Proprietary Data Insights Financial Pros’ Top Uranium & Nuclear Power ETF Searches in the Last Month
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The ETF Going Nuclear |
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Nuclear power is controversial. Proponents highlight the lack of environmental impact, provided the waste is stored correctly. Opponents say you can’t ignore the waste, or Fukushima, Chornobyl, Three-Mile Island…you get the picture. But with oil prices homing in on $100 a barrel, everyone’s attention falls to the alternatives, wherever they may be. Financial pros are no exception, with search volume for uranium and nuclear power-related ETFs surging in the last two weeks. We looked at one of the top ETFs in the group to see if this is the best way to play plutonium. Key Facts About URA
Nuclear power requires uranium, a rare material mined from the earth. URA targets companies involved in the mining and production of nuclear components. This includes companies like Cameco, Sprott, and Uranium Energy Corp. You probably noticed a lot of odd ticker symbols in the list above. Most publicly traded companies in the Uranium sector reside in Canada, with Australia coming in second. The U.S. actually just makes the top 5. Performance We were surprised to see the performance from the ETF. Apparently, uranium and nuclear power companies have done exceptionally well over the last five years. What’s interesting is that if you go back too far, the fund’s performance deteriorates dramatically. That’s because from its inception until around 2017, the fund sank like a stone. Then again, so did stocks in the sector. Competition We pulled ETFs related to nuclear and uranium and broader materials and resources to give us a good sense of where URA stands.
There was a wide disparity in performance amongst the different ETFs. Nuclear itself has done incredibly well while natural resources and materials floundered. Clearly, institutional money is betting big on the nuclear space. Note: URNM is a 3-year return that’s inflated over what we’d expect it to be had it existed for at least five years.
Our Opinion 10/10 Given the options, we like URA because it has a longer history, a lower expense ratio, and a larger set of holdings than its peers. Plus, it’s got the best liquidity, making it ideal for both retail and institutional investors. |
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