SOXX - iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF
| Previous Close | 220.77 |
| Open | 219.52 |
| Bid | 0.00 x 1300 |
| Ask | 0.00 x 800 |
| Day's Range | 217.02 - 220.53 |
| 52 Week Range | 144.79 - 221.31 |
| Volume | 586,641 |
| Avg. Volume | 546,104 |
| Net Assets | 1.76B |
| NAV | 220.63 |
| PE Ratio (TTM) | 46.26 |
| Yield | 1.22% |
| YTD Daily Total Return | 42.25% |
| Beta (3Y Monthly) | 1.54 |
| Expense Ratio (net) | 0.46% |
| Inception Date | 2001-07-10 |
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Trump May See Easy "Win in 2020:" ETFs to Bet On
Modeling by Moody's Analytics shows that Trump may see an easy win in 2020 election. ETFs that have surged in Trump presidency could gain ahead.
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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: SOXX, XLK, XLI, RTH and MGK
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: SOXX, XLK, XLI, RTH and MGK
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ETFs to Buy on Phase 1 of U.S.-China Trade Deal
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ETF Areas to Shine on 'Very Good' Trade Negotiation
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Chip ETFs in Focus as Trump Blacklists More Chinese Tech Firms
Trump bans more Chinese technology companies. We study the impact of the move on chip ETFs.
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Least-Hurt Tech ETFs on Renewed China Tensions
These tech ETFs survived the latest threat from the worsening U.S.-China trade relation and lost considerably less amid the market bloodbath.
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4 ETFs to Play the Key Events in Q4
The fourth quarter of the year has been blissful for the stock market historically. Amid this kind of trend, these ETFs should gain this year.
- ETF Trends
Can Semiconductors Dodge the Trade War Crossfire?
The U.S.-China trade deal plays a profound role in the performance of the semiconductor sector given their exposure to China. "Due to their considerable exposure to the Chinese market and a heavily intertwined supply chain in Asia, semiconductor stocks have seen collateral damage as the US-China trade spat has escalated," said a Direxion Investments "Xchange" post. "To make matters worse, semiconductors are effectively everywhere today from computers to smartphones to televisions," the post added.
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Top ETF Stories of Third Quarter
Inside the ETF events that ruled the broader market in the third quarter.
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Huawei Skips US Parts in 5G Base Stations: Chip ETFs at Risk?
Huawei begins production of 5G base stations without U.S. components. We highlight the chip ETFs which may suffer.
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ETFs in Focus as Deputy-Level U.S.-China Trade Talks Begin
As trade negotiations between the Sino-US deputy trade officials begin, we discuss some ETFs that can be kept on the radar.
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Trump May Be Re-Elected: Best ETFs in His Current Term
President Trump has high chances of winning the election in 2020. This makes it necessary to have a look at the ETFs that did very well during his current term.
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Top-Ranked ETFs Crushing the Market YTD
While there have been winners in many corners of the space, several ETFs have easily crushed the market by wide margins this year. We have presented a bunch of those that have a solid Zacks ETF Rank 2 (Buy).
- InvestorPlace
Mixed Signals Means It’s Not the Time to Buy Advanced Micro Devices Stock
If there's one thing I'm constantly telling investors, it's to be patient and to be picky. Take Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) stock as an example: there are pros and cons to taking a long position right now, and it's not a question of whether it's a good company, but whether the overall picture for AMD stock is favorable at the moment.In the past three months, AMD stock has eked out a measly 1.8% gain while the iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) has gained more than 14%. Advanced Micro Devices stock is the 13 holding in the exchange-traded fund's 31-stock portfolio.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsAfter weighing the positives and the negatives, I'm still not convinced that investors should jump into Advanced Micro Devices stock today. Lower share prices might convince me otherwise, but for now, my patient-and-picky policy won't permit me to make a move. AMD Stock Sunk by Earnings DisappointmentJuly 31 was, you may recall, not the most encouraging day for owners of AMD stock. With the release of the company's second-quarter earnings report, the Advanced Micro Devices stock price coughed up 4% in after-hours trading, extending this loss to almost 8% at one point during the following day's trading session.What would cause investors to lose faith in AMD so quickly? The adjusted EPS was in line with analyst expectations at 8 cents, so ostensibly that wasn't the issue. No, it was the decline in revenue that sank the Advanced Micro Devices stock price, as it was revealed that AMD's year-over-year revenue declined 13%; graphics sales, an integral component of the chipmaker's business model, were particularly weak in the second quarter. * 10 Battered Tech Stocks to Buy Now To make matters worse, AMD's enterprise, embedded, and semi-custom segment suffered a 12% year-over-year decline in revenues, with semi-custom sales being the main issue. On top of all that, the company announced that it was slashing forward guidance for the remainder of the year; whereas AMD had previously expected revenues to increase in the high single digits through 2019, now they were only expecting revenue growth in the mid single digits. Analysts and Insiders Cast Doubt on Advanced Micro Devices StockPerhaps the experts in the financial markets can shed some light on the short-term future of Advanced Micro Devices stock -- and based on their price targets, the outlook is a bit murky. Among a pool of 35 prominent analysts, their average price objective for AMD stock is just $32.04, which doesn't imply much upside.Moreover, as fellow InvestorPlace contributor Will Ashworth has reported, AMD stock has seen no recent insider buying; this is extremely discouraging, as the people closest to the company itself are privy to important data, and if they're not buying, it makes me wonder whether anyone else ought to be buying.Yet, it's not just the lack of insider buying that bothers me; the magnitude of insider selling is just as worrisome. Among AMD insiders, 1.66 million shares have been dumped over the past three months; over the past year, they've unloaded an astounding 39 million-plus AMD shares.Perhaps most tellingly, AMD president and CEO Lisa Su dumped 128,500 shares of her own company stock in a massive $3.9 million transaction. Even among well-heeled corporate executives, that's a heck of a lot of shares -- and not exactly what I would call an endorsement of AMD stock as an investment. Neither is the move by SVP Forrest Eugene Norrod who shed 50,000 shares in late July. * 7 Momentum Stocks to Buy On the Dip Even beyond the insider clique at AMD, sophisticated investors have been divesting themselves of Advanced Micro Devices shares at an alarming rate. To give you just a few recent examples, First Republic Investment Management Inc. sold 17,675 shares and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board sold off 141,200 shares of AMD stock. The Takeaway on AMD StockI don't want to give you the wrong impression: I still like Advanced Micro Devices as a company and might be persuaded to endorse a long position on AMD stock shares in the future. For the moment, though, I'm waiting for lower prices and, most importantly, a brighter outlook for this chip-market contender.As of this writing, David Moadel did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 10 Recession-Resistant Services Stocks to Buy * 7 Hot Penny Stocks to Consider Now * 7 Tech Stocks You Should Avoid Now The post Mixed Signals Means It's Not the Time to Buy Advanced Micro Devices Stock appeared first on InvestorPlace.
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ETF Winners as Sino-US Trade War Tensions Ebb
Markets are gaining from some positive moves in the trade war scenario. We highlight certain ETFs to benefit from the latest developments.
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IPOs, Solar, Greece Take The Lead Again Among Top Stock Plays
Little change occurred among top stock funds during the past month as the major market indexes rallied back near all-time highs.
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5 ETFs Surge With Wall Street on Trade Talk Hopes
We have highlighted five ETFs that gained most with the Wall Street rebound on Sep 5.
- Market Realist
Why Did US Semiconductor ETFs Fall in August?
August was tough for the semiconductor industry and semiconductor ETFs. The stocks fell significantly in early August when the US-China trade war escalated.
- ETF Trends
Can China Become Its Own Semiconductor Powerhouse?
As the U.S.-China trade war rages on, the world’s second-largest economy looks to become less independent on the U.S. by shoring up its own semiconductor industry. Can China become its own semiconductor powerhouse to rival the big U.S. chipmakers? Apparently, this goal is not something new that came as a result of the recent tariff wars with the U.S.
- InvestorPlace
AMD Stock is Taking a Breather, but There’s Still Upside to be Had
Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) is one of the big stories in the semiconductor space. Up more than 70% year-to-date, AMD stock is outpacing the widely followed iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) by a margin of better than 2-to-1.Source: Shutterstock In fact, it's reasonable to call AMD stock a strong stock in a weak place. A weak place because chip stocks have been battered by the U.S.-China trade war. The PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index finished August regaining a bit but still ended the month at a loss while AMD shares were up more than 5%.AMD stock is undoubtedly on an impressive run this year and the shares aren't cheap. They trade at 49.5x forward earnings and at 17.6x book value. That probably doesn't qualify as growth at a reasonable price and makes AMD look richly valued relative to some marquee competitors.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsFor example, Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) isn't cheap at more than 33x forward earnings and more than 10x book value, but those numbers practically scream "cheap" relative to AMD stock.Despite the massive 2019 run-up and valuation considerations, some investors remain bullish on AMD stock. Eagle Point Global Management's Keith Hwang recently said the shares could ascend to $64 over the next 12 to 24 months. That's more than double where the stock opens as investors return from the three-day holiday weekend. Part of that bull thesis is based on AMD having a head start on rival Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) in some core markets, such as new generation cloud servers. * 7 'Boring' Stocks With Exciting Prospects "How does this disruption in the server ecosystem translate into earnings power? We can look back to 2005 when AMD was extremely competitive in the server space," wrote Hwang. "AMD had launched dual-core Opterons, featuring a new class of performance that had never been possible in the past. AMD also had a six-month head start on Intel's dual-core Xeons. Today is eerily similar to 2005, but now Intel is likely two years behind on architecture, and serious doubts exist over whether Intel will ever be competitive again with a leading-edge process node." Calling On CatalystsWhen a stock is already up 70% in eight months and some investors think it can almost double in two years or less, as is the case with AMD stock, catalysts are obviously needed. There are some available with AMD, although investors must note this is not a wide moat name as the company deals with several more than capable competitors."AMD's semicustom processors have been included in the Microsoft Xbox One and Sony PlayStation 4 game consoles," wrote Morningstar sector strategist Abhinav Davuluri in a recent note. "AMD has also sought to re-establish itself in the server market, reaching mid-single-digit unit share exiting 2018. In 2019, AMD has key product launches including new client CPUs, EPYC server CPUs, and Radeon data center GPUs." * 7 Tech Industry Dividend Stocks for Growth and Income Words of caution: any of its rivals can encroach on AMD's markets -- Intel and Nvidia already do -- and AMD simply isn't as financially sturdy as some of its chip competitors. It's actually cash flow negative. This late in the business cycle, investors are prizing quality companies with strong balance sheets. I'm not saying AMD is a financial wreck, but if you're an investor looking for looking for strong balance sheets in technology, there are a plenty of other considerations beyond AMD stock. Bottom Line on AMD StockThere's growth to be had with AMD stock. "The cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry, coupled with AMD's weaker competitive positioning, makes AMD an inherently risky investment despite recent product launches that are on a more level playing field," said Morningstar.The company could easily deliver revenue growth 12% on a compound annual growth rate basis through 2023. However, the shares look close to fairly valued here and expecting them to double, even over 24 months, maybe asking a bit much. Additionally, AMD stock is one in the semiconductor space that probably isn't appropriate for risk-averse investors.Todd Shriber does not own any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * The 8 Worst Stocks to Buy Before the Trade Turmoil Cools Off * 7 'Strong Buy' Stocks to Beat Volatility * 7 Mega-Cap Tech Stocks on a Rebound Now The post AMD Stock is Taking a Breather, but There's Still Upside to be Had appeared first on InvestorPlace.
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China-US Trade War Rhetoric Softens: ETFs in Spotlight
We discuss some ETFs as Sino-US trade tensions subside.
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August ETF Events That Grab Headlines
August witnesses fluctuations in the US-China trade tensions, a gold surge, still-decent U.S. economic data points and maximum chances of a no-deal Brexit. These factors bring a few ETFs in focus.
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Trump Gets Requests for Huawei License: Chip Stocks in Focus
The U.S. Commerce Department is receiving license requests for granting sales to Huawei. In such a scenario, we look at a few chip ETFs which will benefit from a nod in favor.
- InvestorPlace
Should Long-Term Investors Buy AMD Stock in September?
Since 2016, investors in Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) stock have been singing a happy tune. Year-to-date, the Santa Clara-based chip designer is up about 73%. In comparison, the iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) is up 28%. However, investors are now wondering if the inverted yield curve and China worries may affect the AMD share price adversely in the final quarter of the year.Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com In the long term, I believe AMD stock price is going to rise much more. Nonetheless, in the short term, there will likely be headwinds that investors should not necessarily overlook. Thus, I would encourage long-term investors to wait several weeks before buying AMD stock or hedge their positions if they currently own the stock. The Trade War Is a Worry for AMD StockThe U.S.-China trade war is now in its second year. Wall Street is nervous that the prolonged tariff wars will continue to affect chip companies' earnings for the rest of the year. China is the leading consumer of semiconductors, responsible for more than 50% of the global demand.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsAnd U.S. chip companies, including Advanced Micro Devices, lead the world with a combined global market share of nearly 50%. Furthermore, many technology companies, including AMD, either have manufacturing plants or joint ventures in China. Additionally, they typically use Chinese companies in their supply chains. Therefore, investors fear that American chip makers will be among the largest losers of the current trade war. * 7 Tech Industry Dividend Stocks for Growth and Income During the recent second-quarter earnings release on July 30, AMD management highlighted China as a risk. At present, over 30% of revenues come from China.The chip industry is a highly cyclical one. In case of an economic slowdown either in the U.S. or globally, AMD stock and other industry players that fight for market share would be adversely affected. Earlier in August, U.S. and global equity markets went into a tailspin when the U.S. Treasury yield curve briefly inverted as short-term yields traded above those of the long-term variety.We will not know when the next recession has started until we are in it, but we know investors' sentiment can change rather quickly. What's Behind AMD Stock's Latest Earnings?In 2019, the chip company launched a robust range of products which Wall Street and AMD customers like. Yet Advanced Micro Devices has a history of reporting mixed results. When AMD released earnings on July 30, it was a similar story as it cut its full-year guidance.In the earnings report, Wall Street paid attention to two segments: Computing and Graphics and Enterprise, Embedded and Semi-Custom.Advanced Micro Devices stock reported earnings that met expectations amid tariff constraints. The group's net income was $35 million, or 3 cents a share, compared with $116 million, or 11 cents a share, in the year-ago period.The Computing and Graphics segment revenue was $940 million, down 13% year-over-year and up 13% quarter-over-quarter. Computing and Graphics revenue was lower year-over-year primarily due to lower graphics channel sales. The quarter-over-quarter increase was primarily due to higher GPU sales.Enterprise, Embedded and Semi-Custom segment revenue was $591 million, down 12% year-over-year and up 34 percent sequentially. The year-over-year revenue decrease was primarily due to lower semi-custom product revenue. The quarterly increase was driven by higher semi-custom and EPYC processor revenue.Overall many analysts saw the Q2 earnings report as a sign that AMD is executing its strategic plans well. Since late 2014, under the leadership of CEO Lisa Su, revenue has increased and the company has been improving its balance sheet. Its debt has also reduced considerably. Over the next five years, analysts expect AMD to grow earnings by about 30% annually. What Could Derail AMD Stock?AMD's Q3 revenue outlook, however, fell below the Wall Street consensus because of weaker-than-expected console sales. The chip maker's Q3 revenue outlook of $1.75 billion to $1.85 billion was lower than the forecast sales of $1.94 billion.The company said revenue would likely be lower in both its computing and graphics and enterprise, embedded and semi-custom segments. Constantly lacking the "wow" factor in most of their earnings makes the AMD stock price vulnerable to rapid declines. Naturally, this has unnerved many long-term investors. And the markets penalized Advanced Micro Devices stock the day following the earnings release.Wall Street has recently been debating whether chip stocks have reached their 2019 highs in the eyes of investors. For long-term investors, such gyrations in the sector are nothing new. However, it may mean more volatility for Advanced Micro Devices stock in the near term.In the coming weeks, if any chip company issues a trading update that may include a potential weak guidance, then investors could easily become bearish on semiconductor stocks, including AMD.Furthermore, analysts are debating whether Advanced Micro Devices stock is becoming overvalued. For example, its trailing price-to-earnings-growth ratio is about 3.5x. Similarly, AMD stocks's price-to-sales ratio of about 5.6x is also quite high. To put the metric into perspective, the S&P 500's average P/S ratio is 2.1x.In summary, in the final months of the year, there are multiple pieces to the jigsaw puzzle that could affect the the stock price of Advanced Micro Devices. Current AMD Stock PriceWall Street loves turnaround stories. Over the past several years, AMD stock price has gone from $2 in early 2016 to an all-time high of $35.55 on Aug. 9, 2019. Within the past 12 months, the AMD share price is up about 20%.If you are an investor who follows technical charts, AMD stock has strong resistance around $35, a level which it has not been able to pass four times in the past two months. In other words, if and when AMD stock can go and stay over $35, long-term investors should expect another big move up in the share price.However, in the coming weeks, AMD stock is likely to trade within a range of about $27.5-$32.5. If there is a broad market decline, possibly similar to what we have experienced at the end of 2018, AMD stock price can easily move toward $25.Finally, at this point, 12.3% of AMD's shares are shorted. So while there are plenty of traders who have shorted AMD stock, not enough shares of Advanced Micro Devices are being shorted to set the stage for a massive short-squeeze rally. On the contrary, the current level of short selling in AMD stock may be enough to put further selling pressure on the shares.Because AMD is a momentum leader stock, investors should expect sizeable daily swings in the stock price. Technically AMD stock is known to make a series of rallies and consolidations. We can expect this trend to continue in September, too. The Bottom Line on AMD StockI am upbeat on the long-term outlook of AMD stock. Its data center GPU business is likely to gain further momentum in the coming quarters. Also as Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Sony (NYSE:SNE) get ready to launch new gaming consoles that run on AMD chips, long-term investors will get get interested in AMD shares again. However, China trade issues can adversely affect next quarter's numbers even more than initially expected.If you already own Advanced Micro Devices stock, you might want to stay the course and hold onto your position. That said, if you are worried about short-term profit taking, then within the parameters of your portfolio allocation and risk/return profile, you may consider placing a stop loss at about 3%-5% below the current price point. This strategy books the paper profits you have already made from AMD stock.If you are an experienced investor in the options market, you may also consider using a Sept 20 expiry at-the-money covered call strategy. In that case, you may for example buy 100 shares of AMD at a limit price of $30 and sell an AMD Sept 20 $30 call option, which currently trades at $1.65.The $30 option offers some downside protection in case of volatility and a decline of the AMD stock price. It would also enable investors to participate in a potential up move. This call option would stop trading on Sept 20 and expire on Sept 21.I find AMD stock to be a buy candidate, especially as its price dips below $30. In a few years, I'd expect the shares to reach $40.As of this writing, Tezcan Gecgil did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Tech Industry Dividend Stocks for Growth and Income * 7 Stocks the Insiders Are Buying on Sale * 7 of the Worst Stocks on Wall Street The post Should Long-Term Investors Buy AMD Stock in September? appeared first on InvestorPlace.
- InvestorPlace
7 of Worst ETFs — Boot These From Your Portfolio Right Now
On a historical basis, August usually isn't a good month for stocks, but August 2019 could enter rarefied air as one of the worst months on record for stocks. As of Friday, Aug. 23, the S&P 500 was down more than 5% month-to-date. It's popped a bit since then, but the average August decline for the benchmark U.S. equity gauge over the past 20 years is a mere 0.10%.With just a week left in August, don't expect a significant reversal of fortune, especially not when President Trump's anti-China rhetoric is reaching new heights. China isn't innocent in this deal, either. Beijing is promising to boost tariffs on American-made products and that gambit isn't paying dividends for Chinese markets, either.In this piece, we're looking at some of the worst ETFs and there are plenty of China offenders. Month-to-date, the iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:FXI), one of the largest China funds trading in the U.S., is off 9.05%, easily putting it in "worst ETF" territory.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 10 Companies Using AI to Grow Investors do not need to avoid equities altogether, but this is an environment that rewards defense and many of the worst ETFs aren't that. Here are some of the ETFs to avoid over the near term or considering removing from your portfolio before larger losses mount. Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.13% per year, or $13 on a $10,000 investment.This is not an example of picking on a particular ETF. With the market declining due to trade tensions and technology being the largest sector weight in the S&P 500, any fund tracking the sector could be in "worst ETF" territory over the near term. The Technology Select Sector SPDR (NYSEARCA:XLK) just happens to be the largest ETF dedicated to tech stocks.Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), XLK's second-largest holding, epitomizes the headwinds facing XLK and rival funds in an environment where the U.S. and China are at odds. President Trump can rally his base by demanding American tech companies bring operations back to the U.S. and reduce dependence on China, but making that effort actually come to life is improbable. Regarding Apple, for every $10 in revenue it generates, China accounts for $2."Companies like Apple rely on contract manufacturers in China for many reasons," reports Barron's. "The cost and abundance of labor is one reason, but so is capacity and manufacturing sophistication. As much as the White House might like companies like Apple to extricate themselves from China, what he is asking would be both almost impossible and economically disastrous." iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.19%As is the case with XLK above, the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM) is not being picked on here. IWM is joined in the worst ETF club at the moment by a slew of its small-cap rivals. I'm simply including IWM here because with more than $39.2 billion in assets under management, it is the largest small-cap ETF.Typically, international trade tensions would actually be an impetus for embracing domestic small caps because these companies generate the bulk of their revenue within the U.S. Said another way, the August struggles of IWM and rival small-cap funds are not only disappointing, but concerning. * 7 "Boring" Stocks With Exciting Prospects The worst ETF status of standard small-cap funds like IWM can be attributed to the funds' large weights to the financial services sector. That group has been punished by declining interest rates and smaller financial companies are even more vulnerable to that trend than their large-cap brethren. Making matters worse for small-cap funds is that if markets continue flailing, the Federal Reserve is likely to deploy more rate cuts, so even if large caps bounce back, smaller stocks could continue languishing. SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.35%The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSEARCA:XRT) is down almost 10% this month. Alone, that's a qualifier for worst ETF status, but long-term retail trends do not bode well for XRT. Put simply, XRT has too much exposure to struggling brick-and-mortar retailers and not enough to hot corner of retail: e-commerce and online.I'm not saying Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is going to put every brick-and-mortar retailer out of business, but the expected growth of online retail is a drag on XRT and its worst ETF status is only cemented by large exposure to struggling department store operators. A recent spate of earnings reports confirm that department and outlet stores are in under significant pressure."Second-quarter results in this channel still fell short for many," said Citigroup analyst Paul Lejuez in a recent note. The strong U.S. consumer "underscores that the pressure in this channel is structural." VanEck Vectors Gaming ETF (BJK)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.66%The VanEck Vectors Gaming ETF (NYSEARCA:BJK) isn't the biggest industry fund on the market, but it bears noting in this conversation because the U.S. and China combine for about 59% of the fund's geographic weight. What that means is significant exposure to Macau, the world's largest gaming mecca and that equates to vulnerabilities for this fund because the largest US-based casino companies are also among the largest Macau operators.Macau is being pinched on multiple fronts, including the US/China trade war and the now long-running protests in Hong Kong, which have hampered travel to the gambling hub. If China's economy noticeably slows, that will keep VIPs out of Macau, confirming BJK as a worst ETF. * Airline Stocks: What's Keeping Them From Taking Off? Making matters worse is that the domestic regional operators found in this fund, although they have no China exposure, are also being punished. That could portend some value with BJK down the road as markets reassess certain casino firms, but now isn't the time to be rushing into this fund. First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund (FXZ)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.64%The materials sector is one of the smallest weights in the S&P 500, but it has been one of the biggest losers this month. Just look at the First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund (NYSEARCA:FXZ), which is one of August's worst ETFs with a loss of 12%.Several marquee companies in this sector are already talking about the ill effects the trade war will have on earnings and revenue, making FXZ and other materials highly undesirable over the near-term. China is just too important of a customer for many American chemicals and plastics producers to make FXZ a "buy" today.Further hindering FXZ is its status a mid-cap ETF at a time when smaller stocks are out of favor. Investors looking for glimmers of hope with materials stocks will enjoy knowing that hedge funds are overweight the sector, but if FXZ is on your shopping list, keep it there because patience will likely lead to better prices here. iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF (SOXX)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.46%Trade wars spell trouble for tech stocks, but semiconductor names are among the most vulnerable. That is much is proven by the iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX), which is lower by more than 9% this month. SOXX, which tracks the PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index, has a standard deviation of 22.31% and has displayed considerable sensitivity to trade-related headlines, so its worst ETF status could be shed in short order. Properly timing that move is another matter."Chipmakers have been similarly volatile because of the trade war. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index dropped 3.6% on Friday, and every member of the benchmark industry index was in negative territory," according to Bloomberg. * 15 Cybersecurity Stocks to Watch as the Industry Heats Up Many SOXX components are suppliers to the controversial Chinese telecom firm Huawei. That company is blacklisted by U.S. regulators, a move that has stirred semiconductor companies into action with executives pleading with the White House to relax some of the Huawei restrictions. There's the catalyst to get SOXX out of worst ETF territory, but no one knows when it's coming. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VFK)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.09%The Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK) is performing mostly inline with the S&P 500 this month and while expectations are running high that central banks across Europe are poised to spring into action, that may be a case of too little too late to help many of the region's long-slumbering economies.Adding to VGK as a worst ETF contender is that European stocks are basically value plays and value is mostly out of style. Developed Europe has been inexpensive relative to the U.S. for years and global investors have hardly seemed to care."According to FactSet data, the Stoxx Europe 600 was trading at 14 times forecast earnings, compared to the S&P 500's 17 times, which represent a wider gap than its long-term average over the past decade," reports ETF Trends.Other reasons VGK is a near-term avoid: the specter of a hard Brexit (the UK is the ETF's largest country weight), a recession in Germany and more political volatility in Italy.Todd Shriber does not own any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 10 Companies Using AI to Grow * The 10 Biggest Winners From Second-Quarter Earnings * 7 Marijuana Penny Stocks to Consider for Those Who Can Handle Risk The post 7 of Worst ETFs -- Boot These From Your Portfolio Right Now appeared first on InvestorPlace.
