Is iShares International Equity Factor ETF (INTF) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Insights - The iShares International Equity Factor ETF (INTF) is a smart beta ETF launched on April 28, 2015, providing broad exposure to the Foreign Large Blend ETF category [1] Group 1: Smart Beta ETFs - Smart beta ETFs track non-cap weighted strategies, appealing to investors seeking to outperform the market by selecting stocks based on specific fundamental characteristics [3] - Traditional ETFs are based on market cap weighted indexes, which replicate market returns in a low-cost and transparent manner [2] Group 2: Fund Details - Managed by Blackrock, INTF has assets exceeding $2.41 billion, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - The fund aims to match the performance of the MSCI World ex USA Diversified Multi-Factor Index [5] - INTF has an annual operating expense of 0.16%, making it one of the cheaper options in the market [6] - The fund offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.75% [6] Group 3: Holdings and Performance - Novartis Ag (NOVN) is the largest holding at approximately 1.85%, followed by Asml Holding Nv (ASML) and Sap (SAP) [7] - The top 10 holdings constitute about 10.59% of INTF's total assets [8] - The ETF has gained approximately 27.02% year-to-date and 20.65% over the past year, with a trading range of $27.60 to $36.07 in the last 52 weeks [9] - INTF has a beta of 0.80 and a standard deviation of 15.75% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Group 4: Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Foreign Large Blend segment include Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA), with VXUS having $105.43 billion in assets and VEA $175.94 billion [12] - VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05% and VEA charges 0.03% [12]