GII ETF: What Kind of Product Is It? Returns, Fees, Holdings, and Alternative ETFs Explained
This ETF spreads investments across 75 core global infrastructure companies. Its strengths are inflation protection and stable dividend income.
What Is This ETF?
It tracks the S&P Global Infrastructure Index and invests in a balanced way across three core infrastructure sectors: utilities, transportation, and energy. The portfolio is built from 75 carefully selected listed companies worldwide with high market capitalization and liquidity.
It suits investors who want to protect asset value during periods of rising prices while earning stable returns from the mature cash flows of the world's essential industries.
It is a passively managed (index-tracking) ETF launched in 2007 by State Street (SSGA).
How Does It Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracked Index | S&P Global Infrastructure Index |
| Management Style | Passive (index tracking) |
| Rebalancing Frequency | Once every six months |
| Dividend Frequency | Semiannual |
| Total Expense Ratio | 0.40% |
It allocates heavier weights to the utilities and transportation sectors and builds the energy sector as a complement, aiming for diversification across sectors. It also includes major infrastructure companies in emerging markets as well as developed markets, a strategy that secures global exposure.
- Systematic allocation across the three core infrastructure sectors
- Concentration risk management through limits on individual stock weights
Size and Costs
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $966.0M, and the Expense Ratio is 0.40% per year.
Performance and Trends
Amid expanding global infrastructure investment, the fund has delivered solid performance, while returns by sector have diverged depending on energy price swings and changes in interest rate policy across countries.
As safe-haven sentiment and demand for inflation hedges converge, money continues to flow into infrastructure ETFs backed by real assets, and they are gaining attention as a long-term asset allocation tool.
Pros and Cons
The fund holds a stable portfolio centered on essential services, but investors should be aware of regulatory changes in specific countries and the risk of rising costs from interest rate hikes.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
Alternative ETFs and Related Products
The IGF shown in the table is a direct competitor, while GNR is an alternative with a higher weighting in natural resources. GUNR, meanwhile, tends to specialize in energy and upstream resource assets. To focus on infrastructure rebuilding projects within the US, you could consider PAVE, and to cover global telecommunications and logistics infrastructure more broadly, NFRA. Also worth reviewing are GRID, which focuses on smart grids, and UTG, which specializes in utility income.
| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF | $53.92 | +0.1% | $25.8B | 0.25% | 3.03% | +22.4% | |
| iShares Global Infrastructure ETF | $65.83 | +0.1% | $10.9B | 0.37% | 2.93% | +7.9% | |
| Northern Trust Morningstar Global Upstream Natural Resources ETF | $53.09 | -0.8% | $7.0B | 0.46% | 2.32% | +22.2% | |
| Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta International Equity ETF | $46.28 | +0.3% | $5.9B | 0.25% | 2.61% | +12.0% | |
| State Street SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF | $74.69 | -1.0% | $5.4B | 0.40% | 2.44% | +27.1% |
| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEE | NextEra Energy Inc | 0.10% | $85.03 | +1.6% | $178.3B | 15.3 | 2.92% |
| ENB | Enbridge Inc | 0.08% | $49.20 | -0.5% | $111.6B | 26.1 | 5.62% |
| Grupo Aeroportuario Del Sureste SA ADR | 0.07% | $255.41 | +1.8% | $7.1B | 13.6 | 5.76% | |
| WMB | Williams Cos Inc | 0.06% | $71.19 | -4.3% | $87.1B | 28.4 | 2.96% |
| SCCO | Southern Copper Corp | 0.03% | $179.36 | +1.0% | $151.4B | 23.8 | 2.43% |
| SO | Southern Company | 0.03% | $94.61 | +1.0% | $108.8B | 22.8 | 3.21% |
Investor Checkpoints
Here is a checklist of key items to confirm before deciding to invest in GII. You should approach it with a comprehensive understanding of the defensive nature of the infrastructure sector and the external variables involved.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 🏗️ Sector Weights | Check the current weights of utilities, transportation, and energy | Monitoring |
| 📈 Global Interest Rates | Interest rate stance in key investment countries and the impact on financing costs | Needs review |
| 🌐 Geopolitical Risk | Changes in the external environment around major ports and logistics hubs | Caution needed |
Infrastructure assets are stable over the long term, but price volatility can rise in the short term if sharp rate hikes or policy uncertainty in a given country occur.
It is a suitable tool for investors who aim for stable dividend income and preservation of asset value over the long term. It works well as one of the core assets that strengthen a portfolio's defensiveness.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.