Analyst Report

This ETF offers exposure to China's materials sector, making it one of the most precise tools available in the ETF universe. Those looking to overweight China may find this ETF useful for fine tuning exposure, especially those expecting strong performance from the industrial sector. Also, investors bullish on the outlook for industrial stocks but hesitant to invest in U.S. equities may consider CHII as well. This fund can also be used in market neutral long/short trades that seek to exploit return differentials--for example going long CHIM and short XLB (or vice versa). CHIM is more expensive than most broad-based China ETFs, so those seeking exposure to the total Chinese economy may prefer funds such as YAO or GXC.

A few aspects of CHIM's portfolio should be noted. First, like many other sector-specific international equity ETFs, the portfolio is somewhat concentrated. CHIM is somewhat shallow in terms of total holdings, and a few companies account for a significant chunk of assets. It should be noted, however, that the fund is split between metals and mining companies and chemical firms, providing access to the two major sub-sectors of the materials space.

CHIM is more expensive than the average for the ETF industry, but the fees charged are very reasonable given the targeted nature of the exposure offered. Moreover, the ability to trade this ETF commission free on certain platforms should be noted, as this benefit may enhance the cost efficiency to some investors.

CHIM isn't for everyone; the precise nature of this fund makes it too specific for the majority of investors, especially those looking to build a long-term, buy-and-hold portfolio. But for those looking to implement a very specific tactical tilt, CHIM can be a useful way of accessing or overweighting China's materials sector.