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VAW - ETF AI Analysis

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VAW

Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW)

Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:
VAW, the Vanguard Materials ETF, earns a solid overall rating driven by strong, diversified holdings like Newmont Mining, CRH, Vulcan Materials, and Martin Marietta, which all show healthy financial performance and supportive earnings outlooks. These strengths are partly offset by weaker names such as Air Products and Linde, where financial or macro challenges, bearish technical trends, and valuation concerns weigh on the fund. The main risk factor is its concentration in the cyclical materials sector, which can be sensitive to economic slowdowns and regional macroeconomic pressures.
Positive Factors
Strong Recent Performance
The ETF has shown solid gains over the past month, three months, and year-to-date, indicating positive recent momentum.
Leading Materials Holdings
Several major holdings in the materials sector, such as Newmont Mining and Freeport-McMoRan, have delivered strong year-to-date performance, helping support the fund’s returns.
Low Expense Ratio
The fund’s very low expense ratio means investors keep more of the ETF’s returns instead of paying high fees.
Negative Factors
Sector Concentration in Materials
The ETF is heavily focused on the materials sector, which increases risk if that part of the market experiences a downturn.
High Weight in Top Holdings
A small group of companies, including Linde and Newmont Mining, make up a large share of the portfolio, raising exposure to company-specific setbacks.
Limited International Diversification
Most of the ETF’s assets are invested in U.S. companies, offering only modest exposure to markets outside the United States.

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

VAW Summary

Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) is a fund that follows the MSCI US IMI 25/50 Materials Index, focusing on companies that make basic materials like chemicals, metals, and construction products. It holds well-known names such as Linde and Sherwin-Williams, giving you a simple way to invest in the building blocks of the economy, from infrastructure to manufacturing. Someone might invest in VAW to diversify beyond tech and gain exposure to economic growth tied to construction and industry. A key risk is that materials stocks are cyclical, so the ETF can rise and fall sharply with the economy and commodity prices.
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 a pure play on U.S. materials, and its story right now is one of a few leaders trying to pull along a tired pack. Linde is still a key engine for the fund, with longer-term gains helping offset recent softness, while Corteva and Air Products are quietly rising and adding some welcome lift. On the other side, Newmont, Sherwin-Williams, and CRH have been lagging, acting like a brake on performance. Overall, the ETF is heavily concentrated in chemicals and building materials, with only modest exposure beyond the U.S.
Name
Company Name
Weight %
Market Value
Market Cap
Yearly Gain
Overall Rating
Linde14.44%$686.99M$232.90B14.76%
66
Neutral
Newmont Mining8.63%$410.79M$124.07B158.15%
81
Outperform
Freeport-McMoRan5.95%$283.07M$88.22B110.57%
67
Neutral
Sherwin-Williams Company5.20%$247.26M$78.79B-4.23%
66
Neutral
CRH plc4.89%$232.86M£52.98B26.63%
76
Outperform
Ecolab4.78%$227.60M$74.52B11.15%
66
Neutral
Air Products and Chemicals3.58%$170.24M$65.36B11.42%
46
Neutral
Corteva3.29%$156.77M$57.47B53.18%
75
Outperform
Vulcan Materials2.49%$118.61M$36.55B21.30%
77
Outperform
Martin Marietta Materials2.48%$118.15M$36.02B26.87%
73
Outperform

VAW Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price
Price Trends
50DMA
230.08
Negative
100DMA
217.92
Positive
200DMA
208.77
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.54
Negative
RSI
54.75
Neutral
STOCH
91.97
Negative
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 221.87, equal to the 50-day MA of 230.08, and equal to the 200-day MA of 208.77, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -1.54 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 54.75 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 91.97 is Negative, 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
$2.97B0.09%
67
Neutral
$8.78B0.09%
67
Neutral
$8.60B0.69%
72
Outperform
$6.69B0.08%
67
Neutral
$4.52B0.35%
63
Neutral
$1.39B0.38%
68
Neutral
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
VAW
Vanguard Materials ETF
227.99
61.69
37.10%
VPU
Vanguard Utilities ETF
AIRR
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance 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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