Let’s NERD Out: The Opportunity in Video Games – Nasdaq Investment Intelligence – 3.16.23

Summary:

Now On Demand

Video gaming is the largest entertainment sector in the world and is anticipated to continue to grow over the coming decades. With the advent of social aspects to gaming and its intersection with the emerging metaverse, gaming is becoming broader than entertainment alone. Investors interested in seeking the potential to differentiate their portfolios may look to video game software stocks as a means to harness this long-term trend. Considering the evolving dynamics of the space, investors may want to consider looking at index-based ETFs to do so.

In this webinar, Dave Mazza, Chief Strategy Officer at Roundhill Investments, discusses the opportunities in video game software and why investors may want to consider video games as a long-term theme. Sara Mehle, ESG Index Strategist, Index Research & Development, Nasdaq Investment Intelligence, will discuss some of the latest research topics on the Nasdaq-100. Steven Hummel, Manager, Market Research, Consumer Technology Association, will discuss CTA’s own gaming research studies as well as the current and future innovations that will shape the video games industry.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

• Why Roundhill expects video games to continue seeing growth for decades ahead
• How the macroeconomic environment plays into opportunities in video gaming software
• How investors can use thematic ETFs to gain exposure to megatrends
• Why mobile is the largest segment and the fastest growing
• Why Asia remains the most important region for gaming

Speakers:

Dave Mazza is the Chief Strategy Officer at Roundhill Investments. In this role, Dave oversees the product development, capital markets, and research functions of the firm. A well-known thought leader within the ETF industry, Dave frequently appears in the financial media, including CNBC and Bloomberg.

Prior to joining the firm, Dave was a Managing Director and the Head of Product at Direxion where he led the research and development of new products and the ongoing product management and strategy for the firm. In addition, his team was responsible for managing relationships with the firm’s strategic partners.

Prior to joining Direxion, Dave was a Senior Vice President and Head of ETF Investment Strategy at OppenheimerFunds, leading the firm’s ETF Investment Marketing and ETF Specialist Teams. He and his team were responsible for supporting the distribution of Oppenheimer ETFs and producing timely market insights that provided actionable solutions for clients.

Prior to joining OppenheimerFunds, Dave led product research, strategy and positioning as a Managing Director and Head of ETF and Mutual Fund Research at State Street Global Advisors. Dave was also responsible for producing thought leadership for investors based on his team’s proprietary research.

Prior to his role as Head of ETF and Mutual Fund Research, Dave was a member of SSGA’s Global Enhanced Equity Group, responsible for stock selection research, portfolio management and product strategy across multiple quantitatively managed investment strategies. Dave began his career in the firm’s Charitable Asset Management Group, where he supported the investment management and administration of planned gifts.

Dave received his M.B.A. in Finance from the Sawyer Business School at Suffolk University and his B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from Boston College. Dave is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Lawrence Academy in Groton, MA.

Steven Hummel is a Manager of Market Research at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Steven is responsible for managing the execution of consumer and B2B market research studies, both domestic and international, spanning verticals of audio and video hardware, gaming content and virtual worlds. In addition to engaging with industry stakeholders and the research community through speaking opportunities and events, Steven is a passionate (PC) gamer who puts his hobby into his work as a thought leader within the tech industry. Steven is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park where he earned his Master’s degree in Survey Methodology and Bachelor’s degree in Criminology.

Sara Mehle works as an ESG Index Strategist in Index Research & Development, supporting new and existing index products through original content creation including Nasdaq TradeTalks and published research. Before joining Nasdaq Global Indexes in February 2022, Sara served as an Asset Management Research Senior Analyst on the Nasdaq Dorsey Wright team starting in 2013, specializing in technical analysis research, specifically Point & Figure charting, and Relative Strength investing.

Sara graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010.