With AI and space dominating many of the market’s most popular investment themes, it can be...

The first phase of the artificial intelligence investment trade was relatively straightforward:...

Issuers are still driving forward with crypto launches, with around 30 new products already...

The consumer is still spending, but with a higher level of caution. Inflation remains a...

Crypto equity ETFs (or blockchain ETFs) were once one of the main ways to access the crypto theme...

Several years ago, semiconductor ETFs were often viewed as a Nvidia (NVDA) story. With Nvidia...

Cannabis stocks have seen renewed investor interest as federal policy momentum improves. The most...

Last week, I published an update on the crypto ETF landscape, but one area worth revisiting is...

Crypto narratives have shifted. Tokenization and stablecoins, once considered more obscure...

While the ETF industry is sometimes scrutinized for packaging niche investments into a retail...

The defense industry is transforming into one of the most interesting areas of the market,...

As a Texan, I have always appreciated the state’s advantages, but Texas is increasingly drawing...

Artificial intelligence has become one of the defining investment themes of this cycle. Yes, we...

Like many others at VettaFi, I have been busy prepping for our Exchange conference next month....

Emerging market ETFs are back in focus. Two of the ten largest U.S.-listed ETF inflow winners...

Throughout most of 2025, silver has recently outperformed gold, proving (ironically) that it is...

Private markets were historically for institutional and ultra-high-net-worth investors. Today,...

Among the current wave of altcoin ETF launches, a growing number of products are hitting the...

2025 was a significant year for international investing. Many portfolios keep international...

Crypto tends to get framed as volatile prices and speculation. However, two growth drivers are...

This year, I published a wide range of research notes across the ETF landscape, but reader...

The launch of multi-token crypto products (i.e., crypto index ETFs) signals that many issuers...

One of the most persistent themes this year has been global defense. Historically, it has been an...

After a massive year for bitcoin, losses near the end of the year overshadowed an otherwise...

After years of researching equities, my research has started trending toward alternatives —...

Recently, I attended the North American Blockchain Summit 2025, a digital asset conference in...

Last week FTSE made its annual review of country classification within its global equity indices...

At this point, it’s no longer just a crypto-friendly government propelling movement forward — it’...

Private credit isn’t necessarily new to retail investors. In fact, closed-end funds (CEFs) and...

Before spot bitcoin ETFs launched (and even before futures bitcoin ETFs), crypto equity ETFs...

2025 has so far been a big year for leveraged ETFs. I wrote a research note on leveraged ETFs...

The ETF market is more crowded than ever. With well over 4,000 U.S.-listed ETFs — more funds than...

While the housing segment has struggled, some small green shoots are emerging. Mortgage rates...

One year ago, I wrote a research note on defined outcome strategies — which most commonly include...

A few weeks ago, I wrote this research note on how regulatory support for bitcoin and the broader...

This summer has brought a renewed focus on alternative assets. Investors are rotating into gold,...

The past week was a significant moment for the crypto landscape, both in terms of legislation and...

Copper ETFs have seen a surge in investor popularity, driven by geopolitical tensions and recent...

While aerospace and defense ETFs have recently caught investor interest, space ETFs have been...

While equities have rebounded from this year’s earlier pullback, investors are increasingly...

Thematic investing has experienced cycles of popularity over time. In less cautious market...

The SEC has initiated its typical review process with issuers over their spot solana ETFs...

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and closed-end funds (CEFs) are wrappers that share basic...

In 2025, we have had to go back to the basics including diversification. One of the most...

For many of us, ETFs have been synonymous with passive management. Since the early 1990s, ETFs...

Investors typically diversify global portfolios with broad international ETFs. But recent market...

While crypto adoption will likely always be price-driven to some extent, regulatory and political...

Since Liberation Day, the market has made many moves in both directions. While many investors...

When markets move, we can learn a lot from the outperformers. But we can also learn a lot from...

A large consensus has been to stay the course with long-term portfolio goals despite recent...

Globally, consumers have propped up the economy for the past several years. Most of the exciting...

Not even a quarter into 2025 and we’ve been on a roller coaster of economic and market events. It...

Tariffs, geopolitical volatility, and overall economic uncertainty have taken over this year. So...

The Invesco CEF Income Composite ETF (PCEF C+), the oldest and largest ETF of closed-end funds,...

Some of the most interesting filings in the crypto ETF space are not necessarily new product...

Recent tariff news has caused a broad shock across the market, including international...

Over recent years, investors have sought safety within mega-cap tech stocks while searching for...

A few years ago, a relatively under-the-radar commodity — uranium — came into the spotlight....

Spot bitcoin ETFs were approved by the SEC on January 10, 2024 — almost one year ago. As we...

For ETF investors, the onslaught of crypto ETF launches has created some short-sighted...

Last week, I moderated two panels on real assets and infrastructure for completely different sets...

When the Halloween decorations go away, holiday shopping begins. Each year consumers continue to...

Bitcoin has had its highs and lows when it comes to investor interest (and its prices). But...

Nvidia (NVDA) has been one of the most interesting stocks of the year. The company isn’t new to...

Crypto ETF innovation hasn’t stopped. Since the launch of spot ether ETFs this summer, there have...

As an ex-future mobility research analyst, I spent a lot of time looking at financial statements...

As an “old economy” sector, utilities are notable for their steady revenue streams. They also...

Like many analysts and investors, I’m always searching for the next big idea—whether it’s a new...

You have probably seen This or That games across social media. This is a just-for-fun version for...

Recent downturns from the Great Recession and the worldwide pandemic are still fresh on investors...

It took a high-profile lawsuit and several years for spot bitcoin ETFs to finally be approved. It...

Summer is halfway over, and travel demand remains high. TSA data points to a 2024 summer season...

ETF issuers are still amending S-1s for spot ether ETFs and hoping for a July approval. But some...

The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK A) rebalanced last week. It swapped a large position...

For income-seeking investors, closed-end funds (CEFs) offer relatively high distributions and the...

Some may love crypto and some may hate it, but cryptocurrencies have undeniably shaken up the...

Despite uncertainty in consumer strength, consumer discretionary stocks still pulled ahead of...

This week bitcoin prices reached over $60,000 — the highest level since November 2021. Since the...

Explaining consumer spending involves a lot of contradictions. Consumer spending is strong. But...

I hear about the Magnificent Seven several times a day — seven companies and eight stocks that...

Closed-end funds (CEFs) are relatively under the radar compared to peers like exchange-traded...

Bitcoin has fallen below $40,000 after rising to just under $50,000 before the spot bitcoin ETF...

With lower interest rates now in sight and renewed confidence in the stock market, deal making...

In 2024, inflation, interest rates, and the presidential election will likely be on top of ETF...

2023 was a year of surprises. These are five key sector themes illustrated in charts that...

Bitcoin prices are near $44,000 and excitement is pouring into the space again. That’s...

Recent data point to a record shopping season for Shopify (SHOP), which saw Black Friday sales...

As we approach the final months of 2023, consumer strength has been somewhat mixed but has...

It has been several weeks since ether futures ETFs have launched with little fanfare in early...

Despite some signs of slowdown in the economy, the biggest stories in the market still revolve...

The communications sector has been one of the best-performing sectors of the year, benefiting...

Closed-end funds typically appeal to a niche group of income investors. But when you package...

While investors await a spot bitcoin ETF, the SEC accelerated its rollout of ether futures ETFs....

Throughout the year, persistent inflation — including everyday costs like gasoline and groceries...

Some investment trends seem obvious — people are watching more streaming movies, consumers like...

After months of lockdown in 2020-2021, there has undoubtedly been a lasting effect on the...

On Tuesday, Grayscale finally won its lawsuit against the SEC (see initial coverage here). For...

Last week, retail sales increased more than expected. It pointed to a resilient consumer despite...

After a rush among issuers to file for spot bitcoin ETFs, followed shortly by a rush to file for...

Current events in the past couple of weeks have shown us two things. Great marketing can bring...

Last week, I discussed the consumer discretionary sector making a big comeback in 2023 despite...

Consumer spending has softened over the past few months. And many companies that depend on...

While pure-play electric vehicle stocks have lost some of the interest seen in 2020-2021, demand...

BlackRock brought the crypto ETF industry back into the spotlight. And many investors and...

Over the past few months, I have written many research notes on future mobility (which includes...

Over the past few quarters, different narratives have emerged about consumer spending — it’s up,...

The video gaming, entertainment, and overall communications services sector is shifting away from...

Last week, I discussed some of the different types of crypto and bitcoin ETFs. The distinction...

While I’ve recently discussed what is driving outperformance in the consumer discretionary sector...

Closed-end funds are known for their high distribution rate and potential to provide current...

While investors have renewed interest in the tech sector this year, this week, however, the...

While consumer spending data has cooled, the retail consumer still remains relatively resilient —...

Last week on March 23, Ford Motor Company (F) announced changes to its financial reporting and...

With turmoil in the banking sector spreading to the broader market, many investors are seeking...

This past weekend, banks saw their second and third largest collapse, respectively, as regulators...

Last week’s VettaFi Voices On discussed small-cap stocks in ETFs. In this conversation, I...

The first U.S. ETF with “crypto” in its name was the Bitwise Crypto Industry Innovators ETF...

According to the latest U.S. e-commerce data release on February 17, 4Q e-commerce continues to...

Last week at Exchange: An ETF Experience, I hosted a panel called “Thematics—Separating Hype From...

Next week at Exchange, I will spend 30 minutes moderating a panel on thematic investing,...

In an earlier note, we discussed the likelihood of a strong online holiday shopping season in...

Out of the entire ETF universe, the best performing ETFs YTD so far are crypto ETFs—more...

With better access to internet and more connected devices, people are changing the way they...

At first, the 2022 holiday travel season seemed to be a flashback to 2021—last minute flight...

After several quarters, e-commerce sales growth finally resumed growing at a faster pace than...

FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Friday, November 11, after a series of revelations...

Thematic indexes are often synonymous with growth and many of these indexes like OGIGX, BCHAIN,...

The S-Network Global Travel Index (TRAVEL) is largely consumer-driven to the extent that...

Crypto regulation has been widely discussed as one of the necessary steps for the digital asset...

As the largest constituent in the S-Network Streaming & Gaming Index (STREAM), Netflix (NFLX,...

In 2020, over 50% of new publicly listed companies were SPACs, with a large portion being in...

Hurricane Ian made landfall on the Florida coast on September 28, 2022, and became one of the...

About two weeks after the completion of the Ethereum Merge, investors have likely heard about...

In last week’s note, we discussed e-commerce sales data in detail relative to headline numbers...

On the surface, quarterly e-commerce sales data show that e-commerce growth is still strong...

Autonomous and electric vehicles are often used interchangeably when referring to future...

In anearlier note, we briefly mentioned strong consumer demand in travel, which hasn’t yet...

While correlations are just one factor to consider when investing in Bitcoin and Bitcoin-related...

Although it is a widely used term, “infrastructure” actually has a much broader definition than...

Many thematic indexes are driven by long-term growth in technology and innovation—for instance,...

One segment of the S-Network Global Travel Index (TRAVEL) — ancillary beneficiaries — has not...

After the Fed hiked interest rates for a fourth time this year, closed-end fund (CEF) investors...

The word “Metaverse” has been around for years, originating in the 1992 novelSnow Crash.(1) Since...

The word “Metaverse” has been around for years, originating in the 1992 novel Snow Crash.(1)...

This year Amazon Prime Day occurred on July 12 and 13 and according to Amazon was the “biggest...

This year Amazon Prime Day occurred on July 12 and 13 and according to Amazon was the “biggest...

The streaming and gaming sector has been rising in popularity as widespread internet access and...

This month, U.S. digital asset investment products saw net inflows, suggesting that some U.S....

The streaming and gaming sector has been rising in popularity as widespread internet access and...

This month, U.S. digital asset investment products saw net inflows, suggesting that some U.S....

Natural disasters have been increasing globally over the past few years—from 2001 to 2020, there...

Natural disasters have been increasing globally over the past few years—from 2001 to 2020, there...

It may be surprising to know that there are virtually no new entrant U.S. electric vehicle (EV)...

It may be surprising to know that there are virtually no new entrant U.S. electric vehicle (EV)...

E-commerce growth has been a multi-sector trend for several years—growing alongside...

E-commerce growth has been a multi-sector trend for several years—growing alongside...

As Bitcoin has become a widely discussed investment topic, investors are looking for more...

As Bitcoin has become a widely discussed investment topic, investors are looking for more...

While January travel metrics were still impacted by the Omicron strain, 1Q22 earnings reports for...

While January travel metrics were still impacted by the Omicron strain, 1Q22 earnings reports...

Much like both the broader equity market and Bitcoin (BTC) prices, YTD performance for crypto...

High growth tech stocks aren’t the only beneficiaries of the digital transformation. While real...

While international equities can often be overlooked by U.S. investors, an international dividend...

With U.S. inflation rising to record highs and geopolitical unrest causing volatility in the...

With U.S. inflation rising to record highs and geopolitical unrest causing volatility in the...

While international equities can often be overlooked by U.S. investors, an international...

During the past few weeks, domestic and global events have brought further attention to...

During the past few weeks, domestic and global events have brought further attention to...

In early 2022, fear of higher interest rates contributed to a tech sell-off, and many investors...

A broad equity allocation may seem suitable for a one-size fits all approach, but income-oriented...

Within the thematic space, the e-commerce industry can serve as a multi-sector play on strong...

Not long ago, electric vehicles (EVs) seemed like a concept of the far future. But trends...

Not long ago, electric vehicles (EVs) seemed like a concept of the far future. But trends...

After a busy air travel season this Thanksgiving, the Christmas travel season was expected to...

After a busy air travel season this Thanksgiving, the Christmas travel season was expected to...

Summary

• The biotechnology sector largely underperformed the broader market this year,...

Originally published by Alerian on October 14, 2021 in the Thematic Times.