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Higher Returns with Lower Risk: The SectorSurfer Advantage

ESPO VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF

Category: Large Cap Growth Equities

Inception: 2018-10-16 Issuer: VanEck
Net Assets
$298.5M
Expense Ratio
0.56 %
# of Holdings
26
Average Daily Volume
35.4K

Fund Overview

The VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ESPO) is an exchange-traded fund that provides investors with exposure to companies involved in video gaming, eSports, and related technologies. The fund seeks to track the performance of the MVIS Global Video Gaming and eSports Index, which includes companies that generate at least 50% of their revenue from video gaming and eSports activities. ESPO offers a focused investment approach to the rapidly growing gaming industry, which encompasses game developers, hardware manufacturers, streaming platforms, and eSports organizations. The ETF is designed for investors seeking long-term growth potential through the expanding global gaming market, which benefits from increasing digitalization, technological advancements, and rising consumer engagement.
Asset Class
Equity
Industry
Gaming
Annual Dividend Rate
Smart Beta
No
Leveraged / Inverse
N/A / No
Dividend Quality - Yield
 - 0.17 %
Currency Hedged
No
Portfolio Turnover
36 %
Dividend Date

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Why Invest in the ESPO ETF?

Potential Benefits

  • Provides targeted exposure to the high-growth video gaming and eSports industry, which is expected to expand significantly in the coming years.
  • Diversifies across multiple segments of the gaming ecosystem, including software, hardware, and streaming services.
  • Offers a cost-effective way to invest in a niche sector without the need to pick individual stocks.
  • Benefits from global trends such as increasing internet penetration, mobile gaming adoption, and the rise of competitive eSports.
  • Liquidity and transparency of an ETF structure, allowing for easy trading and portfolio adjustments.

Potential Risks

  • Concentration risk due to the ETF's focus on a single, rapidly evolving industry that may be subject to shifting consumer preferences.
  • Volatility may be higher than broader market ETFs, as gaming stocks can be sensitive to economic cycles and regulatory changes.
  • Competitive pressures within the gaming industry could impact the profitability of underlying holdings.
  • Technological disruption or shifts in gaming platforms (e.g., cloud gaming) could render some holdings obsolete.
  • Currency risk, as many gaming companies operate globally and may be affected by exchange rate fluctuations.

Performance

1 Week 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years YTD 2024 2023 Since Inception
+4.36% +2.99% +60.22% +134.09% +112.35% +29.87% +51.10% +32.07% +277.60%

Performance


Histogram
MACD
Signal
Base Line
RSI (14)
Overbought (70)
Oversold (30)

Monthly Returns (%)

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2025 +4.5% +3.7% -4.6% +9.6% +7.1% +8.2% -0.5% - - - - -
2024 +0.6% +7.9% +1.5% -3.8% +8.0% +3.0% +1.5% +3.9% +7.8% -1.9% +13.6% -1.2%
2023 +14.0% -4.7% +13.6% -3.6% +3.0% +6.3% +5.2% -7.6% -4.9% -2.7% +10.1% +3.7%
2022 -5.7% -3.0% -4.1% -14.0% +4.9% -9.0% +4.9% -5.5% -14.1% -1.6% +12.9% -4.1%
2021 +3.7% -0.6% -5.3% +3.6% -0.1% +2.6% -6.8% +1.9% -5.7% +6.2% +5.7% -6.0%
2020 +0.7% -0.3% +1.6% +7.2% +13.8% +9.2% +8.8% +10.0% -0.7% -2.9% +9.5% +7.1%
2019 +11.1% -2.6% +9.3% +3.6% -3.4% +5.0% +0.7% +0.8% -0.1% +1.7% +4.9% +6.0%
2018 - - - - - - - - - - +1.1% -4.9%
< -5% -5% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% 0% to +2% +2% to +5% > +5%

Top Holdings (by weight)

Symbol Company Name Weight
APP APPLOVIN CORP ORDINARY SHARES CLASS A 7.6 %
NTES NETEASE INC ADR 6.2 %
RBLX ROBLOX CORP ORDINARY SHARES CLASS A 5.9 %
TTWO TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE INC 5.8 %
EA ELECTRONIC ARTS INC 5.3 %
GME GAMESTOP CORP CLASS A 5.2 %
U UNITY SOFTWARE INC ORDINARY SHARES 3.8 %
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 26 total holdings.

Related ETFs: ESPO vs Peers

ETF Full Name Expense Ratio Net Assets Holdings Asset Class
BETZ Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF 0.75 % $66.2M 32 Equity
GAMR Amplify Video Game Leaders ETF 0.59 % $36.6M 22 Equity
HERO Global X Video Games & Esports ETF 0.50 % $100.8M 46 Equity
NERD Roundhill Video Games ETF 0.50 % $20M 34 Equity
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.

Investment Strategy

ESPO seeks to replicate the performance of the MVIS Global Video Gaming and eSports Index, a rules-based, modified market-cap-weighted index that includes companies deriving significant revenue from video gaming and eSports. The index methodology focuses on firms engaged in game development, hardware manufacturing, streaming, and eSports operations. The ETF primarily holds common stocks of these companies and is rebalanced quarterly to maintain alignment with the index. By tracking this specialized index, ESPO provides targeted exposure to the gaming sector without active management, keeping expense ratios competitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of companies does ESPO invest in?

ESPO invests in companies that generate at least 50% of their revenue from video gaming, eSports, or related technologies, including game developers, hardware manufacturers, and streaming platforms.

How does ESPO differ from broader tech ETFs?

Unlike broad tech ETFs that cover a wide range of sectors, ESPO focuses specifically on the gaming and eSports industry, offering more targeted exposure to this high-growth niche.

Is ESPO suitable for long-term investment?

ESPO can be a long-term investment for those bullish on the gaming industry's growth, but investors should be aware of the sector's volatility and evolving trends.

Does ESPO pay dividends?

Dividends from ESPO are generally minimal, as many gaming companies reinvest profits into growth rather than paying significant dividends.

How often is ESPO rebalanced?

ESPO's underlying index is rebalanced quarterly to ensure it remains representative of the video gaming and eSports sector.

Industry Overview

The VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ESPO) provides exposure to the dynamic and rapidly growing video gaming and eSports industry. This sector has evolved from a niche entertainment market into a mainstream global phenomenon, driven by technological advancements, increasing internet accessibility, and the rise of competitive gaming. The industry includes game developers, console manufacturers, streaming platforms, and eSports organizations, all of which benefit from strong consumer engagement and recurring revenue models. ESPO allows investors to capitalize on this trend by offering diversified exposure to leading companies in the space, making it an attractive option for those bullish on the future of interactive entertainment.

Alternative Comparison

Compared to peers like NERD (Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports & Digital Entertainment ETF) and GAMR (ETFMG Video Game Tech ETF), ESPO stands out for its stricter revenue requirements, ensuring more direct exposure to pure-play gaming companies. While NERD includes some broader digital entertainment firms, ESPO focuses specifically on gaming and eSports. Additionally, ESPO's expense ratio is competitive within the niche, making it a cost-efficient choice for long-term investors. Unlike some thematic ETFs that use derivatives or leverage, ESPO employs a straightforward equity-based approach, providing transparent and direct exposure to its underlying holdings.

Issuer Overview

VanEck is a well-established asset management firm known for its thematic and sector-specific ETFs. The company has a strong track record of launching innovative investment products that provide exposure to niche markets, including commodities, emerging markets, and disruptive technologies. VanEck's expertise in indexing and ETF construction ensures that ESPO is well-positioned to track its underlying benchmark effectively while maintaining liquidity and cost efficiency for investors.

Conclusion

The VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ESPO) offers investors a focused and efficient way to gain exposure to the high-growth gaming and eSports industry. With its disciplined indexing approach, competitive fees, and diversified holdings, ESPO is well-suited for those looking to capitalize on the expanding global gaming market. While the sector carries inherent risks, including volatility and rapid technological change, ESPO provides a balanced and liquid investment vehicle for long-term growth potential in this dynamic industry.

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