Quick Read iShares ACWI ex US (ACWX) returned 35.8% over the past year versus 13.0% for the S&P 500. ACWX gained 10.4% year-to-date in 2026 while the US market remained flat. Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US tracks nearly identically to ACWX across all timeframes. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE. For years, US-heavy portfolios were the path of least resistance. But the performance gap is narrowing, and investors who assumed international exp ...

Both the State Street SPDR Portfolio MSCI Global Stock Market ETF (NYSEMKT:SPGM) and the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEMKT:IEFA) aim to provide diversified international equity exposure, but their approaches differ. SPGM tracks the entire global market, including the U.S. and emerging markets, while IEFA zeroes in on developed markets outside the U.S. and Canada. This comparison highlights how cost, performance, risk, and sector makeup set them apart for investors seeking global diversification. Snaps ...

Signal vs. Noise: Markets, Misconceptions, and the Case for Optimization in 2026The central theme of 2025 was the disconnect between market sentiment and economic reality. The year began with widespread apprehension regarding aggressive tariffs and forecasts of a recession. Yet, it concluded with global equities at all-time highs and the U.S. economy maintaining consistent growth as the anticipated economic contraction failed to materialize.The fourth quarter reflected this broad dynamic. Markets focused on ...

Core Insights - Invesco Ltd.'s shares have increased by 16.6% over the past three months, outperforming the industry and the S&P 500 Index [1][9] - The company's assets under management (AUM) have shown a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% from 2020 to 2025, driving fee-based revenues [4][9] - Strategic partnerships and restructuring efforts are aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and expanding market capabilities [5][11] Performance Overview - Invesco's share price has significantly outperformed its peers, with a 16.6% increase compared to BlackRock's 5.3% and AllianceBernstein's 5.9% [1][9] - The company has rebounded in total operating revenues in 2024 and 2025 after a challenging operating environment [6][9] Growth Drivers - The steady growth in AUM is a key factor for revenue generation, with strategic initiatives like partnerships with LGT Capital Partners and MassMutual's Barings to enhance private market capabilities [4][5] - The conversion of the Invesco QQQ Trust into an open-end ETF structure is expected to generate revenues from over $400 billion in AUM [5] Financial Estimates - Zacks Consensus Estimates for Invesco's sales indicate a growth trajectory, with current quarter estimates at $1.25 billion and next year at $5.58 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 12.35% [10] - Earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been revised upward, with projections of $2.66 and $3.03 respectively, indicating growth rates of 31% and 13.6% [18][19] Strategic Initiatives - Invesco is executing a broad transformation strategy, including a partnership with CI Global Asset Management to enhance Canadian operations and divesting stakes in certain subsidiaries [11][12] - The company is focusing on a hybrid Alpha investment platform to drive long-term cost savings and operational scalability [11] Global Presence - Invesco has a diversified global footprint, with 31.2% of its client AUM sourced from markets outside the United States, bolstered by the acquisition of Europe-based Source [12] Capital Management - The company maintains solid liquidity, allowing for consistent capital returns to shareholders, including a 2.4% increase in quarterly dividends [13][14] - Invesco has $232.2 million remaining under its share buyback authorization and plans to repurchase $40 million worth of shares in Q1 2026 [14] Challenges - Invesco faces rising operating expenses, with a CAGR of 6.2% over the past five years, primarily due to increased distribution and advisory costs [15] - The company holds $12.4 billion in goodwill and intangible assets, which could pose risks to earnings stability due to potential impairment [16]

Core Insights - The Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) includes emerging markets, while the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) focuses solely on developed markets outside the U.S. and Canada [1][2] Cost & Size Comparison - VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05% and assets under management (AUM) of $606 billion, while IEFA has a slightly higher expense ratio of 0.07% and AUM of $178 billion [3][4] - The 1-year return for VXUS is 35.7%, compared to IEFA's 32.9%, and the dividend yield for VXUS is 2.91%, while IEFA offers a higher yield of 3.27% [3][4] Performance & Risk Analysis - Over the past five years, VXUS experienced a maximum drawdown of 29.44%, while IEFA had a slightly higher drawdown of 30.37% [5] - An investment of $1,000 would have grown to $1,504 in VXUS and $1,580 in IEFA over the same period [5] Portfolio Composition - VXUS holds 8,691 stocks, with significant positions in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, Tencent Holdings Ltd, and ASML Holding NV, providing geographic diversification with 38% in Europe, 27% in emerging markets, 25% in the Pacific, and 8% in North America [6] - IEFA contains 2,589 developed-market stocks, with major holdings in ASML Holding NV, Roche Holding AG, and AstraZeneca Plc, offering a stable composition for investors avoiding emerging-market risks [7] Investment Implications - Both ETFs are low-cost options for gaining international stock exposure, with improving global economic conditions and a weaker dollar potentially driving growth in international stocks in 2026 [8] - IEFA may be more suitable for the current bull market due to its recent outperformance and higher dividend yield, along with its focus on economically stable developed markets [8][9]

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Core Insights - The Canadian ETF market experienced record-breaking net inflows of $22.3 billion in January, a 32% increase from the previous record in December 2025, marking the first time monthly inflows exceeded $20 billion [1] Equity Demand - Equity-based products were the main contributors, accounting for $14.6 billion of the total inflows, indicating a shift from home-country bias towards global diversification [1] - International equity ETFs led with $7.1 billion in inflows, surpassing domestic and U.S. equity products, which attracted $4.0 billion and $3.4 billion respectively [1] Portfolio Trends - There is a growing trend towards simplified, all-in-one portfolio solutions, with all-equity asset allocation ETFs seeing inflows of $2.3 billion, the highest on record for this category [1] - These all-in-one ETFs provide global diversification, automatic rebalancing, and cost efficiency, appealing to both self-directed investors and advisors [1] Innovation in the ETF Market - The Canadian ETF industry is nearing $750 billion in assets, indicating a significant transformation in investment strategies [1] - January saw the launch of 23 new ETFs, reflecting a competitive and innovative marketplace, with products targeting emerging themes like nuclear energy and tokenization [1]

Core Insights - The article discusses significant corporate actions and market dynamics, including Paramount's hostile bid for Warner Brothers, Netflix's merger opposition, and Kraft Heinz's reversal on its split plan [2][57]. Group 1: Corporate Actions - Paramount is increasing pressure for its hostile bid for Warner Brothers, with an activist investor opposing Netflix's merger [2]. - Ancora has built a stake in Warner Brothers and is pushing for engagement with Paramount, threatening to vote against the deal if Warner Brothers does not comply [3][4]. - Kraft Heinz has halted its plan to split into two, opting instead to invest $600 million in marketing and product improvements, citing a larger-than-expected opportunity [57][58]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - Duke Energy has signed deals with Microsoft and Compass to power data centers, reflecting the growing demand for electricity driven by the AI boom [7][8]. - Hyperscaler spending has surged, with Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Oracle spending a combined $150 billion in 2022 and 2023, projected to reach around $660 billion by 2026 [10][11]. - Alphabet is tapping the debt markets for financing, similar to Apple's past strategy, to support its cloud infrastructure buildout, anticipating significant growth in its cloud business [12][13]. Group 3: Investment Trends - General Atlantic's Chairman Bill Ford emphasizes the importance of global diversification in investment strategies, with 50% of their activity outside the U.S. [20][21]. - The firm sees opportunities in emerging markets, particularly in China, despite geopolitical complexities [25][26]. - The article highlights a trend of increased investment in AI and technology sectors, with significant spending expected to reshape business models and create new market opportunities [45][46].

I think if anything, it's made the current environment with geopolitical volatility. Macroeconomic volatility has made us more committed to global diversification. And, you know, we've been investing globally for over 25 years and we've, you know, businesses in Europe, India, China, Southeast Asia and Latin America.We've got investment teams on the ground and it's been about 50% of our investing activity has been outside the U.S. really for the last 15, 20 years. And so that ratio, it hasn't changed at all. ...

Core Insights - Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) and iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) are two major international ETFs aimed at providing global diversification for investors [1] Cost & Size - VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05% while IXUS has a slightly higher expense ratio of 0.07% [2] - As of February 7, 2026, VXUS reported a one-year return of 31.83% compared to IXUS's 31.67% [2] - VXUS has a dividend yield of 2.96%, slightly lower than IXUS's 3.01% [2] - VXUS has a total assets under management (AUM) of $133.1 billion, significantly larger than IXUS's $54.40 billion [2] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, VXUS experienced a maximum drawdown of -29.43%, while IXUS had a slightly higher drawdown of -30.05% [4] - An investment of $1,000 in VXUS would have grown to $1,277 over five years, while the same investment in IXUS would have grown to $1,282 [4] Portfolio Composition - IXUS tracks an MSCI index and holds 4,211 securities, with major positions in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics, and ASML Holding [5] - VXUS holds 8,602 stocks, providing broader exposure compared to IXUS, while its top positions are similar to those of IXUS [6] Investor Considerations - Both ETFs exhibit similar characteristics in terms of holdings, Betas, dividend yields, and performance metrics, with the primary distinction being the number of holdings [7] - VXUS pays dividends quarterly, whereas IXUS pays semi-annually, which may influence investor preferences regarding dividend frequency [8]