Uranium ETFs to Play Nuclear Energy Turnaround
Global X Uranium ETF (URA) has been beaten down for years but may have hit bottom on Obama’s re-election and recovering demand for nuclear energy. With the Fukushima disaster behind us and China and India aggressive on the energy source again, focused exchange traded funds remain one of the best ways to play this commodity.
“Globally, nations including France, India, Romania, Russia, China, South Korea, and Japan have embraced nuclear power development and possess the technical and industrial expertise to foster the industry’s development. China stands out as having initiated a nuclear construction or grid connection every year for the last six. The Energy Information Administration, or EIA, projects electricity demand to grow by roughly 25% through 2035, and we don’t believe that recent market turmoil is likely to affect the viability of nuclear power,” Abraham Bailin for Morningstar wrote. [Is Uranium ETF a Bargain Buy Now?]
The supply and demand chain that controls uranium has run full-cycle, with demand picking up as new energy sources are desired. The Fukushima disaster is behind us and China and India re ready to continue supply commitments to top producers again, reports David Sterman for Financial Advisor Magazine. The recent period of falling nuclear energy prices is expected to end, as prices have fallen and are well off the highs seen five years ago. [Uranium ETF Powers Up]
“The growth is clearly in emerging markets, and not as much in the West,” Alex Ashby, a research analyst with Global X Funds said. Asia, Indonesia and Thailand are all rumored to have plans drawn up for nuclear reactors, reports Sterman.
Global X Uranium ETF is a safe way to play the recovering sector, as a rebound begins to take shape. The U.S. and Canada are the top countries represented, and the 0.69% expense ratio is not far fetched. The globe’s top uranium miners and refiners are tracked in the index.
Another option is the Market Vectors Uranium +Nuclear Energy Index ETF (NLR) which focuses 20% of holdings are of uranium producers and companies. The U.S. and Japan have been included in the country representation, with uranium transportation, enrichment and storage companies part of the focus. The 0.57% expense ratio is comparable to URA, and NLR is a proxy for global nuclear power production and development. URA has lost 15% over the past 6 months, and NLR is down 0.9% for the same time period. [ETFs for a Revival in Nuclear Energy]
Concerns about emissions, energy independence and affordability are all supportive of a return to nuclear energy as a focus. Even oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia are building nuclear reactors, an obvious indication that nuclear energy could be the way of the future, reports Don Miller for ETF Daily News.
Global X Uranium ETF
Tisha Guerrero contributed to this article.
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.
