3 Sectors ETFs That Should Thrive On Low Oil Prices - ETF News And Commentary

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The crash in oil prices has truly reached shocking levels at this point. 
Oil prices which were trading above the triple-digit mark only months ago, but have now given up gains to gravitational forces and are now hovering around the five-year low of $65 a barrel.


Oil has collapsed more than 40% this year, thanks to sluggish global demand, a strong dollar and booming U.S. oil production – which has risen to the highest output from the U.S. in three decades. Moreover, a lack of geopolitical concerns has also dragged oil prices lower (read:
Oil ETFs Crash As Crude Touches Multi-Year Low
).


While these factors were certainly playing foul in the oil market, the recent decision by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) not to cut oil production in spite of overflowing supplies has led to a bear market.


In fact, OPEC members like Saudi Arabia and Iraq have widened discounts on crude exports to some of their customers, bolstering speculation of a price war, given the OPEC's clear strategy of maintaining its dominance in the market in the face of increasing shale oil production in the U.S.


While the slump in oil prices is definitely hitting oil exporting nations and several oil companies, which in turn have even announced cuts in their capex budgets, it has been a blessing in disguise for several others. Lower oil prices normally help companies either by way of lower input costs or increased consumer spending or through both (read:
Energy ETFs in Focus as ConocoPhillips (COP) Cuts 2015 Capex
).


Indeed, wilting oil prices can have a multiplier effect on the economy and benefit a range of sectors.

Below we have highlighted three sector ETFs that should thrive on low oil prices.


Retail
-
SPDR S&P Retail ETF
(
XRT
)

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Lower gasoline prices are good news for retailers as consumers will now have fatter wallets and more money for discretionary spending. This is likely to lure customers for shopping especially prior to the busiest holiday season and in turn benefit retailers.


XRT is one of the most popular ETFs in its space with an asset base of $1 billion and trades with heavy volumes of nearly 2.3 billion shares. This product tracks the S&P Retail Select Industry Index, holding 103 securities in its basket. It is widely spread across each component as none of these holds more than 1.27% of total assets.


In terms of sector holdings, apparel retail takes the top spot at one-fourth share while specialty stores, automotive retail and Internet retail also have double-digit allocations. The ETF charges 35 bps in annual fees and has added over 7.9% in the past 26 weeks. The fund has a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 or ‘Buy' rating with a Medium risk outlook (read:
Retail ETFs Gain Ahead of Holiday Season on Decent Earnings
).


Transportation Sector - SPDR S&P Transportation ETF (XTN)

Though retailers are definitely going to benefit from oil gasoline prices, the transportation sector is best positioned to take advantage of the falling crude. This is especially true as energy costs form a major portion of the overall costs of this sector and as such falling oil prices are likely to boost earnings of airlines and shipping companies.


This fund uses the equal weight methodology to each security by tracking the S&P Transportation Select Industry Index. Holding 49 stocks in its basket with an AUM of $509.3 million, each security accounts for less than 3.4% of total assets (read:
ETF Winners from Q3 Earnings Season
).


More than one-third of the portfolio is dominated by trucking while airlines takes another one-fourth share. Airfreight & logistics and railroads have 19.9% and 11.4% allocations, respectively. The fund charges 35 bps in fees per year from investors and has added about 10% over the past 3 months. XTN currently carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2.


Consumer Staples
-
PowerShares Dynamic Food & Beverage ETF
(
PBJ
)


The consumer staples sector usually outperforms during large oil price declines. Lower gasoline prices are likely to increase discretionary spending, leading people to spend more money on dining out. This is likely to provide a boost to the U.S. food and beverage companies (read:
3 Country ETFs to Buy on Cheaper Oil Prices).

This product offers a targeted exposure to 30 U.S. food and beverage stocks by tracking the Dynamic Food & Beverage Intellidex Index. Packaged food product companies take up nearly 47% of the assets, followed by double-digit allocations to restaurants, food retail and beverages.


The fund manages an AUM of $304 million and trades with an average daily volume of more than 90,000 shares. It charges 61 bps in annual fees from investors. The product has added 7% in the past 3 months.


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US-OIL FUND LP (USO): ETF Research Reports

SPDR-SP RET ETF (XRT): ETF Research Reports

SPDR-SP TRANSPT (XTN): ETF Research Reports

PWRSH-DYN FD&BV (PBJ): ETF Research Reports

US BRENT OIL FD (BNO): ETF Research Reports

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