Pass on this ETF: Ark Genomic Revolution ETF

Article Excerpt

ARK GENOMIC REVOLUTION ETF $31.33 (CBOE symbol ARKG) invests globally in companies it expects to benefit from the development of products and services meant to improve the quality of life. Those firms are involved in molecular diagnostics, gene therapy, targeted therapeutics, agricultural biology, and stem cells. The ETF launched in October 2014 and has built up a substantial asset base of $2.1 billion. The MER is a relatively high 0.75%. The fund currently holds a portfolio of 42 stocks, mostly listed in North America, but with a small complement domiciled in Europe. The holdings are mainly medium to small companies with market values below $10 billion. We see a couple of significant sources of risk with this ETF. First, very few of the companies held in the portfolio are even close to profitability—and as a group, they are smaller, more speculative companies. As well, when large inflows became large outflows, the ETF will be forced to sell shares in its less liquid stocks, which further depresses share prices. In…