ATTENTION 3x PM ETF Shoppers
Leveraged exchange-traded fund company Direxion Investments announced reverse splits in six of its geared ETFs on Friday, including a popular play in gold miner stocks.
The Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 3X Shares (NUGT) will undergo a 1-for-10 reverse split that takes effect at the opening bell on Sept. 10. Holders get one share of the ETF for every 10 they own.
That’s no surprise. Falling gold prices have pushed down this ETF a whopping 72% this year: it trades at just $3.15 a share, down from around $11 at the start of the year.
Splits and reverse splits are forms of housekeeping by ETF providers. The splits will not change the value of a shareholder’s investment, but traders don’t want a fund that’s too pricey, or too cheap.
While spits are generally a wash economically, fractional shares that can lead to unplanned gains (or losses) and, thus, unplanned tax events. This blogger noted the phenomenon in theBarron’s print segment a while back.
As Barron’s has noted previously, getting caught in a split provides a chance to reflect about whether you’re holding these zippy funds longer than you should. More to the point: why are you trading leveraged ETFs at all?
Five other ETFs will see reverse spits: both the Direxion Daily Junior Gold Miners Index Bull 3X Shares (JNUG) and Direxion Daily Natural Gas Related Bull 3X Shares (GASL) will get five new shares for each that they own; holders of the Direxion Daily Small Cap Bear 3X Shares (TZA), Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) and Direxion Daily Junior Gold Miners Index Bear 3X Shares (JDST) will get one for every four
“As Barron’s has noted previously, getting caught in a split provides a chance to reflect about whether you’re holding these zippy funds longer than you should. More to the point: why are you trading leveraged ETFs at all?” JDST has nearly tripled since May….this is why I traded leveraged ETFs….what a bizarre categorical statement to make.