Monday, October 21, 2013

The World Has Been Crying Out for a Robotics ETF, Some Guys I'm Not Familiar With Answer That Cry (ROBO)

As best as I can gather the ETF's sponsor is best known for their ETF-In-A-Box™ concept which is sold to individual investment managers.
Although the author of the below piece doesn't use it, the name is trademarked and should have the superscript i.e. Rob-Stox.

From Index Universe:
World’s 1st Robotics ETF Goes Live Tues
Exchange Traded Concepts (ETC), the Okla.-based firm that helps other companies bring their ETF ideas to market, tomorrow is launching a fund targeting the growing global robotics industry that will have its primary listing on the Nasdaq under the catchy symbol “ROBO.”
 
The Robo-Stox Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO) is a global tactical play on the robotics and automation industry, and will based on the Robo-Stox Global Robotics and Automation Index, according to recent regulatory paperwork detailing the fund. It will have an annual expense ratio of 0.95 percent, or $95 for each $10,000 invested.

The 77-constituent index holds companies whose main businesses are the technologies, services or devices that contribute to any type of robot, robotic action or automation system in realms including health care, manufacturing and military applications. It even has a few names in the rapidly expanding world of 3D printing.

ROBO is vaguely comparable to the $12.4 billion Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK | A-81) and the $569 million iShares Global Tech ETF (IXN | B-86). Still, the comparison is limited, as ROBO is the first ETF of its kind to focus so tightly on robotics and automation....MORE
HT: Barron's Focus on Funds blog.

The mention that the ETF will own some 3D printing companies reminds us that there is no 3D ETF.
The largest weighting of a 3D printing co. is 3.38 percent in the S&P 400 Midcap Growth Fund.
 I'll make inquiries as to whether the world is crying out for a triple leveraged exchange traded inverse note payable at the office of a San Miguelito, Panama law firm.
Before the Bearer Shares rules change.