Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

This Electric Vehicle ETF Could Help Drive Green Portfolio Growth

Published 09/23/2020, 09:53 AM
Updated 09/02/2020, 02:05 AM

Electric vehicles are on track to disrupt the automobile industry in this new decade. The 'green' momentum is buoying shares in a broad range of EV and alternative-energy companies. As investors race to find the next EV leaders in the auto industry, one of the most significant spaces in the global economy, many are betting on Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA).

Shares of the Palo Alto, California-based electric carmaker have rocketed 407% year-to-date and its market capitalization currently stands at an astonishing $395.3 billion, a figure greater than the combined valuations of the "big three" US auto manufacturers, Fiat Chrysler (NYSE:FCAU), Ford (NYSE:F) and General Motors (NYSE:GM), which are currently valued at $24.15, $26.9 and $42.1 billion, respectively.

Tesla Weekly

Further reflecting the gap between Tesla and the greater US auto industry, the Dow Jones US Automobiles index rose around 151% in 2020.

Dow Jones Automobile Index Weekly

Here's a closer look at the EV space, moving beyond Tesla, and an exchange-traded fund (ETF) for investors seeking exposure to the broader segment:

Demand Growth Rising Overall

The rising importance of clean energy is one of the main catalysts driving interest in EVs and other alternative energy sources. In fact, the European Union forecasts:

"Electric mobility could help the EU to achieve its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, noise and dependence on oil."

Beginning in 2017, EV sales exceeded one million and by 2019, they reached 2.1 million, accounting "for 2.6% of global car sales." According to The International Council on Clean Transportation, 44% of "world's EVs are in just 25 markets in China, Europe, Japan, [and the] US.”

A report released July 17, 2020 by McKinsey shows that in 2019, around 1.2 million EV units were sold in China, a 3% year-over-year increase, while sales in Europe hit 590,000, a 44% year-over-year increase. Still, EV sales patterns have differed by region and the US saw just 320,000 EV units sold in 2019, a 12% decline year-over-year.

This is perhaps even more notable since, behind China, the US is the world's second-largest market in terms of vehicle sales and production. Despite this, the widespread demand for clean energy is driving overall growth for EVs, making this an attractive market for investors.

Companies Investors Are Watching

In addition to manufacturers, other types of companies are important to the developing electric vehicle market. Autonomous vehicle (AV) software and hardware developers, battery manufacturers, lithium and cobalt companies, as well as semiconductor firms are also playing an integral role.

2020 has seen even small companies, many of which have little or even no revenue, make public debuts and headlines, especially in the US, including names like Nikola (NASDAQ:NKLA), Nio (NYSE:NIO), Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) and Workhorse Group (NASDAQ:WKHS).

There are also a number of EV companies whose prices are under $5 and we urge caution with these penny stocks as they have the potential to be volatile. Reading the latest SEC filings by these firms can provide insight into proposed business models and associated risks.

On the other hand, many well-established auto industry names are moving toward EV production. For example, Volvo (OTC:VLVLY) has "the highest share of electric vehicles at 31%, all of which were plug-in hybrid electric vehicles" in Europe. The EV-growth list also includes Daimler (OTC:DMLRY), Hyundai Motor (OTC:HYMLF) and Volkswagen (OTC:VWAGY), among others.

Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF

  • Current price: $16.70
  • 52-week range: $9.32 - 17.85
  • Dividend yield: 0.59%
  • Expense ratio: 0.68% per year or $68 on a $10,000 investment

The Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (NASDAQ:DRIV) provides exposure to firms involved in various aspects of the development of EVs, autonomous vehicle technology, lithium batteries and critical EV materials such as lithium and cobalt.

DRIV Weekly

DRIV, which has 75 holdings, tracks the Solactive Autonomous & Electric Vehicles index. Consumer Discretionary (36.3%), Information Technology (33.4%) and Materials (12.4%) are the top three sectors.

From a “geographic” point of view, companies from the US top the list (62.3%), followed by Japan (8.0%), South Korea (4.6%), China (4.3%) and Germany (4.0%).

The top ten companies comprise close to 30% of net assets, which stand around $48 million. Tesla, NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) and Toyota (NYSE:TM) head the list of holdings.

Since the beginning of the year, the fund has grown by more than 12%. It reached a new record high of $17.85 on Sept. 2.

We recently highlighted how Tesla’s and Apple’s recent stock splits might have marked a possible short-term top in many high tech names, including those in the EV space. Therefore, investors should pay attention to short-term momentum indicators and proceed with caution. We believe a decline below the $15 level would make this fund more attractive.

Bottom Line

A wide range of consumers and investors worldwide are closely watching the EV space. Therefore, we can expect to hear more about shares of publicly held companies and exchange traded funds in the sector. Several other ETFs in this arena to consider include:

  • ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (NYSE:ARKQ) (covered here)
  • First Trust NASDAQ Global Auto Index Fund (NASDAQ:CARZ)
  • Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (NYSE:LIT)
  • iShares Self-Driving EV and Tech ETF (NYSE:IDRV)
  • SPDR S&P Kensho Smart Mobility ETF (NYSE:HAIL)

Latest comments

Tezcan hanim, thank you, very helpful..
Excellent research.
Thank you Tezcan, this is an important trend.
We shall see if Tesla, with it's entire fleet, can ever match the sales of the Ford F-150 alone (just under a million new deliveries per year both in 2018 and 2019). At 367,000 total entire fleet deliveries in 2019, Tesla as a company delivered about 1/3 of the total Ford F150 model pickup deliveries, the number one selling model in the United States 42 years in a row.  The F150 will be an ETV in 2022.  Tesla likely will always be around making ETVs, but you may see a huge crash in Tesla share prices in the coming years, a bear feast. The huge speculation bubble on Tesla may have a huge downside "POP."
On the green issue, batteries are charges via the national grid, and, as of 2019, in the USA, only 18% of the electricity was produced by green means. What do I not understand?
Only that it will be the future before you know it. Dinosaur juice is finite
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.