Finding so-called momentum stocks, either bullish or bearish
plays, isn't that hard. Nor is finding ETFs that are
chock full of individual momentum plays
.
Finding an ETF that's a momentum play in its own right? Well,
that's a different story altogether and the task is made a bit
harder when stripping leveraged funds. By design, the likes of
the Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (NYSE:
FAS
) and the Direxion Daily Small Cap Bear 3X Shares (NYSE:
TZA
) are momentum plays. They always have been and probably always
will be.
Simply put, finding a plain vanilla long ETF that can qualify
as a momentum play isn't as taxing as it might appear. Plenty of
unleveraged ETFs have the momentum designation, for better or
worse. Here are some that are screaming momentum plays at the
moment and have been for a while.
Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:
GDXJ
)
Short-term bearish traders have got to love the Market Vectors
Junior Gold Miners ETF because the daily percentage moves this
ETF makes are almost on par with that of a leveraged fund. In the
past year, GDXJ has traded in a range of just over $22 to just
over $40 with the low end being seen earlier this week.
GDXJ is no exception to the miners not tracking gold prices
conundrum and the chart is marked by a series of lower highs and
lower lows. Troubling fundamentals and bad technicals make for a
great bearish momentum play. Active traders should note that GDXJ
has offered up some quick upside when bouncing off $22.
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
ETF (NYSE:
XOP
)
No single stock accounts for more than 1.66% of the SPDR S&P
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF's weight, so one
or two names do not set the course for this highly volatile ETF.
That should not be a reason to avoid XOP as a momentum play,
though. As is the case with GDXJ, XOP can make intraday
percentage moves that would make one think he's trading a
leveraged ETF.
Highlighting its penchant for rapid gains (and losses), XOP
surged over 30% from late December through March. The ETF has
proceeded to tumble almost 9% in the past month. Call it
momentum, call it volatility. Whatever label is applied, XOP
moves hard and fast and the ETF frequently has an extremely high
short interest, sometimes in excess of 100% of its float and that
just adds to the volatility and big moves.
iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund (NYSE:
THD
)
Apple (Nasdaq:
AAPL
) or Priceline (Nasdaq:
PCLN
) THD is not, but the lone Thailand ETF does have momentum behind
it right now. Buoyed by
sound fundamentals
THD is a buy as long as support at $70 holds.
Looking at THD's three-year chart, this ETF does bare some
resemblance to high-flying momentum stocks in that the returns
are now deep into the triple-digits (assuming one bought the fund
in early 2009) and that every significant dip has been a
legitimate buying opportunity.
Market Vectors Solar ETF (NYSE:
KWT
)
When it comes to solar ETFs, there are two: The Market Vectors
Solar ETF (NYSE:
KWT
) and the Guggenheim Solar ETF (NYSE:
TAN
). TAN and KWT share something in common. They're excellent
bearish momentum plays as both have plunged 70% in the past
year.
Short-sellers take heart because there is likely
more downside to come
for both funds. Yield hunters should not be fooled by the juicy
yields here. TAN and KWT are yield traps and with KWT trading for
less than $4, it might be only a matter of time before it follows
TAN down Reverse Split Boulevard.
For more ideas on momentum stocks and ETFs, please click
HERE
.
(c) 2012 Benzinga.com. All rights reserved. This material
may not be published in its entirety or redistributed without
the approval of Benzinga.