"RISE Hydrogen Economy Theme ETF Stands Out for Its Performance"

The 'RISE Hydrogen Economy Theme ETF' by KB Asset Management, the first hydrogen-themed exchange-traded fund (ETF) to be listed in Korea, is drawing attention for its outstanding performance.

According to fund evaluation firm FnGuide on June 11, as of the previous day, the 'RISE Hydrogen Economy ETF' achieved a six-month return of 64.83%. This places it among the top-performing eco-friendly theme ETFs listed in Korea. During the same period, this return is approximately 2.5 times higher than the average return of domestic equity ETFs, which stood at 24.66%.

Amid the strengthening of global eco-friendly policies, the stock prices of major hydrogen fuel cell and infrastructure companies in both the United States and Korea have surged. Recently, driven by a sharp increase in electricity demand due to the spread of artificial intelligence (AI), the share prices of U.S. hydrogen companies such as Bloom Energy and Plug Power have risen by as much as 50% in just one month.

The RISE Hydrogen Economy Theme ETF is a product that diversifies investments across key domestic companies in the hydrogen value chain, which is considered a next-generation eco-friendly energy source. Investors can easily access a variety of industries, including hydrogen production, storage, distribution, power generation facilities, and hydrogen vehicles. The major components of the ETF are ▲ Hanwha Aerospace (25.09%) ▲ Doosan Enerbility (19.27%) ▲ Hyundai Mobis (10.98%) ▲ POSCO Holdings (9.11%) ▲ Hyundai Motor (9.08%).

Hydrogen energy is one of the leading eco-friendly energy sources that does not emit harmful substances such as carbon dioxide. It can be converted to electricity immediately, resulting in high power generation efficiency, and its high energy density relative to volume offers advantages in storage and transportation. As carbon neutrality and energy mix diversification progress, hydrogen is expected to become a core energy source.

Lee Sujin, Head of ETF Product Marketing at KB Asset Management, stated, "The RISE Hydrogen Economy Theme ETF reflects the growth of the hydrogen industry both domestically and internationally, as well as the ESG investment trend." Lee added, "Looking ahead, we expect to benefit from expanded policy support and changes in the global industry." Lee further emphasized, "Investors should pay particular attention to the fact that hydrogen fuel cells are emerging as a new energy alternative as the energy transition and the expansion of AI infrastructure converge."