Advertisement
Canada markets closed
  • S&P/TSX

    22,167.03
    +59.95 (+0.27%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,254.35
    +5.86 (+0.11%)
     
  • DOW

    39,807.37
    +47.29 (+0.12%)
     
  • CAD/USD

    0.7387
    +0.0015 (+0.20%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    83.11
    +1.76 (+2.16%)
     
  • Bitcoin CAD

    95,741.88
    +2,366.14 (+2.53%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,254.80
    +42.10 (+1.90%)
     
  • RUSSELL 2000

    2,124.55
    +10.20 (+0.48%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.2060
    +0.0100 (+0.24%)
     
  • NASDAQ futures

    18,465.00
    -38.75 (-0.21%)
     
  • VOLATILITY

    13.01
    +0.23 (+1.80%)
     
  • FTSE

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,168.07
    -594.66 (-1.46%)
     
  • CAD/EUR

    0.6843
    +0.0038 (+0.56%)
     

The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: SNSR, IGN, RYT, PSCT and XWEB

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 23, 2018 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Global X Internet of Things Thematic ETF SNSR, iShares North American Tech-Multimedia Networking ETF IGN, Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF RYT, PowerShares S&P SmallCap Information Technology Portfolio PSCT and SPDR S&P Internet ETF XWEB.

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

Forget FAANGs: Invest in These Tech ETFs Instead

The so-called FAANG stocks — Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Alphabet — which were investors darling over the past decade, have seen terrible trading in the past six weeks. In fact, each of the five stocks has slipped into a bear territory from their peaks.

ADVERTISEMENT

Facebook led the way among the group tumbling 40.6%, followed by declines of 39.1% for Netflix, 28.9% for Amazon, 24% for Apple and 22% for Alphabet. Collectively, these stocks have lost nearly $1.02 trillion in value since hitting their respective 52-week highs (read: FAANGs Slip to Bear Market: What Lies Ahead for ETFs?).

What Happened?

The decline came following the weaker-than-expected earnings results and a disappointing outlook. Facebook has been hit hard by its slowing user growth. The company reported 9% and 10% year-over-year growth in daily and monthly active users, respectively, in the third quarter. This represents a fall from 11% growth for both users seen in the second quarter. The stock is also declining on a raft of negative publicity surrounding its handling of foreign influence on the 2016 election.

Notably, Facebook hit its lowest level  since February 2017 on Nov 19 and is on track to finish the third straight month in the red, which would mark the longest quarterly losing streak since 2013 (read: ETFs to Watch Post Facebook's Mixed Q3 Results).

Amazon has been on a wild ride after issuing soft guidance for the holiday quarter, while Apple has declined on the Wall Street report that the iPhone maker has slashed production of its three new iPhone models — XR, XS and XS Max — introduced in September. Meanwhile, Netflix and Alphabet slid with the rest of the FAANG stocks. In fact, shares of GOOGL slid to the bear market territory for the first time in seven years.

The turbulence was also triggered by global growth worries resulting from ongoing trade tensions, geopolitical uncertainty, slowing economic growth in China and emerging markets.

Solid Sector Outlook

The long-term outlook for the sector remained promising given the twin tailwinds of Trump’s tax reform plan and a rising interest rate scenario. This is because tech titans hoard huge cash overseas and are poised to benefit the most from reduced tax rates. These companies are sitting on a huge cash pile and are in a position to increase payouts to their shareholders. Additionally, the sector’s cyclical nature will allow it to perform well in a maturing economic cycle.

The emergence of cutting-edge technology such as cloud, Internet of Things, autonomous cars, gaming, wearables, VR headsets, drones, virtual reality devices, artificial intelligence and other advanced information technologies are acting as catalysts (see: all the Technology ETFs here).

Further, holiday optimism is expected to drive these stocks higher on hopes of a digital shopping spree. According to the Consumer Technology Association, U.S. technology spending during the 2018 holiday season (October–December) is expected to reach a record $96.1 billion, up 3.4% from last year. Around 164 million U.S. adults (66%) plan to purchase a tech product as a gift this year — on par with 2017. Consumers will spend a record amount on emerging technology such as smart speakers, smart home devices and smartwatches.

Given this, investors should move on to the tech ETFs that employ some unique/smart approach or have less exposure to the big players. Below, we have highlighted some of these and could be excellent bets on bullish industry fundamentals going into the holiday season.

Global X Internet of Things Thematic ETF

This fund follows the Indxx Global Internet of Things Thematic Index and provides exposure to the companies that stand to benefit from the broader adoption of the Internet of Things. Holding 49 stocks, it is moderately concentrated across components with each holding less than 8.5% of assets. The product has accumulated $79.8 million in AUM and sees average daily volume of around 30,000 shares. Expense ratio comes in at 0.68%.

iShares North American Tech-Multimedia Networking ETF

This ETF provides concentrated exposure to domestic multimedia networking securities by tracking the S&P North American Technology-Multimedia Networking Index. It holds 23 securities in its basket with each accounting for less than 9.5% share. The product has accumulated $49.7 million in its asset base while seeing a lower volume of around 17,000 shares a day. Expense ratio comes in at 0.47%. The fund carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy) with a High risk outlook.

Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF

This ETF offers equal-weight exposure to 67 tech firms by tracking the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index Information Technology Index. Each firm account for less than 2% share in the basket. It has amassed $1.5 billion in its asset base while trades in moderate volume of around 89,000 shares. The fund charges 40 basis points (bps) in fees per year and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a Medium risk outlook.

PowerShares S&P SmallCap Information Technology Portfolio

This fund offers exposure to the small-cap segment of the technology sector by tracking the S&P SmallCap 600 Capped Information Technology Index. It has managed $362 million in its asset base and trades in light average daily volume of about 21,000 shares. The ETF charges 29 bps in fees per year from investors. Holding 90 securities in its basket, the product is well spread across securities with each holding no more than 4.11% share. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a High risk outlook.

SPDR S&P Internet ETF

This product targets the Internet corner of the broad tech space and tracks the S&P Internet Select Industry Index. It holds 45 stocks in its basket with an equal-weight exposure of around 3%. Internet & direct marketing retail takes the largest share at 41.4%, while interactive media & services and internet services & infrastructure make up for 36.8% and 21.8%, respectively. The ETF has accumulated $47.4 million in its asset base and charges 35 bps in fees from investors. It trades in a light volume of around 15,000 shares a day on average and carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2.

Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?

Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >>

About Zacks Equity Research

Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.

Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News

Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has nearly tripled the market from 1988 through 2015. Its average gain has been a stellar +26% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>.

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacksresearch

Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts

Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.

Media Contact

Zacks Investment Research

800-767-3771 ext. 9339

support@zacks.com

https://www.zacks.com/

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.


Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
GLBL-X IOT ETF (SNSR): ETF Research Reports
 
ISHARS-NA TEC-M (IGN): ETF Research Reports
 
SPDR-SP INTRNT (XWEB): ETF Research Reports
 
GUGG-SP5 EW TEC (RYT): ETF Research Reports
 
PWRSH-SP SC IT (PSCT): ETF Research Reports
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.