For investors captivated by the world of gaming, VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ESPO) may be of interest for those who are looking to score in the market, explains Jim Woods, editor of The Deep Woods.
ESPO is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the overall performance of companies involved in video game development, esports and related hardware and software. The fund’s portfolio is made up of stocks related to video gaming and esports.
To be eligible, these stocks must generate at least half of their revenue from relevant industries, such as those mentioned above, and streaming services as well.
For investors who prefer the esports side of the gaming world, ESPO also holds companies that are involved in esports events, including league operators.
This gaming-focused ETF has a global reach, as its primary focus is on well-known game developers and hardware companies from the United States, Japan, China and Korea. ESPO has an expense ratio of 0.55% and a yield of 0.14%. It has amassed $567.61 million in assets under management.
As this ETF is focused on all things related to the gaming and esports industries, 77.21% of its portfolio is made up of holdings in the Communications Services sector. 17.72% of the portfolio is in the Technology sector.
Its top five holdings include NVIDIA (NVDA), 8.22%; Tencent Holdings Ltd. (00700), 8.02%; Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), 6.77%; Nintendo Co. Ltd. (7974), 6.56%; and Sea Ltd. ADR (Singapore: SE), 6.28%.
The fund’s ticker, ESPO, also may conjure up recollections for many investors of the nickname for NHL Hockey Hall of Fame center Phil Esposito, a teammate with the great defenseman Bobby Orr in the 1970s.
They won two Stanley Cup Championships together with the Boston Bruins in 1970 and 1972. Esposito, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984, is sixth in NHL career goals, with 717, and 10th in points (goals and assists), notching 1,590.
In sum, VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF is a strong competitor in the Global Video Games and Esports segment. With a worldwide reach and portfolio packed with gaming-related holdings, it may be worth considering for investors ready to take a deeper plunge into the world of virtual games and esports.
However, this kind of ETF may not be appropriate for all portfolios. Thus, interested investors always should conduct their due diligence and decide whether the fund is suitable for their investing goals.
