How to invest in the water sector
Active or passive – and if passive, which is the best benchmark to track?
Citywire Playbook is here to refresh your choices
FUND PERFORMANCE chart data is in percentages and valid as of 30 April 2021
Is water the new oil?
Water is the one resource none of us can do without. Today's focus on water supplies, driven by climate change, conservation and increasing urbanisation, has never been more intense
Active
Plays
Three best active funds
2020 was a breakout year for active water funds, with strong inflows and performance
Active Play
RobecoSAM Sustainable Water (CHF)
Started
Oct 2020
On Benchmark
Active Play
Virtus AllianzGI Water Class A
Started
Mar 2008
On Benchmark
Active Play
BNP Paribas Aqua Classic
Started
Dec 2008
On Benchmark
Active Play
RobecoSAM Sustainable Water (CHF)
Started
Oct 2020
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Managers
Dieter Küffer
Dieter Küffer
Benchmark
S&P Global Water TR
3-year total return % (USD)
60.26
Holdings
Biggest holding
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Biggest holding size
4.19
%
Active Play
Virtus AllianzGI Water Class A
Started
Mar 2008
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Managers
Andreas Fruschki
Andreas Fruschki
Benchmark
S&P Global Water TR
3-year total return % (USD)
56.05
Holdings
38
Biggest holding
American Water Works
Biggest holding size
5.88
%
Active Play
BNP Paribas Aqua Classic
Started
Dec 2008
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Managers
Bruce Jenkyn-Jones
Bruce Jenkyn-Jones
Hubert Aarts
Hubert Aarts
Benchmark
S&P Global Water TR
3-year total return % (USD)
55.21
Holdings
53
Biggest holding
American Water Works
Biggest holding size
3.18
%
Index Play
Invesco Water Resources ETF
Started
Dec 2005
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Expense ratio
0.6
%
Benchmark
NASDAQ OMX US Water Index
P/E ratio
39.9
Holdings
38
Biggest holding
Roper Technologies
Biggest holding size
8.6
%
Index Play
First Trust ISE Water Index Fund
Started
May 2007
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Expense ratio
0.54
%
Benchmark
ISE Clean Edge Water Index
P/E ratio
35.93
Holdings
38
Biggest holding
Roper Technologies
Biggest holding size
4.3
%
Index Play
Invesco S&P Global Water Index ETF
Started
May 2007
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Expense ratio
0.57
%
Benchmark
S&P Global Water Index
P/E ratio
37.04
Holdings
51
Biggest holding
American Water Works
Biggest holding size
9.8
%
Index
Plays
Three Largest ETFs
While the biggest water ETFs have been around for many years, flows and performance only really took off after 2016
Index Play
Invesco Water Resources ETF
Started
Dec 2005
On Benchmark
Index Play
First Trust ISE Water Index Fund
Started
May 2007
On Benchmark
Index Play
Invesco S&P Global Water Index ETF
Started
May 2007
On Benchmark
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