Core Insights - Wilson Research focuses on providing investors with insights primarily on exchange-traded funds (ETFs), emphasizing a balance between growth potential and dividend yield [1] Group 1: Investment Philosophy - The analysis incorporates fundamental analysis along with macro-level factors such as industry trends, economics, and geopolitics [1] - Wilson Research is inspired by the investment philosophies of Warren Buffett and the entrepreneurial philosophies of Robert Kiyosaki [1] Group 2: Target Audience - The company aims to provide actionable information for long-term investors who prioritize diversification while minimizing fees [1]

Core Insights - There is increasing focus on a limited number of stocks that dominate cap-weighted indexes, prompting a review of equal-weight methodologies [1][3] Group 1: ETF Performance - The ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF (EQL) has outperformed the S&P 500 Equal-Weight Index by 140 basis points since the beginning of the year [2] - EQL's annualized volatility is 210 basis points lower than that of the S&P 500 equal-weight index [2] Group 2: Market Imbalance - By December, only 2% of S&P 500 constituents contributed nearly 40% of total performance, indicating a significant imbalance in market exposure [3] - The dominance of mega-cap growth stocks has led to a potential oversight of the benefits of equal weighting and ETFs like EQL [4] Group 3: Sector Contributions - Despite a small group of companies driving returns, various sectors, including healthcare, have shown positive performance, contributing to market upside [5] - All major sectors have posted positive year-to-date performances, highlighting improving sector breadth relevant to EQL [5] Group 4: Diversification Benefits - Nearly 100 non-tech S&P 500 members have increased by at least 25% this year, with 313 components trading above their 200-day moving averages [6] - The top 10 performing S&P 500 members account for just over 2% of the cap-weighted index, underscoring the importance of diversification [6] Group 5: Strategic Diversification - Diversification remains essential and should be part of a deliberate investment strategy rather than a reaction to market discomfort [7] - Strong, concentrated leadership periods challenge investment discipline, necessitating a balance between risk awareness and market participation [7]

In this article, we will look at the 15 Best Affordable Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.On December 24, Kevin Mahn, President and CIO of Hennion & Walsh Asset Management, appeared on a CNBC Television interview to discuss his market outlook for 2026. He noted that 2025 has been a phenomenal year, with 41 record high closes for the S&P 500, resulting in a total return of around 18%. Moreover, the market also reached a 3-year anniversary of the bull market. Mahn believes that 2026 is going to be another b ...

Core Insights - Wealth preservation for high-net-worth individuals requires deliberate planning and the use of appropriate financial tools [1][2] - Strategies employed by the wealthy to safeguard their wealth can also be beneficial for everyday individuals [3] Group 1: Wealth Preservation Strategies - Diversification is a key strategy for wealthy individuals to protect their assets from poor performance in any single investment [4] - Investment portfolios of the wealthy typically include a mix of various asset classes, including private equity, which can be riskier but help mitigate overall portfolio risk [5] - Smart diversification can occur across different industries and by including alternative investments such as precious metals, real estate, or fine art [5] Group 2: Life Insurance as a Wealth Tool - Life insurance is described as the "Swiss Army knife of wealth building," serving multiple functions when structured correctly [6] - Properly structured life insurance can assist with funding long-term care needs, facilitate tax-friendly retirements, and enable wealth transfer across generations [6]

Core Insights - Vanguard is shifting its investment strategy for 2026, recommending a portfolio mix of 40% equity and 60% fixed income, a significant change from the traditional 60% equity and 40% fixed income approach [1] Investment Strategy - Vanguard anticipates that high-quality US and foreign bonds will yield returns of approximately 4% to 5%, comparable to US equities but with lower risk [2] - The firm projects that non-US equities will outperform US stocks over the next decade, with expected annual returns of 5.1% to 7.1% for international stocks, surpassing US stock returns [2] Time Horizon and Risk Tolerance - The new investment position is suggested for investors with a medium-term outlook, particularly over the next three to five years, depending on individual risk tolerance and time horizon [3][4] Market Concerns - Vanguard's advice is influenced by concerns regarding a potential AI bubble, with the "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks being central to the S&P 500's growth, which has seen a 17% increase this year following a 23% gain in 2024 [5][6] - There are growing worries about the overvaluation of equity markets, which Vanguard views as a risk rather than an opportunity, suggesting that US fixed income could provide diversification if AI does not lead to higher economic growth, a scenario with a 25% to 30% probability [6] Long-term Investment Considerations - Experts suggest that given the current high equity valuations and increased bond yields, a more conservative portfolio may offer a better risk-return profile for the coming decade, reinforcing the importance of diversification [7]

With international stocks back in style, investors are looking for diversification -- and this ETF delivers plenty of it.It may be an understatement to say international stocks are experiencing an epic renaissance in 2025. With time running out on the year, it's clear the MSCI EAFE Index will beat the S&P 500 for just the second time since 2019 and will do so by a wide margin.That spells relief for investors who had embraced international equities in the name of diversification, only to be left disappointed ...

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the investment backdrop for precious metals - specific to gold and silver - and why I believe the Sprott Physical Gold and Silver Trust (I've worked in Financial Services since 2008 and that is essentially when I started my investment journey. The first half of my career was spent in New York, working professionally after college (BS - Finance and D1 Men's Tennis), but I have since relocated to North Carolina, obtaining my MBA and then working in the Banking sector ...

By Heekyong Yang SEOUL, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) announced on Tuesday a $1.8 billion deal to acquire Germany's ZF Friedrichshafen's autonomous driving technology unit to combine it with ​its audio business and offer next-generation in-car platforms. Samsung said the 1.5 billion euro ($1.77 billion) ‌deal will allow Harman to secure advanced driver assistance system-related technologies and products, including front-facing vehicle cameras and ADAS controllers, ‌marking a full-sca ...

Core Insights - The Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X Shares ETF (SPXL) and the ProShares - Ultra QQQ ETF (QLD) provide leveraged exposure to major U.S. stock indexes, with SPXL targeting triple the daily performance of the S&P 500 and QLD aiming for double the daily move in the Nasdaq-100 [1][2] Group 1: Fund Characteristics - SPXL has an expense ratio of 0.87% and a 1-year return of 12.12%, while QLD has an expense ratio of 0.95% and a 1-year return of 12.27% [3] - SPXL has a higher dividend yield of 0.75% compared to QLD's 0.18% [3] - SPXL manages $6.2 billion in assets under management (AUM), while QLD manages $10.6 billion [3] Group 2: Performance Metrics - Over the past five years, SPXL has a maximum drawdown of -63.80% and has grown $1,000 to $3,025, while QLD has a maximum drawdown of -63.68% and has grown $1,000 to $2,417 [4] Group 3: Sector Focus and Holdings - QLD is heavily concentrated in technology, with 55% of its assets allocated to that sector, while SPXL offers broader diversification across more than 500 stocks [5][6] - QLD holds just 101 stocks, with significant positions in Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, whereas SPXL's largest holdings are similar but represent a smaller portion of its portfolio [5][6] Group 4: Investment Considerations - Both SPXL and QLD exhibit high volatility, with significant price fluctuations and similar performance metrics, but SPXL has slightly higher returns over the last five years [7] - Investors seeking exposure to tech stocks may prefer QLD, while those looking for magnified exposure to the S&P 500 might opt for SPXL [11]

Core Insights - The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) provides broader sector exposure with over 300 tech-related holdings, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) focuses on 30 leading U.S. semiconductor stocks, appealing to different investment strategies [2][10] Cost & Size - SOXX has an expense ratio of 0.34% and AUM of $16.7 billion, while VGT has a lower expense ratio of 0.09% and AUM of $130.0 billion [3] - The one-year return for SOXX is 41.81%, compared to VGT's 16.10%, and SOXX offers a higher dividend yield of 0.55% versus VGT's 0.41% [3][4] Performance & Risk Comparison - SOXX has a max drawdown of -45.75% over five years, while VGT's max drawdown is -35.08% [5] - The growth of $1,000 over five years is $2,346 for SOXX and $2,154 for VGT, indicating stronger performance for SOXX despite its higher risk [5] Holdings Overview - VGT includes 322 stocks with top holdings in Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, reflecting long-term stability over its nearly 22-year history [6] - SOXX is concentrated on 30 companies, heavily weighted towards Broadcom, Advanced Micro Devices, and Nvidia, making it suitable for investors seeking precise exposure to U.S. chipmakers [7] Investment Implications - VGT's broader portfolio and lower expense ratio may appeal to cost-conscious investors, while SOXX's higher one-year return and dividend yield may attract income-driven investors [4][9] - Greater diversification in VGT results in less price volatility, with a lower beta compared to SOXX, which may provide an advantage in a declining market [11]