The FlexShares STOXX Global Broad Infrastructure Index Fund (NFRA) is one of a handful of ETFs on the market that target a loosely-defined infrastructure segment. The idea is that infrastructure investments can hedge inflation while boosting returns and income. NFRA follows a market-cap-weighted index that invests in companies that derive at least 50% of their revenue from segments including energy, communications, utilities, transportation and — an unusual twist — government outsourcing, like hospitals, prisons and postal services. To maintain diversification, the index imposes certain constraints, such as limits on the overall weighting of each segment. The portfolio is dominated by North American equities, followed by Japan, Australia and the U.K. Top holdings include Canadian National Railway, Verizon, and the pipeline company Enbridge.
The FlexShares STOXX Global Broad Infrastructure Index Fund (NFRA) is one of a handful of ETFs on the market that target a loosely-defined infrastructure segment. The idea is that infrastructure investments can hedge inflation while boosting returns and income. NFRA follows a market-cap-weighted index that invests in companies that derive at least 50% of their revenue from segments including energy, communications, utilities, transportation and — an unusual twist — government outsourcing, like hospitals, prisons and postal services. To maintain diversification, the index imposes certain constraints, such as limits on the overall weighting of each segment. The portfolio is dominated by North American equities, followed by Japan, Australia and the U.K. Top holdings include Canadian National Railway, Verizon, and the pipeline company Enbridge.
The fund is one of the larger infrastructure funds out there. It’s expensive compared with ultra-low-cost index funds but reasonable in the small world of infrastructure funds. Investors could compare it to the ProShares DJ Brookfield Global Infrastructure ETF (TOLZ), which restricts its universe to companies that derive 70% of cash flow from infrastructure-related businesses.