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VAW - ETF AI Analysis

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VAW

Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW)

Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:
VAW’s rating suggests it is a solid but not top-tier materials ETF, balancing strong leaders with some weaker spots. High-weight holdings like Newmont, CRH, Corteva, Nucor, and Vulcan Materials support the fund’s quality through strong financial performance, positive earnings calls, and generally favorable technical trends, though valuations are sometimes a concern. The main risks come from weaker names like Air Products and Linde, where financial or macro challenges and bearish or overvalued technical profiles, along with the ETF’s concentration in the cyclical materials sector, can hold back the overall rating.
Positive Factors
Strong Recent Performance
The ETF has shown solid gains so far this year and in recent months, indicating positive momentum in its holdings.
Low Expense Ratio
The fund’s very low fee means more of the investment returns stay in investors’ pockets instead of going to costs.
Leading Materials Companies
Several of the largest positions, such as Linde, Freeport-McMoRan, and Air Products, have delivered strong year-to-date results that support the fund’s overall performance.
Negative Factors
High Sector Concentration
With most of its assets in the materials sector, the ETF is heavily exposed to swings in commodity and industrial demand.
Top Holding Concentration
A small number of companies make up a large share of the portfolio, which increases the impact if any of these stocks run into trouble.
Limited International Diversification
The fund is dominated by U.S. stocks with only small exposure to other countries, offering little geographic diversification.

VAW vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

VAW Summary

Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) is a fund that tracks the MSCI US IMI 25/50 Materials Index, focusing on companies that make basic materials used in construction, manufacturing, and industry. Its holdings include well-known names like Linde and Sherwin-Williams, along with makers of chemicals, metals, and building materials. Investors might consider VAW to diversify their portfolio and benefit from long-term growth tied to industrial and infrastructure demand. However, because it is heavily focused on the materials sector, its price can rise and fall sharply with the economy and commodity markets.
How much will it cost me?The Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) has an expense ratio of 0.09%, which means you’ll pay $0.90 per year for every $1,000 invested. This is lower than average because it’s a passively managed fund that tracks an index, keeping costs down for investors.
What would affect this ETF?The Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) could benefit from increased infrastructure spending or industrial growth in the U.S., as its holdings are heavily focused on companies producing essential materials like chemicals and metals. However, it may face challenges from rising interest rates, which can increase borrowing costs for construction projects, or economic slowdowns that reduce demand for materials. Regulatory changes affecting environmental standards or mining operations could also impact the ETF's performance.

VAW Top 10 Holdings

VAW is very much a U.S. materials story, with the fund leaning heavily on industrial gases, metals, and chemicals. Linde is doing much of the heavy lifting, rising steadily and acting like the fund’s anchor. Nucor has been another bright spot, riding strong momentum in steel. On the flip side, CRH, Sherwin-Williams, and Ecolab have been losing steam, dragging on returns as construction and coatings names wobble. Overall, performance is being driven by a handful of big materials leaders, making the ETF fairly concentrated in this cyclical corner of the market.
Name
Company Name
Weight %
Market Value
Market Cap
Yearly Gain
Overall Rating
Linde14.92%$681.48M$238.44B12.36%
66
Neutral
Newmont Mining7.73%$353.05M$104.18B73.11%
81
Outperform
Freeport-McMoRan5.29%$241.62M$95.37B67.10%
67
Neutral
CRH plc5.06%$231.15M$70.05B18.26%
76
Outperform
Sherwin-Williams Company4.83%$220.57M$78.16B-5.53%
66
Neutral
Ecolab4.24%$193.46M$74.20B0.45%
66
Neutral
Air Products and Chemicals4.08%$186.40M$61.93B0.44%
46
Neutral
Corteva3.49%$159.42M$50.07B5.12%
75
Outperform
Nucor3.29%$150.15M$59.42B118.46%
74
Outperform
Vulcan Materials2.54%$116.11M$36.36B9.86%
77
Outperform

VAW Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price
Price Trends
50DMA
231.95
Positive
100DMA
231.00
Positive
200DMA
217.22
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.25
Negative
RSI
55.73
Neutral
STOCH
49.70
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For VAW, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of undefined is equal to the 20-day moving average (MA) of 229.49, equal to the 50-day MA of 231.95, and equal to the 200-day MA of 217.22, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of -0.25 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 55.73 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 49.70 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for VAW.

VAW Peer Comparison

Comparison Results
Name
Price
Price Target
AUM
Expense Ratio
Overall Rating
$3.04B0.09%
67
Neutral
$9.92B0.09%
71
Outperform
$8.44B0.09%
67
Neutral
$7.88B0.08%
68
Neutral
$4.82B0.35%
63
Neutral
$1.22B0.38%
68
Neutral
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
VAW
Vanguard Materials ETF
235.13
43.93
22.98%
VDE
Vanguard Energy ETF
VPU
Vanguard Utilities ETF
XLB
Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund
XME
SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF
IYM
iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF
Glossary
BuyAn ETF rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldAn ETF rated as a "Hold" s expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the ETF is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellAn ETF rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF may deliver lower returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
DisclaimerThis AI Analyst ETF Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in ETFs carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: ―
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