0823WindM

Renewable energy enters theme basket universe

Equities 6 minutes to read
Picture of Peter Garnry
Peter Garnry

Chief Investment Strategist

Summary:  Today we are announcing that our theme basket universe is expanding with a new basket focusing on renewable energy. The basket is the third best performing basket year-to-date as investors are rotating into renewable energy stocks as the EU is accelerating its push to become energy independent from Russia which means massive investments into renewable energy in the coming years. We are highlighting two new changes to our defence and commodities baskets in our preparation for providing access to our theme baskets.


Renewable energy is set to get a boost from Ukraine war and energy crisis

The energy crisis was already under way before the war in Ukraine broke out due lack of investments in oil and gas, and a historically bad year for wind energy. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has catapulted Europe into emergency mode on energy security with the EU pursuing a path towards energy independence from Russia as quickly as possible. Part of this move towards independence is based on accelerating renewable energy and using excess renewable energy production in Power-to-X (PtX) which is a conversion of excess energy into hydrogen for energy storage.

Previously we had asset owners in renewable energy and manufacturers of equipment for renewable energy in our green transformation basket, but we have decided to spin out renewable energy production (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass) into its own separate theme basket. The constituents in the basket is in the table below. Our renewable energy basket is the third best performing basket year-to-date highlighting the investor flows seeking exposure to this theme. The key risks to this theme is accelerating commodity prices on raw materials used for renewable energy equipment (steel, silicon, copper, cement etc.).

NameMkt Cap (USD mn.)Sales growth (%)EBIT margin (%)Diff to PT (%)5yr return
China Yangtze Power Co Ltd79,4171.355.214.8103.3
LONGi Green Energy Technology Co Ltd61,76174.814.041.81,027.5
Orsted AS50,94954.920.98.2223.9
Verbund AG36,63438.526.5-12.9528.5
Vestas Wind Systems A/S29,5935.22.1-1.587.4
Enphase Energy Inc27,57678.515.67.015,860.5
EDP Renovaveis SA24,6661.663.8-3.6245.6
Brookfield Renewable Partners LP19,2787.530.0-3.2229.3
Constellation Energy Corp18,953NANA-0.4NA
SolarEdge Technologies Inc17,79334.610.55.62,037.9
Corp ACCIONA Energias Renovables SA12,257NANA10.0NA
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA11,715-0.5-9.426.1-12.6
First Solar Inc8,9337.820.1-4.4216.1
Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co Ltd8,310-10.16.824.426.0
Northland Power Inc7,5671.638.68.4108.5
Sunrun Inc6,32674.6-41.460.2503.4
ERG SpA5,08627.022.812.1221.9
Ormat Technologies Inc4,627-6.025.5-6.748.1
Drax Group PLC4,16922.83.92.5211.8
Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente SA2,82278.576.8-2.01,902.0
Aggregate / median438,43215.320.58.2223.9
Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group
04_PG_1

Defence and commodities baskets are updated

Due to many client request about access to our theme baskets we have decided to pursue the availability of these baskets for our clients. Part of this process is streamlining the theme baskets which means that we have decided to reduce theme baskets to 20 stocks. The two first baskets that have been reduced to 20 stocks are the defence and commodities baskets.

In the defence basket we removed the five smallest companies on market value which were Babcock International, Chemring, Invisio, Avon Protection, and Avio. See the updated defence basket below.

NameMkt Cap (USD mn.)Sales growth (%)EBIT margin (%)Diff to PT (%)5yr return
Raytheon Technologies Corp149,28013.87.78.570.1
Lockheed Martin Corp118,8692.513.61.890.6
Boeing Co/The112,6227.1-4.736.115.2
Airbus SE96,4434.510.234.063.0
Northrop Grumman Corp70,813-3.115.8-2.5108.8
General Dynamics Corp67,4511.410.86.645.5
L3Harris Technologies Inc48,877-2.111.85.4153.3
TransDigm Group Inc36,9952.937.511.1260.7
BAE Systems PLC29,5311.311.56.438.5
Thales SA26,556-4.77.412.635.9
Howmet Aerospace Inc15,215-5.515.011.172.7
Dassault Aviation SA13,23032.07.48.125.8
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC10,915-3.94.222.6-61.2
Elbit Systems Ltd9,74312.18.11.8104.8
Rheinmetall AG9,2472.110.60.9172.0
Kongsberg Gruppen ASA7,2067.210.4-6.9269.4
Leonardo SpA5,8055.45.719.5-26.9
Saab AB4,94310.57.4-3.83.0
Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC3,117-1.112.41.884.8
QinetiQ Group PLC2,3377.27.314.823.3
Aggregate / median values839,1942.710.37.466.6
Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group

The commodities basket has been changed in a more dramatic way. First of all, we have changed the name from commodity sector to commodities. Secondly, we have removed chemicals from the basket because it was too high up the value chain of commodities as chemicals are a value-added product and not a raw materials product such as coal, iron ore, or petroleum. By removing chemicals the commodities basket also gets a higher return correlation with the Bloomberg Commodity Total Return Index which is the leading benchmark index on commodities. The commodities basket has also been reduced to 20 stocks with a focus on agriculture, energy, mining, and forest products. The constituents in the commodities basket can be seen below and the basket is also the best performing basket year-to-date up 32.9% (see performance table above).

NameMkt Cap (USD mn.)Sales growth (%)EBIT margin (%)Diff to PT (%)5yr return
Exxon Mobil Corp351,89654.98.46.231.1
Shell PLC210,02144.88.514.931.0
BHP Group Ltd199,98647.148.4-8.6248.1
PetroChina Co Ltd150,02335.26.923.7-10.1
Rio Tinto Ltd135,75642.347.0-1.6238.9
ConocoPhillips130,357144.025.913.1135.2
Equinor ASA123,03194.037.8-10.0167.7
Petroleo Brasileiro SA95,79766.444.7-3.394.4
Glencore PLC87,75643.15.08.184.0
China Shenhua Energy Co Ltd87,52543.723.91.3135.0
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd73,43877.934.58.7124.4
Newmont Corp65,6076.310.6-14.3173.0
Southern Copper Corp60,43236.955.5-20.7164.8
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co51,28132.53.3-16.9134.0
Mosaic Co/The24,26442.320.0-1.8138.6
Wilmar International Ltd21,87230.24.125.554.5
Norsk Hydro ASA21,06630.911.14.9100.4
Bunge Ltd16,09742.93.60.470.7
Mowi ASA14,46311.813.13.0131.4
Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA13,7452.240.2-7.2247.9
Aggregate / median1,934,41542.616.51.3134.0
Source: Bloomberg and Saxo Group

Outrageous Predictions 2026

01 /

  • Switzerland's Green Revolution: CHF 30 Billion Initiative by 2050

    Outrageous Predictions

    Switzerland's Green Revolution: CHF 30 Billion Initiative by 2050

    Katrin Wagner

    Head of Investment Content Switzerland

    Switzerland launches a CHF 30 billion energy revolution by 2050, rivaling Lindt & Sprüngli's market ...
  • The Swiss Fortress – 2026

    Outrageous Predictions

    The Swiss Fortress – 2026

    Erik Schafhauser

    Senior Relationship Manager

    Swiss voters reject EU ties, boosting the Swiss Franc and sparking Switzerland's "Souveränität Zuers...
  • A Fortune 500 company names an AI model as CEO

    Outrageous Predictions

    A Fortune 500 company names an AI model as CEO

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Can AI be trusted to take over in the boardroom? With the right algorithms and balanced human oversi...
  • Dollar dominance challenged by Beijing’s golden yuan

    Outrageous Predictions

    Dollar dominance challenged by Beijing’s golden yuan

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Beijing does an end-run around the US dollar, setting up a framework for settling trade in a neutral...
  • Dumb AI triggers trillion-dollar clean-up

    Outrageous Predictions

    Dumb AI triggers trillion-dollar clean-up

    Jacob Falkencrone

    Global Head of Investment Strategy

    Agentic AI systems are deployed across all sectors, and after a solid start, mistakes trigger a tril...
  • Quantum leap Q-Day arrives early, crashing crypto and destabilizing world finance

    Outrageous Predictions

    Quantum leap Q-Day arrives early, crashing crypto and destabilizing world finance

    Neil Wilson

    Investor Content Strategist

    A quantum computer cracks today’s digital security, bringing enough chaos with it that Bitcoin crash...
  • SpaceX announces an IPO, supercharging extraterrestrial markets

    Outrageous Predictions

    SpaceX announces an IPO, supercharging extraterrestrial markets

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

    Financial markets go into orbit, to the moon and beyond as SpaceX expands rocket launches by orders-...
  • Taylor Swift-Kelce wedding spikes global growth

    Outrageous Predictions

    Taylor Swift-Kelce wedding spikes global growth

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

    Next year’s most anticipated wedding inspires Gen Z to drop the doomscrolling and dial up the real w...
  • Despite concerns, U.S. 2026 mid-term elections proceed smoothly

    Outrageous Predictions

    Despite concerns, U.S. 2026 mid-term elections proceed smoothly

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

    In spite of outstanding threats to the American democratic process, the US midterms come and go cord...
  • Obesity drugs for everyone – even for pets

    Outrageous Predictions

    Obesity drugs for everyone – even for pets

    Jacob Falkencrone

    Global Head of Investment Strategy

    The availability of GLP-1 drugs in pill form makes them ubiquitous, shrinking waistlines, even for p...

This content is marketing material.

None of the information provided on this website constitutes an offer, solicitation, or endorsement to buy or sell any financial instrument, nor is it financial, investment, or trading advice. Saxo Bank Switzerland and its entities within the Saxo Bank Group provide execution-only services, with all trades and investments based on self-directed decisions. Analysis, research, and educational content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered advice nor a recommendation.

Saxo Bank Switzerland’s content may reflect the personal views of the author, which are subject to change without notice. Mentions of specific financial products are for illustrative purposes only and may serve to clarify financial literacy topics. Content classified as investment research is marketing material and does not meet legal requirements for independent research.

Saxo Bank Switzerland partners with companies that provide compensation for promotional activities conduced on its platform. Additionally, Saxo Bank Switzerland has agreements with certain partners who provide retrocession contingent upon clients purchasing specific products offered by these partners.

While Saxo Bank Switzerland receives compensation from these partnerships, all educational and research content remains focused on providing information to clients.  

Before making any investment decisions, you should assess your own financial situation, needs, and objectives, and consider seeking independent professional advice. Saxo Bank Switzerland does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information provided and assumes no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages resulting from the use of this information.

The content of this website represents marketing material and is not the result of financial analysis or research. It has therefore not been prepared in accordance with directives of the Swiss Bankers Association designed to promote the independence of financial research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of the marketing material.

Saxo Bank (Schweiz) AG
The Circle 38
CH-8058
Zürich-Flughafen
Switzerland

Contact Saxo

Select region

Switzerland
Switzerland

All trading carries risk. Losses can exceed deposits on margin products. You should consider whether you understand how our products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a general Risk Warning series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. The KIDs can be accessed within the trading platform. Please note that the full prospectus can be obtained free of charge from Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. or the issuer.

This website can be accessed worldwide however the information on the website is related to Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. All clients will directly engage with Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. and all client agreements will be entered into with Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. and thus governed by Swiss Law. 

The content of this website represents marketing material and has not been notified or submitted to any supervisory authority.

If you contact Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. or visit this website, you acknowledge and agree that any data that you transmit to Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd., either through this website, by telephone or by any other means of communication (e.g. e-mail), may be collected or recorded and transferred to other Saxo Bank Group companies or third parties in Switzerland or abroad and may be stored or otherwise processed by them or Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. You release Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. from its obligations under Swiss banking and securities dealer secrecies and, to the extent permitted by law, data protection laws as well as other laws and obligations to protect privacy. Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. has implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect data from unauthorized processing and disclosure and applies appropriate safeguards to guarantee adequate protection of such data.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.