Thematic Investing Ideas to Boost Your Portfolio Returns in Q4

0
268


Thematic investing continues to increasingly grab investors’ attention. The space is attracting retail and younger investors. Thematic ETFs do not invest in an entire market or single sector but rather in concepts, themes or trends. They allow investors to park their money in innovative industries and technologies as well as smaller companies that traditional GICS sectors do not include, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) report. 

– Zacks

Moreover, after witnessing a slump in the market in September, investors are seeking investing opportunities that can offer decent returns. All the broad market indices exited September in the red. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 4.3%. Moreover, the S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq composite declined 4.8% and 5.3%, respectively.

Against this backdrop, let’s take a look at some of the themes that are currently trending in the investment world:

Clean Energy ETFs

Alternative energy includes any energy source that acts as a replacement for conventional and non-renewable fossil fuel. This space has been in the spotlight of late for many reasons. Increasingly, large corporations are making or promising investments to gain a carbon-neutral status.

Favorable government initiatives and federal policies, which include tax incentives to encourage installation, accelerated global market growth for clean energy in 2020. Moreover, despite turbulences stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, both solar and wind energies have been dominating the global renewable space of late.

President Joe Biden is expected to talk about climate emergencies on global platforms and ensure that the United States will achieve 100% clean energy economy and net-zero emissions, at least by 2050. Moreover, he pledged to reduce the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to half by 2030 as stated in a Yahoo Finance article.

Thus, investors can consider the following ETFs, such as iShares Global Clean Energy ETF ICLN, Invesco Solar ETF  TAN,  First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy ETF QCLN and ALPS Clean Energy ETF  (ACES) (read: 5 Top-Ranked ETFs to Buy on the Dip).

Digital Payment ETFs

The world is gradually moving toward digitization that is increasing the dominance of technology in the financial sector. A Market Data Forecast (MDF) report also highlights the growing opportunities in the global financial technology market, which is expected to see a CAGR of 23.4% between 2021 and 2026. According to the report, the fintech space is expected to reach a market value of around $324 billion by 2026.

Along with increased interest in online shopping, customers are resorting to digital payments to clear their bills. At the same time, merchants and utility providers are increasingly advocating the same.

In such a scenario, investors can take a look at  the ETFMG Prime Mobile Payments ETF  IPAYEcofin Digital Payments Infrastructure Fund  TPAY and  Global X FinTech ETF  (FINX) (read:  A Comprehensive Guide to Fintech ETFs).

AI, Robotics & Cyber Security ETFs

AI is fast changing the business landscape by expanding opportunities, driving revenues and enhancing efficiencies. It helps enhance almost everything including advertising, healthcare, robotics, retail, video streaming, gaming and urban development.

We are living in an era, largely dominated by AI applications and technological advancements. Amid the coronavirus crisis, demand for online services increased, which in turn, led to the dominance of AI. Globally, the AI market is estimated to see a CAGR of 29%, rising from $42.8 billion in 2019 to $152.9 billion in 2023, according to an Analytics Insight article.

The robotics market is flooded with opportunities as robots are being used for jobs, such as sanitizing hospitals, homes and workplaces along with monitoring, surveying, handling, and delivering food and medicines.

However, increasing adoption of these technologies is exposing businesses, governments and organizations to cyber risks. Given the severity of the situation, Cybersecurity Ventures expects the worldwide expenditure on cybersecurity to surpass $1 trillion cumulatively from 2017 through 2021.

Per a Grand View Research report, the global cybersecurity market is expected to reach worth $241.1 billion, witnessing a CAGR of 11% from 2019 to 2025. Accordingly, our investors can consider  Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF  BOTZFirst Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF  ROBTROBO Global Robotics & Automation ETF  ROBOiShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Multisector ETF  (IRBO),  First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR) and  ETFMG Prime Cyber Security ETF  (HACK) (read: 5 ETFs to Gain on Cisco’s 4-Year Growth Outlook).

Cloud Computing ETFs

Cloud computing and storage are expected to stay in vogue during 2021. The space received quite a push amid the coronavirus outbreak with a vast population working from home across the globe. Considering the accelerated coronavirus vaccine rollout globally, demand for cloud computing is set to stay robust even after the pandemic dies down.

It is worth knowing here that cloud computing and storage found applications in social networking, messaging apps and on streaming services. It empowered video conferencing, gaming, e-commerce shopping, remote project collaboration, online classes, editing, etc. Cloud computing is also supporting organizations in remotely processing a lot of information plus developing and running key applications as well as services.

Thus, investors can consider First Trust Cloud Computing ETF SKYY, Global X Cloud Computing ETF CLOU and WisdomTree Cloud Computing ETF  (WCLD) (read: Cloud Computing ETFs Looking Great: Let’s Explore).

Zacks Names “Single Best Pick to Double”

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

You know this company from its past glory days, but few would expect that it’s poised for a monster turnaround. Fresh from a successful repositioning and flush with A-list celeb endorsements, it could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in a little more than 9 months and Nvidia which boomed +175.9% in one year.

Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>

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
 
Invesco Solar ETF (TAN): ETF Research Reports
 
iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN): ETF Research Reports
 
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy ETF (QCLN): ETF Research Reports
 
First Trust Cloud Computing ETF (SKYY): ETF Research Reports
 
ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO): ETF Research Reports
 
Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ): ETF Research Reports
 
ETFMG Prime Mobile Payments ETF (IPAY): ETF Research Reports
 
First Trust NASDAQ Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT): ETF Research Reports
 
Ecofin Digital Payments Infrastructure Fund (TPAY): ETF Research Reports
 
Global X Cloud Computing ETF (CLOU): ETF Research Reports
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research



Source link