How do ETNs generate returns for investors?
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The returns earned by the trader through an ETN are generated based on the underlying index’s performance.
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There are many debt instruments available in the market for traders to invest in. Exchange-Traded Notes are one such debt instrument that are issued by financial institutions like banks. ETNs usually have a maturity of 10 to 30 years and they do not carry out regular interest payments like other debt instruments. Investors and traders make a profit or incur a loss depending on how the asset or index being tracked by the ETN performs. ETNs can be sold anytime or an investor can hold onto them till they mature.
Like every security on the market, ETNs have their features or characteristics that make them stand out. To recognise and decide whether or not you should invest in one, it is important to get to know these characteristics.
It is very important from the get-go to understand that ETNs don’t own the assets they track. To help you understand, a gold ETN doesn’t end up buying physical gold, it simply tracks and observes gold’s market performance.
Another important aspect of ETNs is that when you invest in one, you are doing it with sole reliance on the issuer’s creditworthiness. Investors are wholly dependent on the issuer’s ability to repay their principal amount plus any gains or minus any losses. Since an ETN is not backed by any collateral, there are no safety nets if the issuer defaults.
ETNs can prove to be quite liquid as they are traded on the stock market like regular securities. However, this liquidity also depends on the demand there is for ETNs. ETNs, in this way, help investors enjoy flexibility without locking them up until maturity.
ETNs are similar to mutual funds in the sense that the former comes with an annual expense ratio. This fee mostly covers costs like maintenance, administration, and other operational expenses and is charged by the investment manager.
Looking to invest in an ETN? Well, here are a few benefits that you ought to know about:
Tax Saving: ETNs don’t pay regular dividends or interest and that is precisely why it makes them tax saving. As a result, traders do not need to fret about any short-term capital gains tax. The only tax investors have to pay during the investment is a lower long-term capital gains tax on the lump sum amount at maturity, only once.
Precise Performance Tracking: As already discussed ETNs don’t own the underlying assets they track. This also ensures that the need for rebalancing does not exist, thus letting ETNs mirror the performance of the index or asset class.
Access Unique Markets: With the help of ETNs trailers and investors can venture into unique markets like commodity futures, currencies, etc. These markets are usually difficult for small investors to get into as they have high minimum investments or fees.
If you are looking to invest in ETNs you must know all the risks associated with it as well.
One of the major drawbacks of an ETN is that they do not pay interest to the investor or trader.
Once the ETN matures, before handing over the principal amount invested by the trader, the financial institution deducts any fees levied by it.
The returns earned by the trader through an ETN are generated based on the underlying index’s performance.
ETNs are also quite liquid as they are traded on the stock exchange just like stocks, which helps traders make money from the price difference.
Since an ETN’s market price is influenced by the performance of the underlying index, the trader has to trust the issuer to deliver the returns.
While investing in an ETN might seem like a straightforward process, investors must know the risks that it accompanies.
Index Tracking Risk
The returns generated as a result of investing ETNs depend on the performance of the index it tracks. This means that if the index declines or fails to cover the fees that are levied by the financial institutions, traders will receive less than their initial investment when the ETN matures.
Issuer Default Risk
The issuer’s financial health also has a lot to say about how an ETN might perform. In case the credit ratings of the issuer drop, the value of the ETN will also decrease. In some cases, the issuer could also end up defaulting, which will lead to the investor losing their entire principal amount along with the returns generated.
Sometimes the issuer might also choose to close an ETN before its maturity. In such cases, they end up paying investors the market value at that time, which could end up potentially being lower than the purchase price.
Liquidity Risk
Another risk that exists with ETNs is liquidity risk. If the trading volume is low or the activity is less and there is an imbalance in supply and demand, the ETN prices can deviate from their market value. In such cases, if the ETN is sold before maturity, traders might face unexpected losses or gains.
Here’s a brief about the pros and cons of ETNs
ETN Pros | ETN Cons |
Investors can earn a profit if and when the price of the underlying index is higher at maturity. | No regular interest payments are provided to the investor or trader |
Ownership of the underlying securities of the index when they invest in an ETN | Repayment of the principal amount and the returns generated is dependent on the issuer’s morality |
ETNs are traded like most securities in all major exchanges | When the trade volume is low, ETN prices might get traded at a premium |
ETNs are taxed as per the capital gain they earn. The capital gain thus considered is the difference between the purchase price and the selling price. However, traders only have to pay tax on them when they sell the ETN or when it matures.
Comparing ETFs and ETNs: What Sets Them Apart?
Though both ETFs and ETNs track an index, their working is a little different from each other. With an ETF, traders end up owning the underlying asset of the index being tracked. With an ETN, on the other hand, there is no question of ownership of an asset of the index as it simply tracks its performance and relies on the issuer’s creditworthiness.
With the help of an exchange-traded note, traders can invest in debt securities in a very straightforward manner. They are a type of debt securities issued by a financial institution tracking an index. With ETNs, traders don’t get ownership of the underlying assets and their returns are generated based on the index’s performance. However, before investing in them, it is important to consider all of their aspects.
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Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.
This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.
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The returns earned by the trader through an ETN are generated based on the underlying index’s performance.
There are three types of risks associated with investing in ETNs; issuer default risk, index tracking risk and liquidity risk.
Most ETNs are tailored to suit short-term trading goals which makes them less suitable for both intermediate and long-term investment horizons. Since these ETNs can be hard to sell without considerable price changes, liquidity also becomes an issue. Additionally, their MP can diverge significantly either at a premium or discount from their indicative value.
Investors can buy and sell ETNs like any other securities on all major stock exchanges.
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