Given the rather dire week the ASX had prior to yesterday, it might come as a surprise to many readers to hear that not one, not two, but 15 different ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have just hit new 52-week highs today.
Let's check them out.
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15 ASX ETFs at 52-week highs today
First up we have the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS). This diversified fund covers more than 20 advanced economies from around the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Singapore, and Denmark. But most of its holdings are US shares, despite the fact that this fund has almost 1,500 individual companies within it.
VGS units touched $106.05 each this morning, which is this fund's new 52-week high.
Given the dominance of US shares in the Vanguard International Shares ETF, it's no surprise to see other US-based funds doing well today. Another ASX ETF that hit a new 52-week high this morning was the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV). IVV units hit a new high watermark of $44.12.
This S&P 500 ETF holds the largest 500 shares in the US by market capitalisation, so shares many of the same names as VGS, like Apple, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Alphabet, in its top holdings. The SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF (ASX: SPY) is virtually identical to IVV in terms of holdings, so it's not a shock to see SPY units hit a new high as well. In this case, our 52-week high comes in at $656.70.
Nor the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ), with its new high of $34.80. This ETF is a little different, tracking the 100 largest shares on the NASDAQ stock exchange. However, it still holds the US tech giants listed above as its top-weighted shares.
Also sharing many of those top holdings is the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (ASX: VTS). This fund represents an investment in almost 3,900 US shares but is still dominated by those same names. So again, no one should be taken aback by seeing VTS units at a new 52-week high of $326.70 today.
Our final funds at new highs
It's again a similar story with the Vanguard Ethically Conscious International Shares Index ETF (ASX: VESG). This fund is very similar in nature to the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. However, it omits companies like oil shares, tobacco shares, and other 'ethically challenged' companies. But it still holds the US tech giants as its largest investments. VESG units hit a new high of $74.38 this morning.
Similarly, the BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI) is also having a top day. Again, this ETF holds a basket of the world's largest shares, selected using ethics criteria. The new 52-high for this one sits at $12.72.
Next up is a very similar ASX ETF in the iShares Core MSCI World ex-Australia ESG ETF (ASX: IWLD). This fund is provided by BlackRock and represents a similar investing mandate of choosing the world's largest companies from advanced economies with an ethical bias. IWLD units touched a new 52-week high of $45.60 this session.
Our next ETF to examine today is cut from a different cloth. The VanEck MSCI International Small Companies Quality ETF (ASX: QSML) is a fund that has a portfolio of around 150 different small companies that fulfil certain 'quality' metrics, such as a high return on equity and low leverage. QSML units hit a new 52-week high of $23.53 earlier today.
Onto our final six ETFs at new 52-week highs today are as follows:
- Global X Battery Tech & Lithium ETF (ASX: ACDC) with a new 52-week high of $105.99
- BetaShares S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (ASX: QUS) at $43.39
- Global X Morningstar Global Technology ETF (ASX: TECH) at $92
- VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT) at $120.18
- BetaShares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY) at $24.09
- BetaShares Global Shares ETF (ASX: BGBL) at $53.21
