The Most Underpriced Country Fund: South Korea
Michele Schneider | Jul 17, 2022 10:05AM ET
Some of the most significant advancements of our day is cancer research, meat substitutes, and innovative home technology.
So, which nation tops the globe in R&D, patent activity, high-tech density, and all other aspects of supporting innovation?
The most inventive nations are listed above from a Bloomberg report in 2021. South Korea came in first place.
Then, in 2022, Global Finance ranked South Korea as the world’s most technologically advanced country.
South Korea is a critical player in the global economy. They lead in fintech, while the country’s exports continue to grow at a healthy pace.
Brand names like Samsung (KS:005930), Hyundai Motor (KS:005380), and Kia Corp (KS:000270) are international names associated with value and high tech.
South Korea's automotive exports hit the highest in eight years in the first half of 2022 due to strong demand for eco-friendly vehicles. The production of eco-friendly cars, including electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, surged 46% to hit a record high.
Shipments to the United States, South Korea's largest export market for cars, also gained ground on solid SUV demand. The U.S. car imports from South Korea in the January-June period jumped 30% from a year earlier to reach a record 520,133 units.
So, what does this mean for investors?
Get Exposure to Korea's Cyclical Export Growth and Innovation
Concerning another avenue of innovation, South Korea’s population (some 51 million) estimates are that 15.1 million or nearly 1/3 of cryptocurrency accounts.
The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (NYSE:EWY) ETF provides broad exposure to large and mid-sized companies in South Korea. If you're looking for a way to add some diversity to your investment portfolio, you may want to consider investing in EWY.
Currently EWY is back trading at pre-covid levels, giving it historical support.
The ETF has a P/E of 8.61, and 33% of the fund is in the tech sector. U.S. tech has a price-to-earnings multiple of 28.6 as of July 15, 2022, so you are buying global innovation at value levels.
Get The News You Want
This past week, EWY made a new multiyear low at 55.02. You can see from the price Bollinger bands; it had a mean reversion the same day it made the low.
Subsequently, the real motion indicator did not make a new low, telling us that the momentum was not nearly as weak as the price.
As far as our triple play indicator, EWY is underperforming the benchmark at this time.
Nonetheless, the reversal off the lows along with the gap up the following day to end the week looks compelling.
Tightening monetary policy, higher inflation, and worsening financial conditions are global in nature. Korea is not immune from recessionary forces, but with a diversified portfolio, you'll be able to weather potential economic storms.
ETF Summary
S&P 500 (SPY) 371-386 new trading range to watch
{{|Russell 2000}} (IWM) 167 support thru 170 maybe 177 on tap?
Dow (DIA) 301 support and needs to clear 315
Nasdaq (QQQ) 277 to 294 range
KRE (Regional Banks) 56 the 200 WMA 60 resistance
SMH (Semiconductors) Led the march with 210 now pivotal and resistance up at 220
IYT (Transportation) A clutch close above 212 or the 200-WMA
IBB (Biotechnology) 129.50 resistance 117 support
XRT (Retail) 60.75 the 200-WMA resistance did not clear with 57.50 support
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