- Business
- WisdomTree Battery Value Chain and Innovation Fund (WBAT) is an exchange-traded fund that provides investors with targeted exposure to companies involved in the battery value chain and innovation ecosystem. The fund tracks the WisdomTree Battery Value Chain and Innovation Index, which includes firms engaged in battery materials extraction and processing; cathode, anode, and electrolyte production; battery cell manufacturing and assembly; battery pack production; and related equipment, machinery, and technology development for battery innovation. WBAT offers diversified access to global leaders in lithium mining, cobalt refining, nickel processing, graphite production, and advanced battery technologies such as solid-state and next-generation chemistries, with holdings spanning upstream resource providers, midstream component manufacturers, and downstream integrators.
Operated by WisdomTree, Inc., a New York-based asset management firm founded in 2006 and headquartered at 250 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10177, the fund serves institutional and retail investors seeking thematic exposure to the electrification megatrend, including electric vehicles, energy storage, and renewable energy applications. WisdomTree's geographic operations encompass North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, with WBAT's portfolio featuring companies from the United States, Canada, Australia, China, South Korea, Japan, and Europe. The fund employs a modified equal-weighted methodology to balance large- and small-cap issuers, emphasizing ESG considerations in battery supply chain sustainability.
In recent developments, WisdomTree expanded its battery-focused offerings with the launch of WBAT in late 2023, complementing its existing clean energy and metals strategies amid surging demand for EV batteries and grid storage. The firm announced strategic enhancements to its index methodology in 2024, incorporating forward-looking innovation metrics and excluding high-carbon intensity producers to align with global decarbonization goals. Additionally, WisdomTree formed a key partnership with ICE Data Indices in early 2025 to refine commodity-linked benchmarks supporting battery metal exposures, while pursuing assets under management growth through targeted marketing to sustainable investment platforms.