reconcile on trade. The duo would work toward zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, and zero subsidies on non-auto goods, if we go by an article published on BBC. Per the source, both parties also conformed to increasing trade in services and agriculture, including liquefied natural gas and U.S. soy bean exports to the EU (read: Buy High-Beta & Momentum ETFs on US-EU Trade Truce).
Any Competition?
By name and the investment objective, the fund is pretty unique. However, investors should note that large-cap stocks normally have a wide foreign exposure and can thus pose threat to the fund.
As far as free cash flow is concerned, funds like TrimTabs All Cap US Free-Cash Flow ETF TTAC and Pacer U.S. Cash Cows 100 ETF COWZ might pose competitive threat (read: 4 ETFs to Profit Out of Cash Kings).
(We are reissuing this article to correct a mistake. The original article, issued on August 02, 2018, which incorrectly mentioned the name for TTAC, should no longer be relied upon.)
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