May Acquisitions Help US Moats
For the Month Ending May 31, 2016 May Acquisitions Help US Moats
Performance Overview
U.S. moat-rated companies continued to impress in 2016 with another strong relative performance month in May. The U.S.-oriented Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM (MWMFTR) topped the S&P 500® Index (2.69% vs. 1.80%) for the month and maintained its relative performance year-to-date (15.07% vs. 3.57%). By contrast international moats fared less well in May with the Morningstar® Global ex-US Moat Focus IndexSM (MGEUMFUN) lagging the MSCI All Country World Index ex USA (-2.09% vs. -1.69%).
US Domestic Moats: May M&A
News of Bayer’s (BAYN GR) bid to buy wide moat agrichemical giant Monsanto Company (MON US) boosted shares of MON US late in the month. This came on the heels of Abbott Laboratories’ (ABT US) announcement of its intent to buy wide moat St. Jude Medical (STJ US) which propelled the stock performance of STJ US in April. Healthcare companies continued their strong performance for MWMFTR in May led by McKesson Corp (MCK US) and Allergan (AGN US). The industrials sector was the leading detractor for the month with notable poor performance from rail companies CSX Corp (CSX US) and Norfolk Southern Corp (NSC US).
International Moats: Financials in Flux
As with U.S. moats in May, internationally focused MGEUMFUN’s exposure to healthcare companies helped boost performance. However, the Index was unable to overcome the negative performance contributions from industrials and financials companies, ending the month down 2.09%. Canadian banks struggled in May as many have been forced to deal with credit losses related to the oil & gas industry. Overall, construction firm China State Construction International Holdings Limited was the poorest Index performer in May.
Special Update: Morningstar Index Enhancements
As previously announced, Morningstar will implement enhancements to the index methodology for MWMFTR and MGEUMFUN effective June 20, 2016. The indices will continue to be built on Morningstar’s equity research which identifies sustainable competitive advantages at attractive valuations, but will aim to reduce turnover, broaden diversification, and mitigate unintended sector concentration.
Moat Investing
Moat Investing provides key insights and performance trends impacting global moat investing based on Morningstar equity research. U.S.-focused
MOAT and internationally focused
MOTI offer investors global exposure to Morningstar’s moat methodology and valuation principals.
Important Disclosure
This commentary is not intended as a recommendation to buy or to sell any of the named securities. Holding will vary for the MOAT and MOTI ETFs and their corresponding Indices.
Index performance is not representative of fund performance. To view fund performance current to the most recent month end, call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com.
An investor cannot invest directly in an index. Returns reflect past performance and do not guarantee future results. Results reflect the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any. Index returns do not represent Fund returns. The Index does not charge management fees or brokerage expenses, nor does the Index lend securities, and no revenues from securities lending were added to the performance shown.
Fair value estimate: the Morningstar analyst’s estimate of what a stock is worth.
Price/Fair Value: ratio of a stock’s trading price to its fair value estimate.
The Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM and Morningstar® Global ex-US Moat Focus IndexSM were created and are maintained by Morningstar, Inc. Morningstar, Inc. does not sponsor, endorse, issue, sell, or promote the
VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF or
VanEck Vectors Morningstar International Moat ETF and bears no liability with respect to the ETFs or any security. Morningstar® is a registered trademark of Morningstar, Inc. Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index and Morningstar Global ex-US Moat Focus Index are service marks of Morningstar, Inc.
The Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index consists of 20 U.S. companies identified as having sustainable, competitive advantages and whose stocks are the most attractively priced, according to Morningstar.
The Morningstar Global ex-US Moat Focus Index consists of 50 companies outside of the U.S. identified as having sustainable, competitive advantages and whose stocks are the most attractively priced, according to Morningstar.
The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 widely held common stocks covering the leading industries of the U.S. economy.
MSCI All Country World Index ex USA captures large and mid cap representation across 22 Developed Markets countries (excluding the U.S.) and 23 Emerging Markets countries.
An investment in the VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (MOAT) may be subject to risks which include, among others, fluctuations in value due to market and economic conditions or factors relating to specific issuers. Medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks. The Fund’s assets may be concentrated in a particular sector and may be subject to more risk than investments in a diverse group of sectors.
An investment in the VanEck Vectors Morningstar International Moat ETF (MOTI) may be subject to risks which include, among others, fluctuations in value due to market and economic conditions or factors relating to specific issuers. Foreign and emerging markets investments are subject to risks, which include changes in economic and political conditions, foreign currency fluctuations, changes in foreign regulations, changes in currency exchange rates, unstable governments, and limited trading capacity which may make these investments volatile in price or difficult to trade. Medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks. The Fund’s assets may be concentrated in a particular sector and may be subject to more risk than investments in a diverse group of sectors.
Fund shares are not individually redeemable and will be issued and redeemed at their Net Asset Value (NAV) only through certain authorized broker-dealers in large, specified blocks of shares called ”creation units” and otherwise can be bought and sold only through exchange trading. Creation units are issued and redeemed principally in kind. Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. You will incur brokerage expenses when trading Fund shares in the secondary market. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Returns for actual Fund investments may differ from what is shown because of differences in timing, the amount invested, and fees and expenses.
Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of a Fund carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, call 800.826.2333. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing.
