Two new ETFs for Canadian investors

Article Excerpt

This month we look at a new ETF from BMO that aims to capture “megatrends.” We also analyze an ETF that aims to pick winning stocks based on the social media attention these stocks receive. The BMO MSCI INNOVATION INDEX ETF $29.36 (Toronto symbol ZINN), covers four different trends, namely genomics, fintech, next generation Internet, and industrial innovation. The fund launched on January 26, 2021, and charges an MER of 0.40%. It currently holds assets worth $13.9 million. The ETF tracks the MSCI ACWI Innovation Index. It gives investors worldwide exposure, but the bulk of the assets (75%) are allocated to the U.S. Its top stock holdings include Visa, Amazon, Mastercard, Alibaba, PayPal, Microsoft and Alphabet. Our advice is that if an ETF’s themes seem to be plucked from recent headlines, stay away. It pays to stay out of narrow-focus, faddish funds, all the more so if they’ve come to market when the fads dominate the financial media. We don’t recommend this ETF. The VANECK VECTORS SOCIAL SENTIMENT ETF $24.97 (New York symbol…