Natural Gas ETF List: Trade Natural Gas through ETF Exchange Traded Funds

This article contains details about Natural Gas ETF (Exchange Traded Funds) which are available for trading and investments, for traders willing to trade on natural gas price fluctuations and investors who want to invest in natural gas as a commodity. A list of Natural Gas ETF's is also provided
Increasing energy demands from across the globe has forced us to look for alternative sources of energy other than diesel and petrol. Among the alternative sources of energy, Natural gas has emerged as one of the cleanest and environment friendly source of fuel and energy. Hence, whenever someone talks about investments in the Alternative Energy segment, the Natural Gas Investment surely comes into discussion because of its clean and environment friendly nature.
Some details about advantages (benefits) and disadvantages (risks) of investments in the Natural gas commodity are covered in the article Natural Gas Commodity ETF.
Going further, let us explore a list of Natural Gas Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) available for trading and investment. The list provided here is not complete in the sense we do not cover every single natual gas based ETF available in the market, but this list will provide good options for investors to explore in the natural gas investment space.

However, majority of the ETF's offering in the natural gas space are a mix of oil and gas - i.e., they provide a mixed exposure to oil and gas. Hence, we provide a clear categorized list for pure natural gas ETF and combined (natural gas + oil) based ETF.

Natural Gas ETF's which are solely in natural gas space (does not include Oil):

- United States Natural Gas Fund ETF (UNG):
Pure Natural gas based fund, bets and attempts to benefit from the percentage changes in the futures contracts prices and spot prices on NYMEX and Henry Hub, Louisiana respectively.

-ETFS Natural Gas (NGAS):
ETFS Natural Gas (NGAS) is not an ETF, but it is an ETC - Exchange Traded Commodity which attempts to replicate the performance of the DJ-UBS Natural Gas Sub-IndexSM on a total return basis. Another option for investors and traded for Pure natural gas based ETF.

-iPath Dow Jones-UBS Natural Gas Subindex Total Return ETN (GAZ):
This is a natural gas based ETN or Exchange Traded Notes, and tracks the performance of the underlying Index - Dow Jones-UBS Natural Gas Subindex Total Return Index. Trades with ticker GAZ on NYSE ARCA Exchange.
On the info sheet (PDF, they provide a performance graph which shows the monthly returns are highly volatile compared to S&P 500 index. (Image sourced as a screen-shot from the above info-sheet PDF):

-First Trust ISE Revere Natural Gas ETF (FCG):
This ETF actually tracks an underlying index called the "ISE-REVERE Natural Gas Index" - it comprises of 30 companies which are in the business of exploration and production of natural gas. Another option for pure natural gas based ETF, but focused on exploration and production business of natural gas.

-Claymore Natural Gas Commodity ETF (GAS ETF) (FCG):
Claymore Natural Gas Commodity ETF is another good option for investment and trading in Natural gas. However, it is a Canadian ETF which tracks the NGX Canadian Natural Gas Index


Now, we head on to the category which offers a mix of Natural Gas and Oil Investments.
Natural Gas ETF's which are both in natural gas as well as Oil space:

-SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP):
This ETF tracks and attempts to replicate the performance of the underlying index of the oil and gas exploration and production companies (Index derived from the United States total market composite index). Mainly companies in the Exploration & Production of Oil and Natural Gas.

-ishares Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Index Fund ETF (IEO):
It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Select Oil Exploration & Production Index.

Now enough of Exploration and Production :-)
Here is another variety of Natural Gas & Oil based ETF's which are from the sector Oil & Gas Equipment & Services

-SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF (XES):
From StateStreet, this ETF tracks the index which inturn is derived from the oil and gas equipment and services segment of a United States total market composite index.

-PowerShares Oil & Gas Services Portfolio ETF (PXJ):
Tracks the performance of the underlying index - the Dynamic Oil Services Intellidex Index. This underlying index follows a fundamental analysis for stock selection criteria ion the Oil and Gas services space.

Dont want to replicate the point by point - want some leverage in trading natural gas ETF's?
Here are your leverage ETF options:

-ProShares Ultra Oil & Gas ETF (DIG):
Attempts to generate 200% of the daily returns of the underlying Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Index.

-ProShares UltraShort Oil & Gas ETF (DUG):
Attempts to generate short returns i.e. -200% of the daily returns of the underlying Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Index. A good way to trade on inverse of the underlying index