PLUS Aerospace & UAM ETF Surpasses 100% Cumulative Return Over One Year

Hanwha Asset Management announced on January 6 that the performance of the "PLUS Aerospace & UAM" Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is gaining attention amid the growing popularity of the aerospace theme.

According to Korea Fund Ratings' Fund Square, the PLUS Aerospace & UAM ETF posted a one-month return of 35.36% and a one-year return of 106.17%. Its three-year return reached 225.95%, significantly outperforming the KOSPI index during the same periods. Among domestic ETFs related to space, PLUS Aerospace & UAM is the only one to have recorded cumulative positive returns across all periods.

This is attributed to renewed expectations for SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO), which has reignited the growth narrative for the global private space industry. The biggest beneficiaries have been satellite-related companies, which account for 41.49% of the PLUS Aerospace & UAM ETF's portfolio.

Notable holdings include: HVM, a manufacturer of high-purity special metals and alloys such as nickel and titanium essential for advanced industries like aerospace, aviation, and semiconductors; Satrec Initiative, which independently develops and manufactures high-resolution earth observation microsatellites, payloads, and ground station systems; and Fiberpro, a producer of key components such as fiber-optic inertial measurement units (IMUs) and fiber-optic gyroscopes based on fiber-optic measurement technology. The ETF also includes Intellian Technologies, which develops and manufactures marine and low/mid-earth orbit satellite communication antenna systems, and Innospace, a space launch vehicle company with proprietary hybrid rocket technology.

Beyond satellites, investor sentiment has improved across the entire aerospace value chain. The industry views SpaceX's IPO not as a short-term event for a single company, but as a signal of expanding market size and increased investment in the private space industry ecosystem.

The PLUS Aerospace & UAM ETF covers the aerospace theme through three main segments: space (satellites/technology), defense/system & electronics, and aviation (operations/platforms), allowing investors to broadly benefit from industry growth.

As the aerospace theme strengthens, market interest expands beyond launch vehicles and satellites to include supporting sectors such as sensors, electronics, system integration, propulsion, and components. Among the ETF's holdings, Hanwha Systems, LIG Nex1, and Hanwha Aerospace are engaged in core businesses such as systems, electronics, and engines/components within the defense and aerospace industries.

Holdings related to aviation (operations/platforms) extend the aerospace theme into the mobility ecosystem. Since Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is connected not only to aircraft and components but also to operations, safety, and infrastructure, related industries are likely to experience simultaneous growth.

Kim Jungseop, Head of ETF Business at Hanwha Asset Management, stated, "The aerospace industry's value chain is broadly interconnected, from space infrastructure such as satellites and components to defense systems/electronics and aviation operations ecosystems. The 'PLUS Aerospace & UAM' ETF is designed to provide comprehensive investment opportunities during the expansion phase of the aerospace theme by diversifying across Korea's key companies."