Global X FinTech ETF

FINX

Market cap $247M

2025 was the year of exchange-traded funds, and I strongly believe the momentum will continue throughout 2026.

The Global X FinTech ETF (FINX) is rated Hold due to muted near-term growth prospects and a portfolio skewed toward mature fintech names. FINX's diversified holdings dilute narrative-driven upside, with legacy payments, SaaS, crypto, and international fintech each contributing distinct cyclical and macro sensitivities. Performance has lagged growth alternatives like ARKF and SPY over five years, reflecting FINX's lower exposure to disruptive or momentum-driven fintech segments.

Many financial companies are slow-growing and balance sheet intensive, making them more common in value funds and usually less appealing to growth strategies. However, there are asset-light firms that have competitive advantages and that are benefiting from secular trends.

PORTLAND, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $FINX #APIs--Merchant Focus today announced MF linq, a developer-first embedded payments platform designed to give software companies, SaaS providers, and marketplaces full control of their payment experience. Built to replace legacy limitations, MF linq enables platforms to seamlessly onboard merchants, manage payouts, and generate recurring revenue—all under their own brand. “Payments should fuel growth, not slow it down,” said Travis Jordan, President of Merchant Focus.

Financial technology, or fintech, was one of the worst performing parts of the stock market in the 2022 bear market and for the roughly two-year period that followed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy turned to online payments, cashless money transfers, and cryptocurrency interest surged.

FINX is a strong buy, offering a cost-effective, diversified way to capture fintech growth, with superior returns vs. passive peers. The fund is strategically positioned to benefit from digital payments, AI, and embedded finance trends, with key holdings in PayPal, Adyen, and Intuit. Despite risks like portfolio concentration and liquidity, The Global X FinTech ETF's international and sector diversification enhances resilience and growth potential.

Financial technology (fintech), broadly speaking, allows the remote delivery of financial services to businesses and individuals through computers or mobile devices. Fintech encompasses everything from smartphone apps to complex blockchain-enabled networks that facilitate financial transactions.

It's been a rough few weeks for the S&P 500 as well as other major American economic indicators. The S&P 500 hit its lowest level in four months on Tuesday, erasing its election gains.

Global X FinTech ETF has a high expense ratio of 0.68%, barely covered by its dividend yield of 0.70%. ARKF, although more liquid, does not fully represent the fintech segment. FINX is less performant but more characteristic of the sector. Deregulation and fiscal stimulus have historically been strong catalysts for significant stock market growth in the fintech segment.

The holiday shopping season in recent years kicked off with a five-day weekend that began on Thanksgiving and wrapped up on Cyber Monday. According to the National Retail Federation, roughly 197 million shoppers participated in the retail frenzy this year.