As is always the case, we encourage investors to think long-term about the Fund’s focus on growth, disruption, and transformation. We would remind readers that it took around 12 years for the automobile to displace the horse drawn carriage, but once it happened no one looked back. History has many examples of evolutionary (or even revolutionary) technologies that solve social problems and/or cause important changes. Companies that are driven by this change most often experience accelerated long-term revenue and earnings growth. These companies have corporate cultures that are led by CEOs/founders who are willing to do what is different. Companies that do not seek to embrace change ultimately go the way of the past. This may be one reason why growth stocks tend to outperform value stocks.
Amplify Samsung SOFR ETF (SOF) makes shortlist for Best New U.S. Fixed Income ETF Amplify ETFs, a leading provider of innovative exchange-traded funds, is pleased to announce the Amplify Samsung SOFR ETF (SOF) is on the shortlist of nominees for the 2024 ETF.com Award for Best New U.S. Fixed Income ETF.*
Amplify Samsung SOFR ETF (SOF) makes shortlist for Best New U.S. Fixed Income ETF Amplify ETFs, a leading provider of innovative exchange-traded funds, is pleased to announce the Amplify Samsung SOFR ETF (SOF) is on the shortlist of nominees for the 2024 ETF.com Award for Best New U.S. Fixed Income ETF.*
COMMENTARY The major equity market indices continued to make new all-time highs during the month of February, but it was no longer the “Magnificent 7” driving all the gains. Certainly a few of them helped but resilient economic data and relatively better-than-expected earnings helped give investors additional confidence to broadly push equities higher. Positive economic data has become a precarious thing; on one hand it’s supportive for a healthy economy but on the other, the strength has investors wondering if will give the Fed confidence to keep interest rates higher for longer. Fixed income, which had done tremendously well since late 2023, sold off slightly during February as investors’ expectations for rate cuts moved further out.
COMMENTARY Amplify Natural Resources Dividend Income ETF (NDIV) seeks investment results that generally correspond to the price and yield of the EQM Natural Resources Dividend Income Index. The Index is comprised of dividend-paying U.S. exchange-listed equities operating primarily in the natural resource and commodity-related industries such as: energy, chemicals, agriculture, metals & mining, paper products, and timber. NDIV returned 1.95% on a net asset value (NAV) compared to its benchmark, the EQM Natural Resources Dividend Income Index at 2.00% for the month, as of February 29, 2024. Oil, gas & consumable fuels (+4.01%) contributed the most to the Fund’s return for the month, whereas metals & mining (-5.63%) and chemicals (-1.90%) detracted.1 Positions that contributed most significantly included Diamondback Energy (FANG), Viper Energy (VNOM) and Kinetik Holdings (KNTK). Positions that detracted most significantly included Glencore (GLNCY), Chemours (CC) and Sasol (SSL).
We find it wonderful that so many new investors are embracing the ease of direct exposure through Spot ETFs. Over the past 6 years we have argued that bitcoin and digital assets are the first new asset class for investors in generations. Most importantly, bitcoin is a natural hedge against any follow-on banking crisis, concerns about excess printing of the US dollar, and inflation. As a result, at certain times when equity markets have weakened, the Fund’s bitcoin exposure has hedged the price decline held by the Fund’s exposure to transforming companies like Block Inc (SQ), Nu Holdings (NU), and Roblox Corp (RBLX). The fact is that growth companies can carry high beta risk, so trading or holding a non-correlated asset or arguably even an inversely correlated asset class can help to manage certain types of systemic risks. To be clear, we do not hold Bitcoin directly in the Fund– it comes through holdings in Spot ETFs, MicroStrategy (MSTR), and companies in the Bitcoin mining industry. Food For Thought: What's Up With The Supply Chain? Equally as important is how companies like Accenture (ACN), Visa (V), and International Business Machines (IBM) are reinventing themselves through investments in companies aligned with Blockchain technology. For example, IBM’s global food supply tracking efforts have made meaningful progress. In a Fresh Produce Journal article, Michael Barker highlights that the SecQuAL project using the IBM platform “finds multiple benefits for the tomato and wider fresh produce industry in its use of blockchain technology that secures storage and transfer of data to form a thread detailing the whole process from farm to fork”.1 Wrapping the IBM brand as an “IBM Trust” that implements blockchain technology helps build confidence that the supply chain solutions packaged by the company are secure, efficient, and with integrity. Let’s face it, our supply chain has many different problems that impact trillions of dollars. Why IBM? Why not! Again, we highlight IBM’s progress with developing its position in blockchain technology to explain the impact that will come from this technology. It will support the production of trillions of dollars’ worth of goods and services, as it affects industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and yes, asset management. This is why tokenization is so important and why a portfolio needs both equities and Spot Bitcoin involved in the build out of digital assets. Think about blockchain as the distributed ledger that creates enduring and unalterable records that can be programed as tokens. Forget price! Think about the benefits of transparent information on a real time basis, that is reliable because it has been verified independently and triple checked. Also, let’s not forget that Bitcoin may not be the only solution that changes this world.
The Cannabis Recap - February 12, 2024
BLOK-Chain Monthly February 2024
Amplify ETFs Declares February Income Distributions for its ETFs
Amplify ETFs Declares February Income Distributions for its ETFs
Amplify ETFs Named Finalist for ETF.com Awards
Amplify ETFs Named Finalist for ETF.com Awards
The Cannabis Recap - February 26, 2024
DIVO Commentary February 2024
NDIV Commentary February 2024
BLOK-Chain Monthly March 2024