U.S. Global Investors CEO highlights strong War ETF performance amid global military spending surge

U.S. Global Investors CEO Frank Holmes joined Steve Darling from Proactive to provide an update on the strong performance of the firm’s War ETF, launched in December 2024. Despite volatile global markets and rising geopolitical tensions, the ETF has demonstrated impressive resilience and has outpaced several other national security-focused investment vehicles. Holmes attributed the ETF's performance to what he described as “smart beta 2.0”—an evolved strategy that focuses on momentum across revenue growth, earnings strength, and free cash flow. Key holdings like Qualcomm and General Dynamics have been standout contributors, supported by global shifts in military priorities and spending patterns. “The strategy is built to identify companies benefitting from real economic trends—not just narratives,” Holmes explained. He emphasized that recent geopolitical developments have served as a strong tailwind for the defense sector. In particular, increased military budgets across Europe—often spurred by U.S. diplomatic pressure—have led to a wave of new defense contracts and infrastructure upgrades. The ETF’s performance is also being driven by a sharp rise in global defense spending, fueled by conflicts and tensions in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent, as well as increasing cybersecurity threats from China. Holmes noted that the United States alone is expected to spend close to $3 trillion annually on national defense and related technologies—surpassing previous records. Importantly, Holmes highlighted that the ETF doesn’t only focus on traditional defense contractors. It also includes exposure to high-performance data centers and AI infrastructure, recognizing the critical role of artificial intelligence, secure connectivity, and big data in modern warfare and defense operations. This diversified approach also captures crossover benefits from sectors like healthcare, technology, and cybersecurity. He also pointed to growing investments in Canada and Europe in AI-related infrastructure and 5G mobile networks, positioning the ETF to benefit from parallel technological developments outside of direct military applications. #proactiveinvestors #usglobalinvestorsinc #nasdaq #grow #etf #trip #travel #colombia #WARETF #DefenceSpending #Cybersecurity #Semiconductors #Aerospace #SmartBeta #ETFs #NYSE #FrankHolmes #USGlobalInvestors #AIInvesting #GeopoliticalTensions #MilitaryETF #SmartBeta #Cybersecurity #NATOspending #NYSE #ProactiveInvestors