Samsung Asset Management's KODEX US Seohak Ant Overseas ETF Ranks First in Returns This Year

The valuation of U.S. stocks held by domestic investors investing in overseas stocks, known as ‘Seohak Gaemi,’ has also surpassed $100 billion, indicating a sharp increase in interest in U.S. stocks.

Samsung Asset Management announced on the 18th that the KODEX U.S. Seohak Gaemi ETF recorded a return of 66.6% since the beginning of the year, ranking first among overseas ETFs listed in Korea (excluding leveraged ETFs).

The KODEX U.S. Seohak Gaemi ETF invests in 25 stocks most preferred by individual investors called ‘Seohak Gaemi,’ who directly invest in overseas stocks such as those in the U.S. It tracks the iSelect Seohak Gaemi Index and adopts the so-called ‘Seohak Gaemi weighting method,’ which selects the top 25 companies by custody amount of U.S. stocks at the Korea Securities Depository listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ every month, and weights the portfolio based on custody amounts.

It also shows high returns of 43.4% over 6 months, 26.3% over 3 months, and 16.74% over 1 month. Additionally, the underlying iSelect U.S. Seohak Gaemi Index recorded a 5-year past return of 301.1%, significantly outperforming major U.S. representative indices such as the S&P 500 at 103.4% and the NASDAQ 100 at 155.1%.

Existing market representative indices have the disadvantage of not being able to respond agilely according to fixed rules even when economic phases change and trends shift. The KODEX U.S. Seohak Gaemi ETF is composed solely of stocks invested in by Seohak Gaemi, without being limited to specific sectors or themes, allowing it to quickly reflect the flow of investors who flexibly respond according to market conditions.

Looking at the portfolio, it includes big tech companies driving the recent U.S. market such as Tesla (22.5%), Nvidia (19.0%), Apple (11.0%), and Microsoft (8.1%), as well as small and mid-cap growth stocks like IonQ and Palantir. Through last month’s rebalancing, it newly included NewScale, an SMR (Small Modular Reactor) company. It is the only nuclear power company recently emerging due to AI-driven energy demand that has been certified for SMR design capability.

Kim Dohyung, head of ETF Consulting at Samsung Asset Management, said, "This product is especially recommended for those interested in U.S. stocks but struggling with stock selection or investors who want to quickly keep pace with changes in the investment environment." He added, "With monthly automatic rebalancing reflecting the investment flow and trends of Seohak Gaemi, it will be possible to swiftly capture profit opportunities."