In Emerging Markets, the Smaller the Better: Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (ADR)(PBR), iShares MSCI Brazil Index (ETF)(EWZ)

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When investing, size matters. Small companies are usually assumed to be riskier than big ones, while on the other hand they offer higher potential for growth. Although this rule is quite easy to observe, and generally correct, emerging markets may be a remarkable exception to consider. As odd as it may seem, smaller companies in emerging markets may offer both higher growth and less risk than their bigger counterparts.

iShares Dow Jones US Home Const. (ETF) (NYSEARCA:ITB)Politics and Investing in Brazil

The problem when it comes to large companies in some countries is that in many cases they are tilted towards politically sensitive sectors like energy, banks, utilities or telecommunications. This means that heavy regulation or even full blown state ownership is a distinct possibility, and this can mean bigger risks and smaller returns for investors.

Let’s consider Brazil for example; the two most popular ETFs to invest in the South American country are the more traditional and large cap focused iShares MSCI Brazil Index (ETF) (NYSEARCA:EWZ) and its newer competitor Market Vectors Brazil Small Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:BRF) which invest in smaller companies.

Although EWZ may be considered less risky due to its large cap bias, the fund is heavily concentrated in sectors like energy and materials, and state owned oil Company Petrobras accounts for more than 10% of its holdings. The company has made major discoveries of presalt oil deposits since 2007, which means that Petrobras is one of the best positioned energy companies in the world in terms of growth opportunities.

But the Brazilian government, which owns a controlling stake in Petrobras, has been increasing its influence in the company via both regulations and capital allocation decisions. The company is planning to invest almost $240 billion over the next five years in order to develop its reserves, so free cash flows should be expected to remain in negative territory in the middle term and debt will likely continue increasing.

Government control means that business profitability is not the priority when it comes to capital allocation at Petrobras: transforming Brazil into an oil exporting powerhouse and keeping internal fuel costs as low as possible in order to benefit local industries are considered more important than return on equity or dividends. Taxes, royalties and all kind of uncertainties regarding financial or strategic resources can always be a problem for investors in Petrobras.

BRF has a smaller exposure to heavily regulated sectors like energy and materials, and it’s also more diversified than EWZ. While the 10 biggest positions in EWZ account for 55% of its assets, the 10 biggest holdings in BRF represent a much smaller 31% of the portfolio. All in all, BRF seems to offer not only better growth prospects than EWZ but also less political and regulatory risk, and a healthier degree of diversification.

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