Markets have had a volatility spike during the last week where most of the investment classes have been hit (long bonds, stocks, gold, REITs, etc.). This creates a nice entry point into REITs if you are following the sector.
Nothing much has happened in the direct property markets but we see a lot of equity issuance in the listed space (Hamborner REIT, Befimmo, Technopolis, ADO Properties, Cofinimmo etc.). Many of our favorite REITs and property stocks have thus been issuing shares and raising equity recently. Why now? …well, the cost of debt is coming down very fast as we could see when Citycon launched a 10 year corporate bond a few weeks ago at a coupon of 1,25 %.
Then imagine most REITs doing the same, raising equity and debt 50/50 at these levels (Equity at a premium! and long 10year fixed at closer to 1 %!). This will create a situation where we will continue to see NAVs increasing during the coming years. As you can see from the chart below we would like to debunk the myth that you should only try to buy REITs at a discount.
Click to enlarge
Source; (FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Asia Index TR (Black), S&P500 TR (burgundy), FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Index (World, red) and FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Europe Index TR (green), MSCI Daily TR World Index (blue))
REIT’s grow their NAVs and usually next year NAV will be higher than the previous year NAV. REITs have demonstrated this over several decades and shown that they can increase their dividends faster than inflation and that they are able to increase their NAVs at a comparable or even faster pace than opportunistic value add private equity funds. We feel comfortable with current valuations that are slightly on a premium, especially when we look at the market dynamics and the big picture where it just makes sense to increase the “real assets” part in any asset allocation going forward. Also, if REITs continue financing at long term fixed rates it will clearly reduce their exposure to the risk of rising interest rates in the future.
Click to enlarge Source: Charts and data are calculated by UB Real Asset Management Ltd, 2016/09/16
Click to enlarge Performance of UB REIT funds, Source UB Asset Management
Disclaimer
UB Asset Management Ltd, the UB group or UB Real Asset Management Ltd (hereinafter referred to as UB) has made every effort to carefully research all information in this presentation. The information, on which the conclusions and other information such as e.g. market data, are based on has been obtained from sources which UB believes to be reliable such as, for example, Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg and the relevant specialized press as well as the relevant companies which are potential investments for UB’s investment portfolios.
Opinions expressed in this financial analysis are UB’s current opinions as of the issuing date indicated on this presentation. This material does not claim completeness regarding all the information on the financial instruments or markets or developments referred to in it. This material is intended as general information to the recipient and nothing contained in this presentation constitutes investment advice, nor is it to be relied on in an investment decision.
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The document may include certain descriptions, statements, estimates, and conclusions underlining potential market and company development. These reflect assumptions, which may turn out to be incorrect. UB and/or its employees accept no liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss or damages of any kind arising out of the use of this document or any part of its content. UB and/or its employees may hold, buy or sell positions in any securities mentioned in this document, derivatives thereon or related financial products. UB and/or its employees may underwrite issues for any securities mentioned in this document, derivatives thereon or related financial products or seek to perform capital market or underwriting services. This material is intended only for the recipients and is not allowed to be redistributed without written permission from UB. The UB funds mentioned in this presentation are managed by UB Fund Management Company Ltd. Key investor information documents (KIIDs) and fund prospectuses and relevant material can be obtained from UB Fund Management Company Ltd in Finnish and in Swedish. Historical performance is not a guarantee of future returns and cannot be used to predict future risk or return characteristics of any fund or portfolio mentioned in this presentation. The charts and information on this page are calculated by UB Real Asset Management (UBRAM) and are based on data that UBRAM believes to be reliable (pls. read disclaimer on the third page). This material is intended as general information to the recipient and nothing contained in this presentation constitutes investment advice, nor is it to be relied on in an investment decision
Franklin MSCI World Catholic Principles UCITSETF USD Capitalisation (FLXA ETF), ISIN IE000AZOUN82, försöker spåra MSCI World Select Catholic Principles ESG Universal och Low Carbon-index. MSCI World Select Catholic Principles ESG Universal och Low Carbon Index spårar stora och medelstora värdepapper från utvecklade länder över hela världen. De utvalda företagen screenas enligt deras koldioxidexponering, deras ESG-profil (miljö, social och styrning) och katolska principer. Som ett resultat är företag som är involverade i vapen, hasardspel, vuxenunderhållning, abort, preventivmedel, stamcellsforskning och djurförsök uteslutna.
Den börshandlade fondens TER (total cost ratio) uppgår till 0,27 % p.a. Franklin MSCI World Catholic Principles UCITSETF USD Capitalization är den enda ETF som följer MSCI World Select Catholic Principles ESG Universal och Low Carbon-index. ETFen replikerar det underliggande indexets prestanda genom fullständig replikering (köper alla indexbeståndsdelar). Utdelningarna i ETFen ackumuleras och återinvesteras.
Franklin MSCI World Catholic Principles UCITSETF USD Capitalization är en liten ETF med tillgångar på 34 miljoner euro under förvaltning. Denna ETF lanserades den 24 april 2024 och har sin hemvist i Irland.
Det betyder att det går att handla andelar i denna ETF genom de flesta svenska banker och Internetmäklare, till exempel DEGIRO, Nordnet, Aktieinvest, SAVR och Avanza.
2024 was a landmark year for bitcoin, solidifying its role as a fully institutionalised asset class.
Institutional inflows into physical bitcoin exchange-traded products (ETPs) reached nearly $35 billion globally, signalling a major shift in how traditional investors view crypto. As bitcoin continued to enhance portfolios’ risk-return profiles, more institutional investors followed suit, reshaping the financial landscape.
Looking ahead, 2025 promises to bring exciting developments across the crypto ecosystem. Here are the top five crypto trends to watch.
Fear of being left behind
The era of bitcoin as a niche investment is over. Institutional adoption is creating a ripple effect, forcing hesitant players to reconsider. Portfolios with bitcoin allocations are consistently outperforming those without, highlighting its growing importance.
Source: Bloomberg, WisdomTree. From 31 December 2013 to 30 November 2024. In USD. Based on daily returns. The 60/40 Global Portfolio is composed of 60% MSCI All Country World and 40% Bloomberg Multiverse. You cannot invest directly in an index. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance and any investment may go down in value.
With bitcoin’s ability to noticeably improve portfolios’ risk-return profiles, asset managers face a clear choice: integrate bitcoin into multi-asset portfolios or risk falling behind in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. In 2025, expect the competition to heat up as clients demand exposure to this powerhouse cryptocurrency.
Expanding crypto investment options
In 2024, regulatory breakthroughs opened the doors for physical bitcoin and ether ETPs in key developed markets. This marked a critical step towards making cryptocurrencies mainstream, providing seamless access to institutional and retail investors alike.
Figure 2: Global physical crypto ETP assets under management (AUM) and 2024 net flows
Source: Bloomberg, WisdomTree. 02 January 2025. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance and any investment may go down in value.
In 2025, this momentum is expected to accelerate as the crypto regulatory environment becomes more friendly in the United States and as key developed markets follow Europe’s lead and approve ETPs for altcoins such as Solana and XRP. With their clear utility and growing adoption, these altcoins are strong candidates for institutional investment vehicles.
This next wave of altcoin ETPs will expand the diversity of crypto investment opportunities and further integrate cryptocurrencies into the global financial system.
The maturing of Ethereum’s layer-2 ecosystem
Ethereum’s role as the backbone of decentralised finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and Web3 is unmatched, but its scalability challenges remain a hurdle. Layer-2 solutions—technologies such as Arbitrum and Optimism—are transforming Ethereum’s scalability and usability by enabling faster, cheaper transactions.
In 2025, Ethereum’s recent upgrades, such as Proto-Danksharding (introduced in the ‘Dencun’ upgrade), will drive layer-2 adoption even further. Innovations like Visa’s layer-2 payment platform leveraging Ethereum for instant cross-border transactions will underscore the platform’s evolution.
Expect Ethereum’s layer-2 ecosystem to power real-world use cases ranging from tokenized assets to decentralised gaming, positioning it as the infrastructure of a truly scalable digital economy.
Stablecoins: bridging finance and blockchain
Stablecoins are becoming indispensable to the global financial system, offering the stability of traditional assets with the efficiency of blockchain. Platforms such as Ethereum dominate the stablecoin landscape, hosting stablecoin giants Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), which facilitate billions in daily transactions.
Figure 3: Key stablecoin chains
Source: Artemis Terminal, WisdomTree. 05 January 2025. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance and any investment may go down in value.
As we move into 2025, stablecoins will increasingly interact with blockchain ecosystems such as Solana and XRP. Solana’s high-speed, low-cost infrastructure makes it ideal for stablecoin payments and remittances, while XRP Ledger’s focus on cross-border efficiency positions it as a leader in global settlements. With institutional adoption rising and DeFi applications booming, stablecoins will serve as the backbone of a seamless, interconnected financial ecosystem.
Tokenization: redefining ownership and revolutionising finance
Tokenization is set to redefine how we think about ownership and value. By converting tangible assets like real estate, commodities, stocks, and art into digital tokens, tokenization breaks down barriers to entry and creates unprecedented liquidity.
In 2025, tokenization will expand dramatically, empowering investors to own fractions of high-value assets. Platforms such as Paxos Gold and AspenCoin are already showcasing how tokenization can revolutionize markets for gold and luxury real estate. The integration of tokenized assets into DeFi will unlock new financial opportunities, such as using tokenized real estate as collateral for loans. As tokenization matures, it will transform industries ranging from private equity to venture capital, creating a more inclusive and efficient financial system.
For the avoidance of any doubt, tokenization complements crypto by expanding the use cases of blockchain to include real-world applications.
Looking ahead
2025 is set to be a defining year for crypto, as innovation, regulation, and adoption converge. Whether it is bitcoin cementing its position as a portfolio staple, Ethereum scaling for mainstream use, or tokenization unlocking liquidity in untapped markets, the crypto ecosystem is poised for explosive growth. For investors and institutions alike, the opportunities have never been clearer or more compelling.
This material is prepared by WisdomTree and its affiliates and is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of the date of production and may change as subsequent conditions vary. The information and opinions contained in this material are derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources. As such, no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility arising in any other way for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by WisdomTree, nor any affiliate, nor any of their officers, employees or agents. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Fidelity Sustainable Research Enhanced Global Equity UCITSETFAcc (FGLR ETF) med ISIN IE00BKSBGV72, är en aktivt förvaltad ETF.
Denna ETF investerar i aktier från utvecklade marknader över hela världen. Värdepapper väljs ut enligt hållbarhet och grundläggande kriterier.
Den börshandlade fondens TER (total cost ratio) uppgår till 0,25 % p.a. Fidelity Sustainable Research Enhanced Global Equity UCITSETFAcc är den enda ETF som följer Fidelity Sustainable Research Enhanced Global Equity-index. ETFen replikerar det underliggande indexets prestanda genom fullständig replikering (köper alla indexbeståndsdelar). Utdelningarna i ETFen ackumuleras och återinvesteras.
Fidelity Sustainable Research Enhanced Global Equity UCITSETFAcc är en liten ETF med tillgångar på 45 miljoner euro under förvaltning. Denna ETF lanserades den 27 maj 2020 och har sin hemvist i Irland.
Investeringsmål
Fonden strävar efter att uppnå långsiktig kapitaltillväxt från en portfölj som huvudsakligen består av aktier i företag med säte globalt.
Det betyder att det går att handla andelar i denna ETF genom de flesta svenska banker och Internetmäklare, till exempel DEGIRO, Nordnet, Aktieinvest, SAVR och Avanza.