Pass on this ETF

Article Excerpt

ADVISORSHARES RESTAURANT ETF $19.05 (New York symbol EATZ) is an actively managed fund that invests globally in restaurants, bars, and food-service companies. The portfolio is relatively concentrated, with 50 holdings, among them substantial individual holdings in Arcos Dorados (a large McDonald’s franchisee in Latin America), Restaurant Brands International, Texas Roadhouse, Dutch Bros, Chipotle, Darden Restaurants, and Restaurant Brands. The ETF launched in April 2021 and has a small asset base of $2.5 million. The MER is high at 0.99%. Since its launched, the fund has lost 24% of its value. This is a poor performance when compared to the broader U.S. market. The ETF overall has also lagged behind the gains of top restaurant stocks such as Texas Roadhouse and Restaurant Brands International. The ETF has several shortcomings which investors should be aware of: First is the small asset base—after 18 months on the market it should have attracted a much larger asset pool, especially in the big U.S. market. This is making it a candidate for…