The list is dominated by next-generation themes such as internet and industrial innovation as well as by China- and India-focused funds.
1. ARK Innovation ETF
Symbol: ARKK
2017 return: 87.32%
Strategy: Follows securities that focus on and benefit from the development of new products and services, technological improvements and advancements in scientific research related to areas including disruptive innovation such as the next generation internet, industrial innovation and genomic revolution.
2. ARK Web x.0 ETF
Symbol: ARKW
2017 return: 87.29%
Strategy: Focuses on companies expected to benefit from shifting the bases of technology infrastructure to the cloud, enabling mobile and local services, shared services, internet-based products and services, new payment methods, big data, the internet of things and social distribution and social media.
3. VanEck Vectors Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF
Symbol: REMX
2017 return: 82.6%
Strategy: Seeks to replicate the MVIS Global Rare Earth/Strategic Metals Index, which tracks the overall performance of companies involved in producing, refining, and recycling of rare earth and strategic metals and minerals.
4. Wisdom Tree China ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund
Symbol: CXSE
2017 return: 81.5%
Strategy: Tracks investment results of Chinese companies that are not state-owned enterprises, which is defined as government ownership of more than 20 percent. Top holdings in the fund include Alibaba Group Holding and Baidu.com and information technology represents about a third of the fund.
5.Guggenheim China Technology ETF
Symbol: CQQQ
2017 return: 74.31%
Strategy: Tracks the AlphaShares China Technology Index, which is designed to measure and monitor the performance of publicly-issued common equity securities of publicly-traded companies that are open to foreign ownership and derive a majority of their revenue from the IT sector in China and its special administrative regions.
6. KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF
Symbol: KWEB
2017 return: 69.73%
Strategy: Follows the CSI Overseas China Internet Index, which consists of China-based companies whose primary business is focused on internet and internet-related technology and which are publicly traded on either the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange.
7. Emerging Markets Internet & Ecommerce ETF
Symbol: EMQQ
2017 return: 68.2%
Strategy: Tracks an index of leading internet and ecommerce companies serving emerging markets, offering exposure to the growth of online consumption in the developing world including in countries such as India, China, Brazil, Turkey, Nigeria and Indonesia.
8. Global X China Consumer ETF
Symbol: CHIQ
2017 return: 67.74%
Strategy: Invests in a basket of stocks that operate within the consumer discretionary and consumer staples sectors in China. Its biggest exposure is to travel—more than 20%–followed by automobiles and components—more than 18%.
9. Columbia India Small Cap ETF
Symbol: SCIN
2017 return: 67.57%
Strategy: Follows the Indxx India Small Cap Index, which is designed to measure the market performance of companies in the small cap segment in India including in the banking, construction and engineering, pharmaceuticals, software and machinery sectors.
10. VanEck Vectors India Small-Cap Index ETF
Symbol: SCIF
2017 return: 66.53%
Strategy: Similar to SCIN, seeks to replicate the MVIS India Small-Cap Index, which is comprised of securities of small-capitalization companies that are incorporated in India or outside of India but with at least 50% of their revenue and related assets in India.
