URTY And IWM: A Bet On Russell 2000 With Short, Medium And Long-Term Catalysts
The ProShares UltraPro Russell 2000 and iShares Russell 2000 ETFs have both marginally underperformed the S&P 500 so far this year, in line with poor performance over the past decade. In this article, I discuss multiple catalysts that may boost Russell 2000 returns, including an end to the government shutdown, Fed rate cuts, and cheap valuations. As such, this may be an opportunistic time to go long URTY and IWM, confirming a buy rating on both ETFs.
URTY: When Slippage Bites
ProShares UltraPro Russell2000 targets 3x daily returns of the Russell 2000 Index, but actual returns can deviate significantly over time. Holding leveraged ETFs beyond one day exposes investors to compounding effects and beta slippage, especially in volatile markets. Beta slippage can cause leveraged ETF returns to underperform or outperform the expected multiple, depending on volatility and holding period.
URTY ETF: Small Caps Near A Key Technical Juncture
URTY is not ideal for long-term holding because of its high costs, low yield, and the amplified losses associated with 3X leverage. Naturally, when the market is bullish, URTY outperforms other ETFs like IWM by 3X. Seasonal trends and technical indicators suggest a potential bullish phase for URTY, with strong uptrends likely in November and December.
