Investing in Xtrackers Thematic ETFs

Xtrackers thematic ETFs offer the opportunity to invest in megatrends that have the potential to revolutionize our lives and our environment through thematic based selection. They invest in leading companies involved in future themes, such as digitalization or green transition. Stock selection is not based on traditional methods, for example the weighting of countries and sectors, as is the case with conventional indices. Thematic indices consist of companies that are well positioned to benefit from long-term macroeconomic or structural trends across sectors and countries. This investment trend is growing in popularity, as such, the range of themes that are becoming investable through thematic investment is expanding.

Xtrackers ETFs provide exposure to thematic investment styles with green infrastructure, semiconductor and cybersecurity equities, giving investors the opportunity to participate in the long-term growth of three megatrend industries at a competitive cost. Xtrackers interactively assesses and analyses various investment strategies to provide relevant and meaningful thematic offerings to existing and potential investors.

Thematic investments

• make potential growth trends investable and allow investors to participate in them.
• could offer income profiles that are less affected by flattening growth rates and low-interest phases because they focus on long-term growth trends.
• are an attractive complement to traditionally oriented investments and could make a meaningful contribution to risk diversification.
• are based on a forward-looking investment approach that differs fundamentally from existing approaches.
• represent the invested theme in a comprehensive and transparent way.

​​The thematic ETF landscape is growing rapidly. The below chart represents the growth in thematic ETF offerings available to investors.

Source: Bloomberg, as of July 2022

Why Geostrategic Risk Should be Considered in a Portfolio

According to the analytical firm J.H. Whitney^[5], the rise of other major powers, such as China and Russia, along with the presence of disruptive regional nation-states, such as Iran, has reshaped the international economic landscape. This new world order no longer revolves solely around Western technological prowess and Eastern manufacturing. Instead, the current state of the world is marked by a complex interplay of geostrategic risks and global economic challenges, potentially causing disruptions in supply chains, heightening investment risks, and imposing increased market restrictions.^[6]

Factors such as U.S. national security, geostrategic risks, investment decision-making, and the threat of adversarial nation-states have significant implications for businesses, governments, and overall global stability. Diversification, and strategic risk management become essential for businesses to navigate this changing landscape effectively.

A Glimpse into Critical Technology Areas

In order to support and enhance the national security capabilities of the United States, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) defines 14 technologies as dual-use, disruptive, emerging, or of critical importance to both national security and economic well-being. Three categories of technology areas acknowledge the diverse and intricate nature of 21st-century technology investment, development, and application.^[7]

Seed Areas of Emerging Opportunity

Effective Adoption Areas - where there is existing vibrant commercial sector activity

Defense-Specific Areas

The Commitment of the US Government to Critical Technologies

Companies aligned with America’s critical technologies are well positioned to capture the upside of increased federal technology spending. The Department of Defense (DoD) is expected to invest heavily into these technologies: For 2024, the DoD has requested a budget of $842 billion.^[14] Of the requested budget, a significant portion is intended to be allocated to technology based use cases. Some of which include:

Understanding Critical Technologies

Critical and emerging technologies (CETs) represent a subset of advanced technologies with profound implications for U.S. national security.^[18]

Why U.S. Critical Technologies Matter

Technology is central to the future of the United States’ national security, economy and democracy.^[19] In order to maintain their position as a world leader, the United States must focus on accelerating and developing their technological capabilities. Moreover, U.S. dominance in these industries also contributes to overall economic competitiveness by driving innovation and additionally creating highly skilled jobs.^[20]

Access U.S. Critical Tech with Xtrackers

The Xtrackers US National Critical Technologies ETF (CRTC) replicates the Solactive Whitney U.S. Critical Technologies Index^[21] which is designed to track companies that support critical emerging technologies across the U.S. and its allies. The Index  selects companies from a defined investment universe that satisfy key criteria related to their association with critical technology sectors and their geopolitical risk rating.^[22]

Fund facts

What are Semiconductors?

Semiconductors are a broad term used to describe devices that have an electrical conductivity level between a conductor and a non-conductor or insulator.^[1] In more practical terms, semiconductors refer to a wide range of components that are integral to the functionality of technological devices spanning phones, computers, energy production and electricity, transportation, and healthcare among other use cases.

Why Invest in Semiconductors?

Strong Growth Potential- Technology continues to expand its scope in our daily lives, suggesting continued growth for the semiconductor theme.

• As technological growth is intrinsically linked to future economic growth, semiconductors are a foundational component of technological evolution over the coming decades.
• The global semiconductor market size is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6-8% a year up to 2030.^[2]

Strategic Importance - Semiconductors play an essential role in our day-to-day lives.

• Semiconductors encapsulate a wide range of components integral to the functionality of a broad array of technological devices. Some of the devices powered by semiconductors include smartphones, computers, refrigerators, LED light bulbs, pacemakers, security systems, ETC.^[3]

Dynamic Landscape - The semiconductor industry is incredibly dynamic and rapidly evolving.

• The semiconductor industry is highly dependent on ongoing research and development, which has helped drive tremendous advancements in computing power and other across other applications

How to Invest in Xtrackers Semiconductor Select Equity ETF

The Xtrackers Semiconductor Select Equity ETF (CHPS), using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that correspond generally, to the performance, before fees and expenses, of the Underlying Index, which is comprised of companies that have business operations in the semiconductor industry and that fulfill certain sustainability criteria.

Fund facts

What is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. These cyberattacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information; extorting money from users via ransomware; or interrupting normal business processes.^[1]

Why Invest in Cybersecurity?

Strong Growth Potential - The proliferation of cybercrimes suggests continued growth for the cybersecurity theme.

• As global activity continues to shift online, vastly more human behaviour is today being conducted in digital environments whose safety is in jeopardy - cyber criminals pose a sophisticated, and growing, danger to countless activities.
• The global cybersecurity market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3% from 2023 to 2030.^[2]

Serious Problem – The sheer scale of the cyber-crime problem is frightening.

• The scale and scope of the damage caused by cybercrimes is immense. Mckinsey & Co forecast that the economic cost from cyber-crime will grow to $10.5tn by 2025, representing around a 300% increase from 2015 levels.^[3]

Rapidly Evolving Issue - The cybercrime landscape is evolving at a rapid pace.

• The insidious innovation that cyber-criminals demonstrate requires a constant development of new & innovative cybersecurity solutions. As long as cyber criminals remain ingenious, companies involved in creating these solutions will remain relevant.

How to Invest in Xtrackers Cybersecurity Select Equity ETF

The Xtrackers Cybersecurity Select Equity ETF (PSWD), using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the performance, before fees and expenses, of the Solactive Cyber Security ESG Screened Index, which is comprised of companies that have business operations in the field of cybersecurity and that fulfill certain sustainability criteria.

Fund facts

What is US Green Infrastructure?

Green infrastructure is merely infrastructure that takes into account the considerations of environmental sustainability and climate resilience. There is a wide range of sub-themes that investors could identify as opportunities, including renewable energy, green fuels, electrification of the mobility sector, environmental services and pollution control.

Why Invest in US Green Infrastructure?

Government Support – Governments often look favorably on infrastructure investments, as they have the potential to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.

• The United States has confirmed their commitment to revamping its infrastructure, in a sustainable way, by signing into law two historic acts:
  • 2021: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).^[1]
  • 2022: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).^[2]
• It is estimated that over the next five to ten years, the IRA and the IIJA will provide up to US$370 billion in federal funding to clean energy initiatives.^[3]

Structural Need - America’s Infrastructure is in clear disrepair. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave America an infrastructure score of a C-.^[4]

• The U.S. population has more than doubled since the 1960s, when most of the country’s major infrastructure systems were designed. Many are reaching the end of their lifespan, and are dangerously overstretched, experts say.^[5]

United States Is Lagging Economic Competitors - The United States generally lags its peers in the developed world.^[5]

• According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report, in 2019, the United States ranked thirteenth in the world in a broad measure of infrastructure quality—down from fifth place in 2002. That places it behind countries including France, Germany, Japan, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.^[5]

How to Invest in Xtrackers US Green Infrastructure Select Equity ETF

The Xtrackers US Green Infrastructure Select Equity ETF (UPGR), using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the performance, before fees and expenses, of the Underlying Index, which is comprised of companies that have business exposure in the production, generation, or distribution of green energy or are engaged in the establishment of a sustainable infrastructure to enable the use of renewable energy and that fulfill certain sustainability criteria.

Fund facts

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) refers to the field of computer science dedicated to creating systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. AI encompasses a range of technologies and approaches, including machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, and expert systems, all aimed at enabling machines to function with a degree of autonomy and adaptability. 

Why Invest in AI?

A Transformative Technology

• AI is perhaps the most important technological trend of this century, with the potential to transform the way companies conduct business.
• Most experts already agree that AI will provide key advantages for future business growth, and is likely to reshape entire industries, drive innovation and shape the future of our interconnected world. 

Exceptional Growth Outlook:

• AI is expected to rapidly grow to a $3 trillion^[23] industry in the next several years and has attracted hundreds of billions in corporate investment.
• Industry experts predict that AI could add roughly $13^[24] -$16^[25] trillion to the global economy by 2030, creating up to 14% higher global GDP.^[25]
• Goldman Sachs Research predicts that generative AI alone could drive a 7%, or nearly $7 trillion increase in global GDP and lift productivity growth by 1.5% over a 10-year period.^[26] 

A Critical Technology

• Artificial Intelligence is one of the industries identified by the U.S. Department of Defense as critical for maintaining U.S. military and economic supremacy and will potentially be the beneficiary of government support and funding. 

XAIX – A Proven Approach to Investing in Artificial Intelligence

• Forward looking. The methodology behind XAIX involves reviewing millions of approved patents on a rolling one-year basis, resulting in selecting companies that are actively positioning themselves to be the key drivers of AI innovation in the future.
• Pure play. XAIX is a pure-play strategy, targeting AI innovators, as opposed to the broad universe of AI beneficiaries. Our unique selection process allows us to identify companies that are AI producers, and who is merely a user.
• A global leader. DWS is a recognized leader in Artificial Intelligence investing, having created one of the original AI funds in 2019 and today manages over $4.7 billion in AI-focused ETFs and mutual funds for investors globally.^[27] We are now making the same ETF solution available to U.S. investors.

Fund facts