Financial Investors Trust ALPS/CoreCommodity Natural Resources ETF

CCNR

Market cap $387M

Artificial intelligence infrastructure investing requires looking beyond semiconductors to the physical systems powering the digital revolution, according to Paul Baiocchi, head of fund strategy at SS&C ALPS Advisors. In an interview at the Exchange conference in Las Vegas, Baiocchi outlined a mosaic approach using three funds to capture different layers of infrastructure growth.

A commodity rally that powered energy and metals higher over the past year may be ready for its next phase, with agriculture taking the lead. The ALPS CoreCommodity Natural Resources ETF (CCNR) returned 18.1% year-to-date through March, making it the top performer across the ALPS fund lineup, according to ETF Database.

Biotech and natural resources funds led the ALPS ETFs lineup in 2025, with both strategies delivering returns above 45%, according to ETF Database. The ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF (SBIO) gained just over 57% through December 23, topping all ALPS products for the year, according to ETF Database.

Biotech and natural resources funds led the ALPS ETFs lineup in 2025, with both strategies delivering returns above 45%, according to ETF Database. The ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF (SBIO) gained just over 57% through December 23, topping all ALPS products for the year, according to ETF Database.

With higher growth sectors and glitzier commodities soaring, the energy sector isn't getting much attention this year beyond the standard focus on oil market gyrations. That's not to say energy stocks have been “bad” per se, but as highlighted by the S&P Energy Select Sector Index, the group is trailing the broader market.

Artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and machine learning are just a few of the obvious tech innovations dominating the majority of investor attention spans these days. Along with the companies focused on these technologies, attention also diverts to those integral to meeting hardware demands, like semiconductor firms.

Some sectors are considered defensive, while others fall into the cyclical camp, meaning they're tethered to the economy's performance. Materials is certainly in the latter camp, and that's something to remember when considering ETFs such as the ALPS CoreCommodity Natural Resources ETF (CCNR).

On this week's episode of ETF Prime, Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at TMX Vetta-Fi, joins host Nate Geraci to discuss how ETF share‑class expansions are getting more attention in 2025. Later, Paul Baiocchi, head of fund sales and strategy at SS&C ALPS Advisors, weighed in on the promise and pitfalls of ETF share-class expansion.

Market participants lavish attention upon themes such as artificial intelligence (AI) and renewable energy. So, it's arguably not surprising that some “old school” commodities, excluding gold and oil, aren't points of emphasis for some investors.

The ALPS CoreCommodity Natural Resources ETF (CCNR) marks its one-year anniversary today.  Launched on July 10, 2024, CCNR is an actively managed ETF that invests in upstream natural resource producers.