IXSE Offers Access to Growth Potential of India without Government Ownership
Launch Emphasizes Firm’s Conviction Behind Investing in Non-State-Owned Enterprises in Emerging Markets
NEW YORK, April 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WisdomTree (NASDAQ: WETF), an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) and exchange-traded product (“ETP”) sponsor and asset manager, today announced the launch of the WisdomTree India ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund (IXSE) on the NYSE Arca. IXSE seeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree India ex-State-Owned Enterprises Index and has an expense ratio of 0.58%.
Current Investment Opportunity in India
India is one of the world’s largest and most easily accessible economies, forecasted to grow over 7% for the foreseeable future. Over the last five years, more than one-third of large-cap companies in India increased their book value by over 50% and nearly three-fifths of small-cap firms generated profits. This growth is exceptional even by emerging market standards.1
In addition, there have been significant fundamental and structural changes that have taken place in India’s economy over the last few years including financial reforms, socioeconomic changes and infrastructure developments. The fast pace of reform throughout India has made it easier for many firms to piggy-back on the tailwinds provided by the significant growth of the overall economy.
As the world’s largest democracy faces an upcoming election, WisdomTree believes that irrespective of who comes to power, the trajectory for India’s growth is set for multiple years and possibly decades to come.
Why Exclude State-Owned Companies?
Similar to the WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund (XSOE) and the WisdomTree China ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund (CXSE), IXSE provides exposure to a more targeted group of equities by investing in companies incorporated and traded in India and excluding common stocks of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), defined as companies with more than 20% government ownership.
“We believe governments, particularly in emerging markets, may not always be the best stewards of capital, and as a result, government-owned companies might be influenced by a broader set of interests beyond generating profits for shareholders. This can often lead to inefficiencies and can impact the long-term growth potential of these companies,” explains Jeremy Schwartz, WisdomTree EVP and Global Head of Research.
By excluding SOEs, IXSE potentially provides an alternative way to gain beta exposure to the private sector companies in India and excludes unprofitable banks and financial firms. Additionally, the strategy enhances stock selection in other capital-intensive sectors such as energy and industrials, where dominance by state-owned companies is typically higher.
Comparing SOEs vs. non-SOEs
IXSE offers a tilt toward the consumer economy, resulting in greater exposure to information technology and consumer discretionary sectors, and reduced exposure to financial and energy sectors. This is particularly important, as the technology and consumer discretionary sectors have been among the key drivers of emerging market returns and growth.
WisdomTree conducted an analysis to explore whether Indian SOEs performed differently than non-SOEs over time. In comparing a broad market capitalization-weighted portfolio of Indian SOEs and non-SOEs, results indicated that there had been a consistent performance gap in favor of non-SOEs, with an average annual return over the last 10 years of approximately 12.31%, compared to 7.22% for SOEs.2
While SOEs represent a smaller segment of the total Indian market when compared with China, for example, these results further demonstrate the value of excluding state-owned enterprises within Indian equities over the long-term.
Learn more about the WisdomTree India ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund (IXSE) here.
This Fund is new and has limited operating history. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
There are risks associated with investing, including possible loss of principal. Foreign investing involves special risks, such as risk of loss from currency fluctuation or political or economic uncertainty. This Fund focuses its investments in India, thereby increasing the impact of events and developments associated with the region which can adversely affect performance. Investments in emerging, offshore or frontier markets such as India are generally less liquid and less efficient than investments in developed markets and are subject to additional risks, such as risks of adverse governmental regulation and intervention or political developments. Funds focusing their investments on certain sectors and/or regions increase their vulnerability to any single economic or regulatory development. This may result in greater share price volatility. Due to the investment strategy of this Fund it may make higher capital gain distributions than other ETFs. The Fund invests in the securities included in, or representative of, its Index regardless of their investment merit and the Fund does not attempt to outperform its Index or take defensive positions in declining markets. Please read the Fund’s prospectus for specific details regarding the Fund’s risk profile.
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Funds before investing. To obtain a prospectus containing this and other important information, call 866.909.9473 or visit wisdomtree.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest.
WisdomTree Funds are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, in the U.S. only.
Jeremy Schwartz is a registered representative of Foreside Fund Services, LLC.
WTPR-20190402-0046
About WisdomTree
WisdomTree Investments, Inc., through its subsidiaries in the U.S., Europe and Canada (collectively, “WisdomTree”), is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) and exchange-traded product (“ETP”) sponsor and asset manager headquartered in New York. WisdomTree offers products covering equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities and alternative strategies. WisdomTree currently has approximately $59.1 billion in assets under management globally. For more information, please visit www.wisdomtree.com or follow us on Twitter @WisdomTreeETFs.
WisdomTree® is the marketing name for WisdomTree Investments, Inc. and its subsidiaries worldwide.
Contact Information:
Media Relations
WisdomTree Investments, Inc.
Jessica Zaloom / Kylie Scott
+1.917.267.3735 / +1.917.267.3860
jzaloom@wisdomtree.com / kscott@wisdomtree.com
1 Source: FactSet, Bloomberg. As of 12/31/2018
2 Source: WisdomTree, FactSet, Bloomberg, 1/1/2008 – 12/31/2018 and corresponds with earliest date of available data. Universe of securities is the MSCI India Index. Average market cap weight of state-owned enterprises within the universe over the period was 18.5%. Returns are calculated in U.S. dollars. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You cannot invest directly in an Index.