While U.S. software stocks wobble under the weight of AI disruption and the S&P 500 grinds sideways, something quite rare is unfolding beneath the surface of global markets.Emerging markets are quietly having a moment we haven't seen in decades.The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSE:EEM) has just posted nine consecutive weekly gains — its longest winning streak since 2005, the peak of the last major emerging market leadership cycle. A 10-week winning streak — which could be achieved by the end of this ...

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes a bullish outlook for the market, suggesting that the author believes we are entering a favorable phase for investments, particularly focusing on long-term growth trends and the importance of understanding market dynamics beyond traditional metrics like P/E ratios [1]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - The investment strategy is characterized by a balanced portfolio, with approximately 50% allocated to low-cost funds and 50% to individual stocks viewed as asymmetric bets [1]. - The author advocates for a long-term investment horizon, indicating a willingness to hold stocks for at least 10 years, which reflects a focus on fundamentals rather than short-term market timing [1]. Group 2: Market Understanding - The article highlights the significance of predicting human behavior in the market, suggesting that understanding demand and supply dynamics is crucial for making informed investment decisions [1]. - It stresses that the market is forward-looking, and investors should look beyond mere numerical indicators to grasp what the market perceives about a stock [1]. Group 3: Personal Background - The author is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and holds a Master's Degree in Business, which adds credibility to the insights shared in the article [1].

Core Viewpoint - The iShares Exponential Technologies ETF (XT) has achieved a 22.63% return over the past year, outperforming major benchmarks like QQQ and SPY, by diversifying across over 500 holdings in sectors such as AI, genomics, and robotics [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - XT spreads capital across 500+ holdings, with no single position exceeding 3% of assets, aiming to provide balanced exposure to innovation [1] - The fund allocates 30.2% to information technology and 16% to healthcare, with significant investments in semiconductors, cybersecurity, biotech, and cloud infrastructure [1] - XT has $3.7 billion in assets and a 0.46% expense ratio, offering institutional-quality access at a reasonable cost [1] Group 2: Performance Analysis - Over the past year, XT's return of 22.63% significantly outpaced both QQQ and SPY, benefiting from broader sector exposure [1] - Year-to-date in 2026, XT is up 3.91%, while QQQ has entered negative territory, indicating continued momentum [1] - However, over five years, XT's cumulative gain of approximately 31% lags behind QQQ's 83%, highlighting the impact of concentrated mega-cap leadership during that period [1] Group 3: Trade-offs and Considerations - XT's 0.76% dividend yield is not suitable for income-focused investors, as recent distributions appear to be special capital gains rather than sustainable income [1] - The fund's diversification may limit its ability to capitalize on rallies driven by a few mega-cap companies, which can be a disadvantage in strong market cycles [1] - Active rebalancing introduces tracking error, as performance is influenced by the manager's sector timing decisions [1]

Quick Read Invesco QQQ (QQQ) fell to a 12-week low at $594.17 on February 17. The fund dropped 6.7% from its January peak. Microsoft (MSFT) plunged 18.02% year-to-date to $396.49 despite beating earnings expectations. AMD dropped 7.96% and NVIDIA fell 4.55% as semiconductors led the broader selloff. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. The Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) has plunged to it ...

Core Insights - The Invesco QQQ Trust has achieved a total return of 560% over the past decade, turning a $10,000 investment into $66,000 as of February 13 [1] - The shift in investment trends shows that passive investment funds have surpassed active funds for the first time in 2023, indicating a significant change in market dynamics [3] - The poor performance of active funds has contributed to the growing preference for low-cost passive investment options [4] Market Trends - The democratization of equity investing, facilitated by commission-free trading and access to quality research, has increased participation in the stock market among a broader population [3] - The trend of rising flows into passive funds is expected to continue, providing a long-term tailwind for investments like the Invesco QQQ Trust [6] - Despite short-term fluctuations, the long-term demand for passive investment options remains strong, which is favorable for patient investors [6] Key Data Points - The current price of the Invesco QQQ Trust is $601.92, with a day's change of 0.21% [5] - The day's trading range is between $596.42 and $606.48, while the 52-week range is from $402.39 to $637.01 [5] - The trading volume for the Invesco QQQ Trust is 69 million [5]

Geopolitical Tensions - The U.S. military is preparing for a prolonged military campaign against Iran, indicating a significant escalation from previous actions [2][3] - The Pentagon is deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East, joining existing naval assets, as President Trump warns of severe consequences for Iran if diplomatic solutions fail [3][11] - Analysts predict that these military movements could lead to significant volatility in energy markets, potentially affecting the United States Oil Fund (USO) [4] Technology Sector - The U.S. technology sector is facing heightened credit risk, with distressed loans rising to 15.69% in February 2026, the highest since the 2022 bear market [5][11] - Despite strong earnings from industry leaders like Nvidia and Microsoft, the sector is grappling with a "SaaS apocalypse" as private credit conditions tighten, leading to over $46.9 billion in technology debt becoming non-performing [6][7] - Investors in the Invesco QQQ Trust are closely monitoring these credit conditions, with concerns about a potential "software-PE death spiral" if declining valuations continue to tighten lending [7] Student Loan Crisis - U.S. student loan delinquencies have reached crisis levels, with serious delinquencies (90+ days past due) hitting a record 16.19% in Q4 2025 [8][11] - The Financial Stability Oversight Council reported that over 9 million borrowers have missed at least one payment, contributing to a total delinquency pool of $1.7 trillion, which is affecting credit scores and access to other loans [9][10] - Financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs are preparing for the impacts of this consumer credit strain, particularly among borrowers aged 40-49 [10]

This might be both my favorite stock screen and my favorite way to use Seeking Alpha's equity data and quant factor grades. I am a self-proclaimed Dow Industrials fan. But even I will admit that while thatI'm Rob Isbitts, founder of Sungarden Investment Publishing. I run the new investing group Sungarden Investors Club, a community dedicated to navigating the modern investment climate with humility, discipline, and a non-traditional approach to income investing. I've been charting investments since the 1980 ...

The Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares (NASDAQ:QQQE) doesn't generate income the way traditional dividend ETFs do. With just $1.2 billion in assets and a 0.35% expense ratio, this fund tracks the NASDAQ-100 using equal weighting rather than market cap weighting. That structural difference means each of the 100 holdings gets roughly 1% of the portfolio instead of letting mega-caps dominate. The result is a growth-focused ETF where dividends are secondary. QQQE's dividend payments dropped 31% fro ...

Group 1 - OpenAI's ChatGPT, released on Nov. 30, 2022, gained immediate popularity with 800 million weekly users, prompting significant corporate investment in AI infrastructure, hardware, and software [1] - Many experts predict that AI will lead to a new era of human prosperity, potentially commoditizing intelligence and contributing to global GDP growth [2] - The Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ: QQQ) is highlighted as a popular ETF for gaining exposure to leading AI companies, tracking the performance of the 100 largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq [4] Group 2 - The "Magnificent Seven" companies represent a high concentration within the QQQ, accounting for 41% of its asset base, showcasing innovative management and advanced technology [5] - Key companies within the QQQ include Nvidia, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, Tesla, and Meta Platforms, all of which leverage AI in various capacities [6][7] - The Invesco QQQ Trust has delivered a total return of 558% over the past decade, translating to a 20.8% annual gain, although future returns may moderate [8][9]

Group 1 - The article discusses the recent developments during the Trump administration, particularly focusing on the outcomes of the Davos conclave [1] - Brett Ashcroft Green is highlighted as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with expertise in private credit and commercial real estate mezzanine financing [1] - The article mentions Brett's extensive experience working with high-net-worth families and his fluency in Mandarin, indicating a strong background in international finance [1] Group 2 - There is a disclosure regarding the author's long position in various stocks, including VOO, DIA, QQQ, and NVDA, indicating a vested interest in these investments [2] - The article emphasizes that the information provided is for general informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice [3] - It is noted that past performance is not indicative of future results, highlighting the uncertainty in investment outcomes [4]