For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 11, 2015 – 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 the ProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (UVXY), Direxion Daily Small Cap Bull & Bear 3x Shares (TNA), ProShares Ultra S&P500 ETF (SSO), Daily Gold Miners Bull 3x shares (NUGT) and ProShares UltraPro S&P500 ETF (UPRO).
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:
Most Heavily Traded Leveraged ETFs, Year to Date
Leveraged ETFs have gained immense popularity in recent months owing to the high levels of volatility in the stock markets. These products try to magnify the returns of the underlying index with the leverage factor of 2x or 3x on a daily basis by employing various investment strategies such as swaps, futures contracts and other derivative instruments (read: Understanding Leveraged ETFs).
Due to their compounding effect, investors can enjoy higher returns in a very short period of time provided the trend remains a friend. However, these funds run the risk of huge losses compared to traditional funds in fluctuating or seesawing markets. Further, their performances could vary significantly from the actual performance of their underlying index over a longer period when compared to a shorter period (such as, weeks or months).
Despite this drawback, investors jumped into these products for quick turns. We have highlighted 10 leveraged ETFs that have seen massive trading so far this year.
ost of these ETFs have delivered negative returns from a year-to-date look, yet have been investors’ darlings with abnormal returns piled up in a shorter period or when the trend favored a specific corner of the world.
ProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (UVXY)
Leveraged Factor: 2x
Benchmark Index: S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index
YTD Volume: 91.4 billion
This product provides two times (2x) exposure to the daily performance of the S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index, which reflects implied volatility of the S&P 500 Index at various points along the volatility forward curve. It offers a daily rolling long position in the first and second months VIX futures contracts. The ETF has amassed about $438.4 million in its asset base while charges 95 bps in fees per year from investors. It is the most heavily traded ETF so far this year, exchanging a total of 91.4 billion shares. The fund has lost 48.7% on a year-to-date timeframe (read: Leveraged Volatility ETFs Gain Over 100% from Global Rout).
Direxion Daily Small Cap Bull & Bear 3x Shares (TNA)
Leveraged Factor: 3x
Benchmark Index: Russell 2000 Index
YTD Volume: 80.8 billion
This product provides triple leveraged play to the small cap Russell 2000 Index, charging 95 bps in fees and expenses. It has been able to manage $875.4 million in its asset base with year-to-date trading volume of 80.8 billion shares. TNA is down 14% so far this year.
ProShares Ultra S&P500 ETF (SSO)
Leveraged Factor: 2x
Benchmark Index: S&P 500 Index
YTD Volume: 65.3 billion
This is the most popular and liquid ETF in the leveraged space with AUM of $1.7 billion. The fund seeks to deliver twice the return of the S&P 500 Index, charging investors 0.89% in expense ratio. It has seen solid trading volumes of more than 65 billion so far this year and is down 8.3% (read: 10-Minute Guide to 10 Most Popular Leveraged ETFs).
Daily Gold Miners Bull 3x shares (NUGT)
Leveraged Factor: 3x
Benchmark Index: NYSE Arca GoldMiners Index
YTD Volume: 35.7 billion
This product seeks to deliver thrice the daily performance of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, which consists of firms that operate globally in both developed and emerging markets, and are involved primarily in the exploration and production of gold. It is rich in AUM of $561 million and has seen solid trading of 35.7 billion shares so far in the year. Expense ratio comes in at 0.95%. The fund has delivered negative returns of 73.7% year to date (read: Gold Mining ETFs Benefit Most from Fed Minutes).
ProShares UltraPro S&P500 ETF (UPRO)
Leveraged Factor: 3x
Benchmark Index: S&P 500 Index
YTD Volume: 35.5 billion
This product also tracks the S&P 500 index, but offers thrice the returns of the daily performance with a bit higher expense ratio (by 6 bps) than that of SSO. It has AUM of $872.2 million and year-to-date trading volume of 35.5 billion. UPRO is down over 14.5% so far this year.
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 >>
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.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today. Find out What is happening in the stock market today on zacks.com.
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
PRO-ULT VIX STF (UVXY): ETF Research Reports
DIRX-SC BULL 3X (TNA): ETF Research Reports
PRO-ULTR S&P500 (SSO): ETF Research Reports
DIR-D GM BL 3X (NUGT): ETF Research Reports
PRO-ULT S&P500 (UPRO): ETF Research Reports
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.