EXPLORE MEGATRENDS BY THEMES
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ISHARES ETFS
THEMATIC INVESTING
Thematic investing focuses on forward-looking themes, including technological advancements like robotics and semiconductors, as well as consumer-driven trends such as electric vehicles and home builders. iShares provides ETFs, along with timely insights and portfolio analysis tools, to help advisors gain exposure to themes that are top of mind for their clients.
LEARN ABOUT INVESTMENT THEMES MAKING HEADLINES TODAY
81% of investors plan on increasing exposure to thematic ETFs.¹ Explore how iShares can help your clients potentially capture the trend.
AI and Robotics
Exposure to companies at the forefront of robotics and artificial intelligence innovation.
Semiconductors
Exposure to U.S. companies that design, manufacture, and distribute semiconductors.
Self-Driving and Electric Vehicles
Exposure to global stocks along the full value chain of self-driving and EV industries, across sectors and geographies.
MEGATRENDS INVESTING 101
WHAT ARE MEGATRENDS?
BlackRock has identified five trends, or “megatrends;" this sub-set of thematic investing specifically targets long-term themes changing how we live and work. From AI to electric vehicles, megatrend ETFs cut across countries and sectors - making it easy to invest in these trends for the long-term.
ARE YOU POSITIONING YOUR PORTFOLIO FOR THE FUTURE?
Picking single stocks is hard. Broad indexes can water down your theme convictions. Megatrends may allow you to target high-conviction trends without going too broad, in an ever-evolving innovation landscape.
Innovation has outpaced most large cap companies
Only 10% of the S&P 500’s largest companies have remained in the top 20 over the last two decades.2
Themes now span across multiple sectors
As examples, clean energy and EV supply chains involve companies across 6 different sectors.3 A single sector may no longer fully capture the complete value chain of a theme.
Innovation is happening beyond the US
In the last two decades, the U.S. contributed 23% to global R&D growth; while South & Southeast Asia contributed 46%.4
Technology is driving exponential progress in the tech sector and far beyond. Access innovative companies with long-term growth potential in robotics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more.
Medical breakthroughs are opening the door to longer, healthier living, and virtualization is changing the way we connect with each other. Invest in companies revolutionizing our lives.
Demand for a clean, green tomorrow will advance energy and conservation. Invest in companies who may lead the charge in clean power, electric vehicles and more.
Cities in the developed world are feeling their age. Cities in emerging markets are coming of age. Invest in companies poised to benefit from infrastructure needs in the U.S. and across the globe.
Newly affluent consumers in emerging market economies are transforming global spending and emerging market countries are predicted to represent six out of the seven largest economies by 2050. Invest in the global middle class shaping the future.
Invest in a range of themes with a single ticker - across flagship multi-theme index strategies and active managers.
EXPLORE LATEST THEMATIC INSIGHTS
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© 2023 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved.
1 2023 Brown Brothers Harriman ETF report, based on a survey of 325 ETF institutional investors, financial advisors, and fund managers from the U.S., Europe (including the U.K.) and Greater China.
2 Source Bloomberg, 12/31/2022. 20 largest companies in the S&P 500 Index as of 12/31/2002: Microsoft, General Electric, ExxonMobil, Wal-Mart Stores, Pfizer, Citigroup, Johnson & Johnson, American Intl Group, IBM, Merck, Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Verizon Communications, Bank of America, Intel, Cisco Sys, SBC Communications, Altria Group Inc, Wells Fargo, & PepsiCo. Top 20 largest companies in the S&P 500 Index as of 12/31/2022: Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B, Alphabet Inc Class A, UnitedHealth Group Inc, Alphabet Inc Class C, Johnson & Johnson, Exxon Mobil Corp, JPMorgan Chase & Co, NVIDIA Corp, Procter & Gamble Co, Visa Inc Class A, Tesla Inc, The Home Depot Inc, Chevron Corp, Mastercard Inc Class A, Eli Lilly and Co, & Pfizer Inc.
3 Morningstar, 12/31/22; Supply chains for clean energy & electric vehicles were measured via the S&P Global Clean Energy Index and the NYSE® FactSet Global Autonomous Driving and Electric Vehicle Index respectively, which combined span the following six sectors: Energy, Materials, Industrials, Consumer Discretionary, Info Tech., & Utilities.
4 NCSES, National Patterns of R&D Resources; OECD, MSTI March 2021. Southeast Asia & South Asia, including China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, & India.
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds' prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses which may be obtained visiting the iShares ETF and BlackRock Mutual Fund prospectus pages. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
International investing involves risks, including risks related to foreign currency, limited liquidity, less government regulation and the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse political, economic or other developments. These risks often are heightened for investments in emerging/ developing markets or in concentrations of single countries.
Funds that concentrate investments in specific industries, sectors, markets or asset classes may underperform or be more volatile than other industries, sectors, markets or asset classes and than the general securities market.
Technology companies may be subject to severe competition and product obsolescence.
This material represents an assessment of the market environment as of the date indicated; is subject to change; and is not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results. This information should not be relied upon by the reader as research or investment advice regarding the funds or any issuer or security in particular.
The strategies discussed are strictly for illustrative and educational purposes and are not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. There is no guarantee that any strategies discussed will be effective.
The information presented does not take into consideration commissions, tax implications, or other transactions costs, which may significantly affect the economic consequences of a given strategy or investment decision.
This material contains general information only and does not take into account an individual's financial circumstances. This information should not be relied upon as a primary basis for an investment decision. Rather, an assessment should be made as to whether the information is appropriate in individual circumstances and consideration should be given to talking to a financial professional before making an investment decision.
The information provided is not intended to be tax advice. Investors should be urged to consult their tax professionals or financial advisors for more information regarding their specific tax situations.
The Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, "BlackRock").
The iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by Bloomberg Finance L.P., BlackRock Index Services, LLC, Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc., European Public Real Estate Association (“EPRA® ”), FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”), ICE Data Services, LLC, India Index Services & Products Limited, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Japan Exchange Group, MSCI Inc., Markit Indices Limited, Morningstar, Inc., The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”), New York Stock Exchange, Inc., Russell or S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. None of these companies make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Funds. With the exception of BlackRock Index Services, LLC, who is an affiliate, BlackRock Investments, LLC is not affiliated with the companies listed above.
Neither FTSE nor NAREIT makes any warranty regarding the FTSE NAREIT Equity REITS Index, FTSE NAREIT All Residential Capped Index or FTSE NAREIT All Mortgage Capped Index; all rights vest in NAREIT. Neither FTSE nor NAREIT makes any warranty regarding the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Real Estate ex-U.S. Index, FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Europe Index or FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Global REIT Index; all rights vest in FTSE, NAREIT and EPRA.“FTSE®” is a trademark of London Stock Exchange Group companies and is used by FTSE under license.
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