Recent Decline In Financials Makes These 2 ETFs More Attractive

 | Jun 22, 2021 05:17

Financial stocks, including bank shares, have come under pressure recently. For instance, the Dow Jones Financials Index, which hit an all-time high June 7, have lost about 5% since then. Year-to-date, the index is up about 18%.

Similarly, the Dow Jones US Banks Index, which hit a multi-year high on June 3, is down about 10% since then. So far this year, however, the index is up more than 22%.

Analysts are debating the reasons behind this recent decline in banking shares. On the one hand, the Fed has signalled two rate hikes in 2023. Increasing interest rates typically help improve profit margins of banks.

We can evaluate a bank’s balance sheet to arrive at its net interest income (NII) by deducting interest paid from the total interest earned. Therefore, a bank’s interest income usually improves when interest rates go up.

Yet, many banks have a hybrid business model. They generate a significant amount of their revenue from non-interest bearing activities, like brokerage services, banking-related service charges, credit card-related fees, their own trading profit and losses, and mortgage-related activities. As a result, a bank’s non-interest income is usually dependent on other factors that affect the economy and the bank’s operating environment.

Readers who pay attention to technical charts could also conclude that there could be more pain for many financials in the days ahead. Given the returns in the past 52 weeks, more profit-taking could be in the cards.

Therefore, today we introduce two exchange-traded funds (ETF) that potential investors might want to research with an eye to buy in the second half of the year, possibly at cheaper prices.

h2 1. iShares US Financial Services ETF/h2

Current Price: $181.81
52-Week Range: $115.62 – $191.37
Dividend Yield: 1.55%
Expense Ratio: 0.42% per year

The iShares US Financial Services ETF (NYSE:IYG) provides exposure to US financial services equities, including investment banks, commercial banks, asset managers, credit card companies and securities exchanges. The fund tracks the Dow Jones US Financial Services Index.