Best And Worst Q2 2019: Telecom Services ETFs And Mutual Funds

The Telecom Services sector ranks third out of the 11 sectors as detailed in our Q2’19 Sector Ratings for ETFs and Mutual Funds report. Last quarter, the Telecom Services sector ranked tenth. It gets our Attractive rating, which is based on an aggregation of ratings of the 41 stocks in the Telecom Services sector. See a recap of our Q1’19 Sector Ratings here.

Figures 1 and 2 show the five best and worst rated ETFs and mutual funds in the sector. Not all Telecom Services sector ETFs and mutual funds are created the same. The number of holdings varies widely (from 21 to 108). This variation creates drastically different investment implications and, therefore, ratings.

Investors seeking exposure to the Telecom Services sector should buy one of the Attractive-or-better rated ETFs or mutual funds from Figures 1 and 2.

Our Robo-Analyst technology^[1] empowers our unique ETF and mutual fund rating methodology, which leverages our rigorous analysis of each fund’s holdings.^[2] We think advisors and investors focused on prudent investment decisions should include analysis of fund holdings in their research process for ETFs and mutual funds.

Figure 1: ETFs with the Best & Worst Ratings

* Best ETFs exclude ETFs with TNA less than $100 million for inadequate liquidity.

Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings

Figure 2: Mutual Funds with the Best & Worst Ratings

* Best mutual funds exclude funds with TNA less than $100 million for inadequate liquidity.

Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings

Six mutual funds (FLICX, FTICX, PGBYX, PGBTX, PGBNX, WIREX) are excluded from Figure 2 because their total net assets (TNA) are below $100 million and do not meet our liquidity minimums.

IXP is the top-rated Telecom Services ETF and VTCAX is the top-rated Telecom Services mutual fund. IXP earns a Very Attractive rating and VTCAX earns an Attractive rating.

XTL is the worst rated Telecom Services ETF and FTUAX is the worst rated Telecom Services mutual fund. XTL earns an Unattractive rating and FTUAX earns a Very Unattractive rating.

41 stocks of the 2750+ we cover are classified as Telecom Services stocks.

The Danger Within

Buying a fund without analyzing its holdings is like buying a stock without analyzing its business and finances. Put another way, research on fund holdings is necessary due diligence because a fund’s performance is only as good as its holdings’ performance. Don’t just take our word for it, see what Barron’s says on this matter.

PERFORMANCE OF HOLDINGs = PERFORMANCE OF FUND

Analyzing each holding within funds is no small task. Our Robo-Analyst technology enables us to perform this diligence with scale and provide the research needed to fulfill the fiduciary duty of care. More of the biggest names in the financial industry (see At BlackRock, Machines Are Rising Over Managers to Pick Stocks) are now embracing technology to leverage machines in the investment research process. Technology may be the only solution to the dual mandate for research: cut costs and fulfill the fiduciary duty of care. Investors, clients, advisors and analysts deserve the latest in technology to get the diligence required to make prudent investment decisions.

Figures 3 and 4 show the rating landscape of all Telecom Services ETFs and mutual funds.

Figure 3: Separating the Best ETFs From the Worst ETFs

Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings

Figure 4: Separating the Best Mutual Funds from the Worst Mutual Funds

Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings

This article originally published on April 11, 2019.

Disclosure: David Trainer, Peter Apockotos, and Kyle Guske receive no compensation to write about any specific stock, sector or theme.

^[1]Harvard Business School features the powerful impact of our research automation technology in the case New Constructs: Disrupting Fundamental Analysis with Robo-Analysts.

^[2]Ernst & Young’s recent white paper “Getting ROIC Right” proves the superiority of our holdings research and analytics.

Get our long and short/warning ideas. Access to top accounting and finance experts.

Deliverables:

1. Daily – long & short idea updates, forensic accounting insights, chat

2. Weekly – exclusive access to in-depth long & short ideas

3. Monthly – 40 large, 40 small cap ideas from the Most Attractive & Most Dangerous Stocks Model Portfolios

Both Ernst & Young and Harvard Business School demonstrate the superiority of our research in recent white papers.

See the difference that real diligence makes.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.