The metaverse has been called Web 3.0 and the next-generation internet.
Dreamstime
You might want to buy shares of Walt
Disney
,
Cisco Systems
,
and
Intel
if you believe in the metaverse.
That might seem counterintuitive since the metaverse goes way beyond those tech and media stalwarts. The idea is that consumers and businesses will interact on new virtual reality platforms—playing videogames, socializing, and doing business in an interconnected way. Some have dubbed it Web 3.0.
Facebook
‘s reinvention as Meta Platforms (ticker: FB) highlights the trend. But plenty of tech, media, and e-commerce companies stand to benefit, according to a new Metaverse Index of stocks from Bespoke Investment Group.
“Development of the metaverse will involve many players,” Bespoke said in a report on Tuesday. “This ‘next generation internet’ will require cloud infrastructure, data processing, content origination, cyber security, and much more.”
As Bespoke sees it, 30 companies offer exposure to the trend, spread across seven broad categories: content production, virtualization software, cybersecurity, e-commerce, advertising, hardware, and data.
Some of the names would be obvious winners if the concept takes off: Meta Platforms, Roblox (RBLX),
Nvidia
(NVDA),
Activision Blizzard
(ATVI),
Take-Two Interactive
(TTWO), and
Unity Software
(U), a virtual-reality software platform.
Several chip-makers aside from Nvidia made the cut, too, including
Broadcom
(AVGO), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and
Taiwan Semiconductor
(TSM).
Coinbase
(COIN), the large cryptocurrency exchange, could benefit as well. “Digital property and currencies will likely have real value through the use of nonfungible tokens (NFTs),” Bespoke said, noting that Coinbase rolled out an NFT platform not long ago.
Other index components include tech and media stalwarts like
Microsoft
(MSFT), Cisco (CSCO), Intel (INTC), and Walt Disney (DIS), and Alphabet (GOOGL).
Early in November, Microsoft announced a “Mesh” platform for online work using holographic technology. Cisco is developing holographic systems for meetings. Intel is working on chips designed to be 1,000 times faster than today’s processors—capitalizing on real-time processing demands, Bespoke said. Alphabet, for its part, has a hand in everything from digital advertising to augmented-reality hardware.
As for Disney, it’s trying to build metaverse concepts into theme parks. The company also owns entertainment content and gaming assets that could gain traction in new virtual worlds.
A few other winners aren’t so apparent. Bespoke sees consulting giant
Accenture
(ACN) benefiting from “uncertainty” as companies struggle to digitize and implement metaverse strategies.
Cognizant Technology Solutions
(CTSH), another tech outsourcing firm, could play a role as companies implement metaverse strategies.
More under-the-radar winners include Immersion (IMMR), a touch-feedback technology company; Matterport (MTTR), a special-data software platform; and Okta (OKTA), an identity-management and corporate apps platform.
Investors don’t have to buy these stocks individually. You can find many of the Bespoke’s index components in the SPDR Technology Select Sector SPDR exchange-traded fund (XLK). Indeed, Bespoke’s metaverse index has slightly underperformed that ETF and the broader tech sector this year, though it has outperformed the S&P 500.
The Roundhill Metaverse ETF (META) holds many of these stocks, too, plus others like
Amazon.com
(AMZN),
Tencent Holdings
(700.HK), and
Qualcomm
(QCOM). It also has trailed the tech sector and broader S&P 500 since launching on June 30.
Investors do seem to like the concept overall—pushing up shares of Meta by 7% since the company announced its rebranding on Oct. 28, beating the broader tech market.
But high valuations are now built into companies with even a whiff of metaverse exposure. Scores of companies are mentioning it on earnings calls and meetings with analysts, aiming to gin up excitement.
Appealing as the metaverse may be, it remains an aspiration of Silicon Valley, vulnerable to the hype that come with dreaming big.
Write to Daren Fonda at daren.fonda@barrons.com
