Guggenheim Funds Distributors has launched the Guggenheim ABC High Dividend ETF (NYSE Arca: ABCS). The new offering will seek to replicate the BNY Mellon ABC Index (the index) by providing investors with exposure to high-yielding mature companies from the commodity-rich countries of Australia, Brazil and Canada.
“The global supply of commodity and natural resources is expected to become further constrained such that it will be unlikely to keep pace with global population growth,” says Scott Minerd (pictured), Chief Investment Officer, Guggenheim Partners. “Australia, Brazil and Canada are uniquely positioned as a result of vast commodity deposits. These global supply and demand dynamics are likely to place upward pressure on natural resources and commodity prices, thereby leading to attractive investment opportunities.”
Minerd believes having access to higher-yielding companies from commodity-rich Australia, Brazil and Canada offers investors a high level of dividend income potential. During inflationary periods in commodity-linked economies, many companies—not just energy and materials producers—tend to flourish as overall profits and employment rise with their country’s export sector.
“The introduction of Guggenheim ABC High Dividend ETF represents another step in the growth of our comprehensive product range,” says Steve Baffico, Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, Inc. “Our products are built around themes in which Guggenheim has strong conviction.”
The BNY Mellon ABC Index universe includes US exchange-listed ADRs of companies from Australia and Brazil and locally-listed companies in Australia and Canada, which meet the follow criteria: minimum one year of trading, minimum float market capitalisation of USD200 million, and minimum three-month daily average trading volume of USD1 million. From this universe the 10 highest dividend yielding companies, where possible, are selected from each country for a total of 30 companies in the BNY Mellon ABC Index. Passive foreign investment companies are excluded based upon the best information available. As of May 31, 2011, the Index yield was 5.2%.
