Italy Country ETFs: Best 7 for Investment

At the end of World War 2, Italy was among the poorest countries in Europe. However, just like when hardest hit by the coronavirus, fiscal stimulus and sound monetary policies turned this economy into the second largest industrial producer in Europe.

Similarly, having been among the hardest-hit countries by the Covid-19 pandemic, Italy’s economy expected at a faster rate the expected in 2021, 6.6%, on the updraft of less than anticipated fiscal deficits, export, and consumer spending resumption, and increased investments. Couple EU’s recovery fund for Italy is close to €200 billion, and it is time to consider investing in this European industrial powerhouse by backing the whole economy via these ETFs.

What is the composition of Italian ETFs? 

Italian ETFs comprise investment assets solely domiciled in Italy and those with significant assets or drawing significant revenues off the Italian economy. As a result, this includes exchange-traded funds with considerable exposure to the Italian economy, in essence, all those with Italy as part of its top seven country weightings.

Top 7 Italian ETFs

Italy is the third-largest economy in the eurozone, and its manufacturing and industrial sectors have ranked as the second-largest for both niches in Europe. With the Italian government encouraging foreigners to invest via favorable policies for foreign investors, these seven ETFs offer excellent exposure to one of the fastest recovering economies from the coronavirus.

iShares MSCI Italy ETF (EWI)

Price: $29.63

Expense ratio: 0.51%

Dividend yield: 1.91%

iShares MSCI Italian ETF tracks the MSCI Italy Index, investing at least 80% of its assets in the holdings of its composite index, and other investment assets with similar economic characteristics to the composite index holdings. The result is a non-diversified fund exposing investors to large-cap and mid-cap equity segments of the Italian economy.

EWI ETF is ranked № 13 by US News analysts among 78 of the best miscellaneous region funds for long-term investing.

The top three holdings of this fund are:

• Enel SpA – 14.02%
• Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. – 10.13%
• Eni S.p.A. – 9.41%

EWI ETF boasts $433.3 million in assets under management, with an expense ratio of 0.51%. Except for 2021, the last half a decade has been one of the returns for investors seeking Italian pureplay exposure with this fund; 5-year returns of 36.00%, 3-year returns of 18.27%, and 1-year returns of -1.71%.

WisdomTree Europe Hedged SmallCap Equity Fund (EUSC) 

Price: $34.96

Expense ratio: 0.58%

Dividend yield: 2.47%

WisdomTree Europe Hedged SmallCap Equity Fund tracks the performance and yield of the WisdomTree Europe Hedged SmallCap Equity Index, net of fees and expenses. It invests at least 80% of its assets in the holdings of the tracked index and other securities exhibiting similar economic characteristics.

The top three holdings of this fund are:

• Enagas SA – 2.26%
• Proximus SA de droit public – 2.03%
• BAWAG Group AG – 1.92%

The EUSC has $61.8 million in assets under management, with an expense ratio of 0.58%. A unique FX hedge and equity screening methodology provide a fund concentrating on dividend-paying small-cap equities in the eurozone, excluding the UK, Sweden, and Switzerland. The result is a diversified play on the Italian small-cap segment with both value and growth; 5-year returns of 43.45%, 3-year returns of 28.27%, 1-year returns of -5.33%, and a dividend yield of 2.47%.

Franklin FTSE Italy ETF (FLIY) 

Price: $24.77

Expense ratio: 0.09%

Dividend yield: 2.08%

Franklin FTSE Italy ETF tracks the performance of the FTSE Italy RIC Capped Index, net of expenses, and fees. It invests, under normal conditions, at least 80% of its assets in the holdings of its composite index and depository receipts representative of the underlying holdings, exposing investors to the best Italian large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap equity segments.

The top three holdings of this fund are:

• Enel SpA – 11.24%
• Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. – 8.72%
• Eni S.p.A.– 7.88%

The FLIY has a meager $3.7 million in assets under management compared to the EWI. However, it makes up for this by charging a fraction of EWI’s investors, an expense ratio of 0.09%. Despite lacking the liquidity of the EWI, equities from all cap divide provide both value and growth; 3-year returns of 19.72%, 1-year returns of -1.91%, and a dividend yield of 2.08%.

Cambria Global Value ETF (GVAL)

Price: $21.30

Expense ratio: 0.71%

Annual dividend yield: 2.56%

Cambria Global Value ETF is an actively managed fund that seeks capital appreciation. It invests at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities, common stocks, and depository receipts issued by companies domiciled in developed and emerging markets, with tremendous potential for value.

The top three holdings of this non-diversified ETF are:

• iShares MSCI Colombia ETF – 9.18%
• CEZ as – 4.54%
• Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa S.A. – 3.71%

The GVAL ETF has $110.1 million in assets under management, with an expense ratio of 0.71%. With its proprietary algorithm that helps screen for the best value creation equities and capping to mitigate against region, sector, and country concentration risk, this fund is a consistent value and returns provider; 5-year returns of 10.24%, 3-year returns of 3.40%, 1-year returns of 0.42%, and a dividend yield of 2.56%.

Global X Funds Global X Renewable Energy Producers ETF (RNRG)

Price: $16.15

Expense ratio: 0.65%

Dividend yield: 2.00%

The Global X Funds Global X Renewable Energy Producers ETF tracks the performance and yield of the Indxx Renewable Energy Producers Index, net of expenses and fees. It invests at least 80% of its net assets in the tracked index in addition to American and global depository receipts, ADRs, and GDRs, that represent the composite index securities.

The top three holdings of this fund are:

• EDP Renovaveis SA – 6.29%
• Orsted – 5.92%
• Brookfield Renewable Partners LP – 5.69%

The RNRG fund has $147.1 million in assets under management, with an expense ratio of 0.65%. A weight capping mitigates against concentration bias while investing in renewable energy equities aligns with the global theme of green financing, providing an avenue for the growth of this fund, as well as consistent returns and income; 5-year returns of 67.04%, 3-year returns of 33.95%, 1-year returns of 4.64%, and a dividend yield of 2%. It is an indirect play on the next revolution of the Italian industrial and manufacturing sectors.

First Trust Eurozone AlphaDEX Fund (FEUZ)

Price: $41.30

Expense ratio: 0.80%

Annual dividend yield: 2.30%

The First Trust Eurozone AlphaDEX Fund tracks the performance of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX Eurozone Index, net of expenses and fees. FEUZ invests at least 90% of its total assets in the underlying holdings of its composite index and REITs and ADRs associated with the underlying holdings. It exposes its investors to eurozone equities chosen via the AlphaDex methodology to generate positive alpha, ensuring risk-adjusted returns.

The top three holdings of this eurozone ETF are:

• OCI NV – 1.45%
• D’Ieteren Group – 1.41%
• Kojamo Oyj – 1.40%

The FEUZ ETF has $36.3 million in assets under management, with an expense ratio of 0.80%. Utilizing the AlphaDex formula has resulted in consistent returns for investors of this fund except for the last 12 months; 5-year returns of 30.60%, 3-year returns of 19.61%, 1-year returns of -1.93%, and a dividend yield of 2.30%. A pretty even weighting provides for a diversified play on the Italian economy coupled with other eurozone equities with the potential for significant value.

Global X MSCI Super Dividend EAFE ETF (EFAS)

Price: $15.53

Expense ratio: 0.56%

Dividend yield: 4.66%

Global X MSCI Super Dividend EAFE ETF tracks the performance and yield of the MSCI EAFE Top 50 Dividend Index, net of fees and expenses. It invests at least 80% in its underlying index and securities of like economic characteristics to the composite index under holdings. It exposes investors to the best dividend-paying equities in the eurozone, Australasia, and the far east.

The top three holdings of this fund are:

• BHP Group Ltd – 4.43%
• CNP Assurances SA – 2.83%
• Lundin Energy AB – 2.58%

The EFAS ETF has $11.7 million in assets under management, with an expense ratio of 0.56%. This fund is an indirect and diversified play on the Italian dividend equities by concentrating on global equities with a history of dividend consistency and sustainability and a trailing yield of 5% and above. The result is a fund capable of withstanding market downturn while providing value and growth; 5-year returns of 25.44%, 3-year returns of 14.92%, 1-year returns of 5.36%, and an impressive dividend yield of 4.66%.

Final thoughts

The quick turnaround of the Italian economy after the coronavirus, after being one of the hardest-hit countries in the Eurozone, speaks to the soundness of the fiscal policies in this industrial economy.

Despite the rising energy cost due to the Ukraine-Russia war, the Italian government has an €8 billion energy subsidy fund to ensure its fiscal deficit remains on track, a target of 5.6% of GDP. With such a tested and effective fiscal stimulus, the seven ETFs are a great starting point to generate significant returns from the Italian economy, which is expanding faster than expected.