These four ETFs offer exposure to ‘sin’

Article Excerpt

Traditional “sin stocks” include gambling, tobacco and alcohol. Many of the major companies focused on these areas continue to deliver expanding sales and profits. Still, investors need to factor in the risks of everchanging government laws and regulations, taxes and fickle consumers. (See the supplement on page 30 for more information.) Here are four ETFs that provide exposure to the global “sin stock” universe. MG WHISKY & SPIRITS ETF $33 (New York symbol WSKY; TSINetwork ETF Rating: Aggressive; Market cap: $12.9 million) invests in companies that produce and distribute whisky and spirits. The ETF invests globally: 22% of its holdings are listed in France, 19% in the U.K., 13% in the U.S., 13% in India, 8% in Canada, 5% in Thailand and 5% in Italy. The fund holds a concentrated portfolio of 31 companies, and its top 10 make up a whopping 70% of assets; The ETF’s biggest holding, Diageo PLC (see box this page), acounts for a very high 17%. Its…