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September 09, 2004
First Alternative Energy Index Spawns Exchange Traded Fund
by William Baue
The WilderHill Clean Energy Index, published by the American Stock Exchange, will serve as the
basis for an exchange traded fund from PowerShares Capital Management.
SocialFunds.com --
Investing in a portfolio of companies involved in alternative energies such as wind, solar, and
hydrogen fuel cells has been challenging, but it is now getting easier. Last month saw the launch
of the WilderHill Clean Energy Index (ticker: ECO), a
benchmark comprised of publicly traded companies involved in alternative energies that is published
by the American Stock Exchange (Amex).
The index, created by San Diego-based index
provider WilderShares, will serve as the basis for an exchange traded fund (ETF) offered by
PowerShares Capital Management. PowerShares' registration for US Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) authorization of the ETF is
currently under a 75-day quiet period ending in October, after which the ETF could launch if
approved.
"Up until now investors have had few options for investing in alternative
energy mutual funds," said Zoë Van Schyndel, managing director of socially responsible investment
(SRI) hedge fund firm King StarFish Capital Management, who has expertise in ETFs. "Although a
number of funds include alternative energy companies in their portfolio, only one has a distinct
mandate to invest in these companies"--The New Alternatives Fund (ticker: NALFX).
ETFs are
similar to mutual funds in that they bundle a number of securities together, but they differ
significantly in that they can be traded throughout the business day just like stocks. Mutual
funds, in contrast, set their net asset value (NAV) only once a day. ETF investors can therefore
legitimately capitalize on information that causes market fluctuations throughout the day and after
the end of the trading day. Mutual funds, on the other hand, prohibit late trading (which takes
advantage of market changes after the NAV is set) and discourage market timing (or rapid trading
meant to capitalize on short-term market fluctuations.)
"With most mutual fund companies
now discouraging active trading of their funds, ETFs are a product that is ideal for investors who
want to actively trade," Ms. Van Schyndel told SocialFunds.com. "Those investors looking to take
advantage of tax losses and gains at the most opportune time will find that an ETF offers the
flexibility to pick the time of these events, flexibility that mutual funds do not provide."
"Expense ratios of .20 or even lower are common with ETFs--compare that to mutual funds, whose
average expense ratio is around 1.3 percent," she added.
However, increased activity
increases trading expenses, which investors will want to monitor. Charles Schwab charges $29.95 per ETF trade, E*Trade $19.95, and Ameritrade $10.99, while ShareBuilder and FOLIOfn charge only $4 per trade.
While the financial
benefits of ETFs will attract some investors, the environmental benefits of this new index will
likely eclipse the financial draw.
"As smart energy alternatives including wind, solar,
and hydrogen fuel cells have reached billion dollar markets and gain increasing demand, we believe
the WilderHill Clean Energy Index is the right product at the right time," said Rob Wilder,
managing director of WilderShares. "Given that the price for this energy depends mainly on costs
of technology and these costs are only dropping, clean energy contrasts sharply with the trends in
fossil fuels."
"Compare clean energy against fossil fuel price fluctuations,
environmental impacts, and supply vulnerability, and I believe that the WilderHill Clean Energy
Index will only grow in significance," Dr. Wilder added.
The ECO index is constituted on a
modified equal weighting basis, meaning that it seeks to balance company representation in the
benchmark according to their dollar value. The index also predetermines sector representation.
The cleaner fuel sector represents 20 percent of the index (7 companies), energy conversion 21
percent (8 companies), energy storage 10 percent (4), greener utilities 11 percent (4), power
delivery and conservation 20 percent (11), and renewable energy harvesting 18 percent (6).
As of yesterday, the top three components in the index were Energy Conversion Devices (ENER--3.86
percent), FPL Group (FPL--3.78 percent), and Zoltek (ZOLT--3.68).
Energy Conversion Devices is involved in solar and hydrogen fuel cells, while Zoltek produces
carbon fiber. FPL has a significant wind power portfolio, but it is also involved in nuclear
energy production, an aspect that deters some social investors.
Other companies in the
index include industrial gases producer Praxair (PX), photovoltaic module producer
Evergreen Solar (ESLR), and low-emission
microturbine producer Capstone Turbine (CPST).
©
SRI World Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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