China’s not invited to the ETF party. Last month, Vanguard launched its Emerging Markets ex-China ETF (VEXC), which has exposure to emerging markets equities — except ones classified as being based in China. The fund, which tracks the FTSE Emerging Markets ex-China index, is the latest example of emerging markets strategies leaving out the world’s second-largest economy. The idea is to avoid potential tariff-caused market swings, and other pitfalls, while taking advantage of growing investor interest in e ...

Core Insights - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a lower expense ratio and larger assets under management compared to the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), making it a more cost-effective option for large-cap exposure [1][2][9] Cost & Size Comparison - VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03%, significantly lower than IWM's 0.19% - As of October 27, 2025, VOO's one-year return is 18.0%, while IWM's is 12.5% - VOO has a total AUM of $1.4 trillion, compared to IWM's $70.8 billion [2] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, VOO has a max drawdown of -24.53%, while IWM's is -31.91% - A $1,000 investment in VOO would have grown to $2,021, compared to $1,569 for IWM over the same period [3] Portfolio Composition - VOO primarily invests in large-cap U.S. stocks, with technology making up 35% of its portfolio, followed by financial services and consumer discretionary sectors - The fund holds 504 stocks, with significant allocations to NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Apple [4] - IWM focuses on small-cap stocks, with industrials (18%), financial services (17%), and healthcare (16%) as its largest sectors, and it holds 1,966 stocks with minimal individual allocations [5] Investment Strategy - VOO is suitable for risk-averse investors seeking stable gains, while IWM appeals to those willing to take on more risk for potential growth in small-cap stocks [8][11]

Core Insights - The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) are both focused on leading U.S. consumer staples companies, but they differ in cost, diversification, and portfolio tilt [1] Cost & Size Comparison - IYK has an expense ratio of 0.38%, while VDC is more affordable at 0.09%, making it cheaper by 0.29 percentage points [2][3] - As of October 27, 2025, IYK has an AUM of $1.3 billion, whereas VDC has a significantly larger AUM of $8.5 billion [2] Performance & Risk Metrics - Over the past five years, IYK has a max drawdown of -15.05%, compared to VDC's -16.54% [4] - A $1,000 investment in IYK would have grown to $1,417 over five years, while the same investment in VDC would have grown to $1,344 [4] Holdings Overview - VDC consists of 103 holdings, primarily in the consumer defensive sector (98%), with major positions in Walmart, Costco, and Procter & Gamble [5] - IYK is more concentrated with 55 holdings and includes a 10% allocation to healthcare stocks, featuring top holdings like Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and Philip Morris International [6] Total Return Analysis - Over the past five years, IYK delivered a total return of 57%, while VDC provided a total return of 51% [8] - In a 10-year timeframe, IYK's total return was 132%, outperforming VDC's 110% [9] Dividend Performance - The latest quarterly dividend payment for VDC was 28.1% lower than five years ago, indicating disappointing cash flow growth for investors [10] - Conversely, IYK's latest dividend payment was 108% higher than the payout from a year earlier, showing positive growth in dividends [10]

Core Insights - The article provides an update on the performance of the S&P 500 and the Ivy Portfolio, highlighting that all five ETFs in the Ivy Portfolio remain in an "invest" position as of the end of October [5][7][14]. Ivy Portfolio Overview - The Ivy Portfolio is constructed using an asset allocation strategy similar to that of Harvard and Yale endowment funds, consisting of five ETFs that cover various asset classes [2]. - The strategy involves creating a diversified portfolio with equal weight across asset classes, calculating a 10-month moving average for each fund, and making buy/sell decisions based on whether the fund closes above or below this average [3]. Ivy Portfolio Performance - At the end of October, none of the five ETFs in the Ivy Portfolio closed below their 10-month or 12-month simple moving averages, indicating a continued "invest" position [5][7]. - The percentage above or below the moving average for each fund is tracked, with funds within 2% of the signal highlighted for potential position reversals [6]. S&P 500 Performance - The S&P 500 closed October with a monthly gain of 2.3%, marking the sixth consecutive month of gains, and closed 11.0% above its 10-month simple moving average [8][10]. - The index also closed 11.6% above its 12-month simple moving average, maintaining an "invest" position for six straight months [12]. Moving Averages Strategy - Utilizing a moving average strategy can effectively manage risks associated with bear markets, where holding the index is advised when it closes above the moving average and moving to cash when it closes below [9]. - The article illustrates that a 10- or 12-month simple moving average strategy would have allowed participation in most upside movements since 1995 while significantly reducing losses [10][15]. Psychological Factors - The article discusses the psychology behind momentum signals, noting that human behavior often leads to buying during market uptrends and selling during downturns, which can create cycles of buying and selling momentum [16]. Implementation Considerations - The moving average strategy is most effective when applied to specific investments rather than broad indices, as signals may differ due to factors like dividend reinvestment [17]. - The strategy is recommended for use in tax-advantaged accounts with low-cost brokerage services to maximize gains [18].

Core Insights - The S&P 500 finished October with a gain of 2.3% from September, marking its fourth weekly gain in the last five weeks [1] - Year-to-date, the S&P 500 is up 16.56%, while the S&P Equal Weight Index has increased by 7.53% [4] Performance Overview - The S&P 500 index recorded a weekly gain of 0.7% [1] - Historical context shows the index reached an all-time high of 1565.15 on October 9, 2007, before experiencing a significant drop of approximately 57% by March 9, 2009, during the Global Financial Crisis [1] - The index took over five years to recover and reach a new all-time high of 1569.19 on March 28, 2013 [1] Volatility Analysis - The S&P 500 experienced its largest intraday price volatility of 10.77% on April 9, 2023, since December 24, 2018 [3] - The average percent change from intraday low to high over the past 20 days is 1.07% [3] Index Comparison - The S&P 500 is a market cap-weighted index, while the S&P Equal Weight Index gives equal weight to each constituent [4] - The performance disparity between the two indices highlights the stronger performance of the S&P 500 in 2023 [4]

Core Insights - Japan's Nikkei index has reached an all-time high, crossing the 51,000-mark on October 30, 2025, with a 14% increase in the past month [1] - The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has maintained its policy rate at 0.5% and is not in a hurry to tighten monetary policy despite inflation expectations [2][3] - Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi supports "Abenomics" and aims to enhance investment in strategic sectors, which may lead to a weaker yen [4][5] Monetary Policy - The BoJ is expected to keep its monetary policy loose, with inflation projected at 2.7% for fiscal 2025, 1.8% for fiscal 2026, and 2.0% for fiscal 2027 [2] - Two board members advocated for a 25 basis points rate hike, but the majority preferred to wait for further assessment [2] Economic Environment - Japan's exports have faced a weakening environment, having dropped for four consecutive months before a slight increase in September [3] - A weaker yen could enhance the profitability of export-oriented sectors, benefiting from repatriated income [5] Investment Opportunities - The rally in Japanese equities is expected to increase demand for Japan-focused large-cap ETFs, such as WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (DXJ) and iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ) [6][7] - ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS) is anticipated to benefit from a declining yen, with the Invesco CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (FXY) losing 3.2% over the past month [5][8]

Core Viewpoint - The iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU) has proven to be a highly profitable investment vehicle in 2023, particularly as US stocks have also shown gains year-to-date [1]. Group 1 - The EZU ETF encompasses over 200 developed market stocks from the Euro region, indicating a broad exposure to European equities [1].

Core Insights - The iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU) has been a profitable investment vehicle in 2023, particularly as US stocks have also seen gains [1] Group 1: Performance Overview - The EZU ETF covers over 200 developed market stocks from the Euro region [1] - Year-to-date (YTD) performance indicates strong returns compared to US stocks [1]

Core Viewpoint - The iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF (IWY) has reached a 52-week high and shows significant potential for further gains due to favorable market conditions and investor sentiment [1][2]. Group 1: ETF Performance - IWY is up 59.11% from its 52-week low price of $180.65 per share [1]. - The fund tracks the Russell Top 200 Growth Index, which focuses on large capitalization growth stocks in the U.S. equity market [1]. - The ETF charges an annual fee of 20 basis points [1]. Group 2: Market Conditions - Softer U.S. inflation data, a positive earnings season, and expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts have improved market sentiment [2]. - Renewed hopes for a trade deal between China and the United States are contributing to a favorable investment environment [2]. - Growth funds are expected to perform well during market uptrends, providing exposure to high-growth potential stocks [2]. Group 3: Future Outlook - IWY holds a Zacks ETF Rank 1 (Strong Buy) with a medium risk outlook, indicating strong potential for continued performance [3]. - The ETF has a positive weighted alpha of 35.09, suggesting further rally potential [3].

Core Insights - The Counterpoint High Yield Trend ETF (HYTR) launched on January 21, 2020, offers broad exposure to the High-Yield/Junk Bond ETFs category, with a focus on smart beta strategies [1] Fund Overview - Managed by Counterpoint, HYTR has accumulated over $202.48 million in assets, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - The fund aims to replicate the performance of the CP HIGH YIELD TREND INDEX, which targets the US high yield corporate bond market while mitigating risks during market volatility [5] Cost Structure - HYTR has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.79%, making it one of the more expensive options in the high-yield ETF space [6] - The fund offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 5.58% [6] Holdings and Sector Exposure - The ETF's top holding, Ishares Broad Us (USHY), constitutes approximately 39.64% of total assets, followed by Ishares Iboxx Hi (HYG) and Spdr Bloomberg H (JNK) [7] - The top 10 holdings account for about 100.01% of total assets under management, indicating a concentrated investment strategy [8] Performance Metrics - As of October 29, 2025, HYTR has gained approximately 5.12% year-to-date and 5.51% over the past year, with trading values ranging between $20.95 and $22.18 during the last 52 weeks [9] - The fund has a beta of 0.25 and a standard deviation of 6.05% over the trailing three-year period, reflecting its lower volatility compared to peers [10] Alternatives in the Market - Other ETFs in the high-yield space include iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) and iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY), with assets of $19.05 billion and $26.13 billion respectively [12] - HYG has an expense ratio of 0.49%, while USHY charges 0.08%, presenting potentially lower-cost alternatives for investors [12]