U.S. Global Investors Inc. GROW celebrated a banner year in 2024 with its flagship ETFs witnessing solid returns.

The standout performer? The U.S. Global Jets ETF JETS soared 33.21% higher, spurred by an uptick in travel demand, effective capacity management and lower fuel prices. These drivers helped lift the broader aviation sector fly high.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reportedly screened more than 900 million passengers, up 5% compared to 2023.

United Airlines Holdings Inc UAL was the biggest winner, with its stock soaring 135% on-year in 2024.

U.S. Global Jets ETF: An Investment to Consider?

The U.S. Global Jets ETF aims to replicate the performance of the U.S. Global Jets Index through a portfolio of 51 securities. With an asset base of $1.07 billion, the fund has an expense ratio of 0.60%, which can be a cost-effective investment choice. In addition, this fund allocates almost half of its holdings to large-cap stocks, and top holdings include American Airlines Group AAL, Delta Air Lines DAL and United Airlines.

Moreover, this pure-play aviation holds stocks of both domestic and international companies with a range of market capitalization. This spreads out the risk of volatility in a particular geographic region.

Nonetheless, a point to be noted here is that the fund features a beta of 1.43, which means it is at slightly higher risk to be more volatile than the market.

Other U.S. Global ETFs that Contributed to a Stellar Year

The U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF GOAU gained an impressive 13.80%. This performance mirrored gold's sharp rise, as the metal hit an all-time high of $2,787 per ounce on Oct. 30, 2024.

A modest 2.23% gains closed the year for the U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF SEA. However, a $2.10-per-share dividend was the highlight of the year for this ETF, braving the headwinds that the cargo shipping industry faced, including geopolitical instability and labor disputes.

Adding to its suite of thematic ETFs, U.S. Global Investors launched the U.S. Global Technology and Aerospace & Defense ETF WAR on Dec. 30, 2024. This ETF has substantial exposure to data centers, homeland protection, aerospace and defense, cybersecurity and semiconductor, key areas of interest in today’s world.

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