The global video game industry is booming, and we can see it in the soaring unit price of Video Games and Esports ETF (ASX: GAME).
This ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) has risen by 42% in the year to date, and is up 86% over the past 12 months.
Today, GAME ETF is trading for $20.40 per unit, down 0.75%.
In an article, Betashares says this ETF represents a rising global investment megatrend.
The ASX ETF provider says:
The video gaming industry of today bears little resemblance to the industry of years gone by, when teenagers saved their cash to buy a cartridge of their favourite game at Walmart.
Statista data shows there are 2.7 billion gamers worldwide today, and the GAME ETF is seeking to capitalise on this favourite pastime.
International advertising agency, Dentsu, says the global video game industry now brings in more money than the film and music industries combined.
Betashares says gaming has grown into a near-US$300 billion industry.
Well-known video gaming companies like Nintendo, Sega, and Take-Two now have new-gen rivals in Roblox, Tencent, and Applovin.
The industry has expanded to include eSports events, which attract millions of viewers worldwide.
Beatshares says gamers are a loyal customer base for these companies and they're willing to spend in any type of economy.
Let's find out more about the GAME ETF.
Image source: Getty Images
What is GAME ETF?
The GAME ETF is invested in 40 shares and tracks the Nasdaq CTA Global Video Games & Esports Index.
Currently, the top holdings are NetEase, Roblox, Tencent, and Take-Two.
Top industry allocations are interactive home entertainment (71%), application software (15%), and interactive media and services (8%).
The geographic exposure is US 40%, Japan 31%, China 19%, South Korea 6%, Poland 2%, and Sweden 1%.
This ASX ETF currently has $38.2 million in net assets.
Betashares says:
The video games and esports industry has been growing strongly, with industry revenue, profit margins, and the number of global players all forecast to increase in the coming years.
The ETF provider said increases in digital distribution and cloud gaming would improve the profitability of game developers and publishers.
Gamers are also increasingly using video games as social media platforms, and can communicate with their friends while playing games.
Historical returns of GAME ETF
Since its inception in February 2022, this ASX ETF has delivered an average annual return of 16%.
The unit price of GAME ETF has risen by 70% over this timeframe.
The GAME ETF distributes income once per year.
The management fee is 0.57% per annum.
