Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, the Guggenheim Timber ETF
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Guggenheim Timber and see what CAPS investors are saying about the ETF right now.
Guggenheim Timber facts
| Inception | November 2007 |
| Total Assets | $106 million |
| Investment Approach | Seeks results that correspond to the Beacon Global Timber Index, which includes firms that own or lease forested land and harvest the timber for commercial use and sale of wood-based products. |
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% |
| 3-Month / 1-Year / 3-Year Returns | (0.1%) / (20.2%) / 14.9% |
| Top Holdings with High CAPS Rating (4 or 5 Stars) and Portfolio Weight |
Weyerhaeuser Rayonier Plum Creek Timber |
| Alternatives |
iShares S&P Global Timber & Forestry Index |
Sources: Morningstar and Motley Fool CAPS.
On CAPS, 97% of the 39 members who have rated Guggenheim Timber believe the ETF will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include All-Star Chemdawg, who is ranked in the top 5% of our community, and SacramentoBulls.
Earlier this year, Chemdawg summed up the Guggenheim Timber opportunity:
[Y]ou wont make a huge killing here, but you can count on its stability in a market seriously lacking it. [R]enewable and always in need... if the market price isnt high enough… just let the trees grow and wait. [I]t's idiot proof."
Guggenheim Timber, in particular, sports a portfolio whose stocks average a forward P/E of 12.5. That's lower than that of main rival iShares S&P Global Timber & Forestry (16.5).
CAPS member SacramentoBulls elaborates on the bull case:
Timber is an interesting world with the ability to hold of on harvesting a crop until the price is high enough to make it worth it. While they hold off, it grows at a nearly 10% annual rate. Thus, there are more unrealized profits.
The other interesting thing about timber is their net income ends up being higher, as they can take Long term gains on the timber since it has "been inventory for the long term".
This ETF does not track timber commodity, but the companies that business derives from timber.
Owning exceptional ETFs is a surefire way to secure your financial future, so don't just stop your research with Guggenheim Timber. If you need some help, our special report on ETFs highlights three funds that are poised to soar in the next recovery. It's 100% free, but won't last forever, so check it out today!
Want to see how well (or not so well) the stocks in this series are performing? Follow the new TrackPoisedTo CAPS account.
