Harry Potter Stock Index
Categories: Index Funds, Metrics
Millions of lives were forever enriched by J.K. Rowlings’ Harry Potter series, and we’re not just talking about the people who read the books or watched the movies. We’re talking about the literal enrichment—like with money—that was experienced by the organizations involved in the creation, production, and distribution of Harry Potter books, movies, clothes, posters, games, magic wands, hand towels (seriously, they exist), theme park rides, etc. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry, folks. The Hogwarts gang is making some people seriously rich. And it’s not just the companies raking in the dough; it’s their investors, too.
If anyone out there is wondering how they can get in on some Harry Potter investment magic, wonder no more, because the wizards over at StockPickr have created an entire stock index dedicated to that very purpose. It’s the Harry Potter Stock Index, and it includes publicly-traded companies involved in producing, franchising, and/or merchandising Harry Potter stuff. This index is a who’s-who of everyone from Amazon to Hasbro to Coca-Cola to Time Warner.
As magical and wondrous as this all sounds, we as investors should be aware that pop-culture-ish indices like this one tend to ebb and flow with the popularity of the concept on which they’re based. Remember Paris Hilton? Yeah, we didn’t either for a minute there, but she has a namesake stock index that features companies associated with her: cosmetics she uses, stores she shops in, even the hairdryer she blasts those golden locks with (it’s a Parlux, FYI).
Anyway, the point is this: as the popularity of a celeb like Paris or Harry Potter diminishes, so too might the performance of his or her namesake stock index.