Core Insights - The American Century Quality Diversified International ETF (QINT) has recently surpassed half a billion in assets under management (AUM), marking a significant milestone for the fund [1] - The ETF has experienced a notable inflow of $40 million over the last month, contributing to an overall AUM increase of $67 million [1] - QINT's strategy focuses on quality and diversification, targeting large- and midcap stocks with strong financials and growth potential, which has resulted in a 39.6% return over the past year, outperforming the average in its category [1] International Equities Trend - There is a growing trend among investors to diversify away from U.S. equities, driven by concerns over concentration risk and the search for better valuations in foreign markets [1] - Demand for international equity ETFs, including QINT, has been strong as advisors seek to diversify client portfolios [1] - The ETF's price is currently above both its 50- and 200-day simple moving averages, indicating a positive market signal [1] Fund Characteristics - QINT charges a management fee of 40 basis points, positioning it competitively within the ETF market [1] - The fund's approach of avoiding less volatile firms and adapting between growth and value styles enhances its performance compared to traditional passive funds [1] - The upcoming Exchange conference will feature discussions on QINT and its strategies, highlighting its appeal to financial advisors [1]

Core Insights - The article discusses the investment strategies and focus areas of The Pragmatic Investor, which aims to build diversified portfolios to preserve and increase wealth [1] Group 1: Company Overview - The Pragmatic Investor is led by economist James Foord, who has a decade of experience analyzing global markets [1] - The investment group covers various sectors including global macro, international equities, commodities, technology, and cryptocurrencies [1] Group 2: Services Offered - The Pragmatic Investor provides features such as a dedicated portfolio, weekly market update newsletters, actionable trades, technical analysis, and a chat room for investor engagement [1]

Interested in International Equities? Look to Small Caps for an Edge2026 has seen international equities perform at a healthy clip, building on a strong year in 2025. Ex-U.S. equities continue to offer some of the year's strongest opportunities, diversifying from U.S. uncertainty while also offering exposure to cheaper equities abroad. Finding the right allocation therein becomes an important task for investors and advisors alike, with small caps a potential edge to watch.See more: [How Core Bond ETF AVIG E ...

Core Insights - The relationship between U.S. stocks and international stocks often shows an inverse trend, with U.S. equities typically outperforming for extended periods, followed by a reversal where international stocks take the lead [1][2]. Group 1: Performance of International Stocks - In 2025, non-U.S. developed market stocks returned 35.2%, while emerging market stocks returned 25.6%, significantly outperforming the U.S. stock market, which rose 17.7% [3]. - In 2026, international stocks continued to outperform, with the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) up 9.2% year to date and the Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund ETF (VWO) up 8.1%, compared to a mere 1.5% increase in the S&P 500 index [4]. Group 2: Factors Influencing Performance - The declining value of the U.S. dollar, which fell about 9% last year against a basket of trade partner currencies, is contributing to the favorable performance of non-U.S. economies and their stock markets [4]. - The current U.S. administration is encouraging a weaker dollar, which is expected to continue benefiting international equities [4].

Core Viewpoint - Investors are increasingly seeking to add international equities exposure to their portfolios, with ETFs providing a variety of options to achieve this [1] ETF Overview - The American Century Quality Diversified International ETF (QINT) charges a fee of 40 basis points to track the American Century Quality Diversified International Equity Index [1] - QINT targets mid and large cap stocks outside the U.S. that exhibit strong financials, growth prospects, and appealing fundamentals relative to their price [1] - The fund maintains flexibility between value and growth strategies, enhancing its investment approach [1] Performance Metrics - QINT has returned 13.1% over the last three months, outperforming its ETF Database Category average during this period and over the last one and three years [1] - The fund achieved a 38.8% return over the past year [1] - Year-to-date, QINT has returned 7%, surpassing the MSCI ACWI ex USA Net Total Return index [1] Technical Analysis - The ETF's price has consistently risen for nearly a year, remaining above both its 50 and 200-day Simple Moving Averages, which is considered a traditional buy signal [1] - QINT has managed to stay out of overbought territory for most of the year, indicating a potentially favorable investment environment [1] Competitive Advantage - QINT's focus on large and midcap firms that meet specific financial metrics may provide a competitive edge against other international equities index ETFs [1]

Core Insights - International equities have become a significant focus for U.S. investors, driven by concerns over domestic concentration risk and favorable trends abroad [1] - The Avantis All International Markets Value ETF (AVNV), launched in 2023, is approaching its three-year milestone in June 2026, with a fee of 34 basis points [1] - AVNV has achieved a return of 44.7% over the past year and 14% over the last three months, indicating strong performance [1] Fund Strategy - AVNV distinguishes itself by focusing on value and higher-than-expected returns, contrasting with traditional passive market cap-weighted international funds [1] - The fund employs a 30/70 target weight ratio for emerging and non-U.S. developed markets, emphasizing fundamentals over size [1] - The combination of a low-cost structure and a flexible investment approach positions AVNV as a potential breakout candidate, especially amid a declining dollar and domestic economic challenges [1]

Core Insights - The iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) includes both developed and emerging markets, while the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) focuses solely on developed markets, providing different investment exposures [1][2] Cost & Size Comparison - Both IXUS and IEFA have an expense ratio of 0.07% - As of January 30, 2026, IXUS has a 1-year return of 37.7% compared to IEFA's 34.9% - IXUS has a dividend yield of 3.2%, while IEFA offers a slightly higher yield at 3.6% - IXUS has assets under management (AUM) of $51.9 billion, whereas IEFA has a significantly larger AUM of $162.6 billion [3][4] Performance & Risk Comparison - The maximum drawdown over five years for IXUS is -30.05%, while IEFA's is -30.41% - An investment of $1,000 in IXUS would grow to $1,305 over five years, compared to $1,353 for IEFA [5] Portfolio Composition - IEFA tracks developed markets in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East, holding 2,589 companies with a sector tilt towards financial services (22%), industrials (20%), and healthcare (11%) [6] - IXUS holds over 4,100 stocks, providing broader diversification with sector allocations leaning towards financial services, industrials, and basic materials, featuring top holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, ASML, and Samsung Electronics [7] Investment Implications - The choice between IXUS and IEFA depends on the desired exposure; IEFA avoids the volatility of emerging markets but limits potential upside during strong emerging market cycles, while IXUS offers broader diversification and exposure to high-growth potential [8]

Core Insights - The iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) and the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) provide different exposures to international equities, with IXUS including emerging markets and IEFA focusing solely on developed markets [1][2] Cost and Size Comparison - Both IXUS and IEFA have an expense ratio of 0.07% - As of January 30, 2026, IXUS has a 1-year return of 37.7% while IEFA has a return of 34.9% - IXUS has a dividend yield of 3.2% compared to IEFA's 3.6% - IXUS has assets under management (AUM) of $51.9 billion, while IEFA has $162.6 billion [3][4] Performance and Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, IXUS experienced a maximum drawdown of -30.05%, while IEFA had a drawdown of -30.41% - An investment of $1,000 in IXUS would have grown to $1,305, whereas the same investment in IEFA would have grown to $1,353 [5] Fund Composition - IEFA tracks developed markets in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East, holding 2,589 companies with a sector focus on financial services (22%), industrials (20%), and healthcare (11%) [6] - IXUS holds over 4,100 stocks, providing broader diversification with sector allocations leaning towards financial services, industrials, and basic materials [7] Investor Implications - The choice between IXUS and IEFA depends on the desired exposure; IXUS offers global exposure including emerging markets, while IEFA provides stability and a higher dividend yield from developed markets [8][11] - IEFA's focus on developed markets avoids emerging market volatility but limits growth potential, while IXUS can deliver higher returns due to emerging market growth despite associated risks [9][10]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the expertise of James Foord, an economist with a decade of experience in analyzing global markets, and his leadership role in The Pragmatic Investor, which focuses on building diversified investment portfolios to preserve and increase wealth [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - The Pragmatic Investor is an investing group that covers various sectors including global macro, international equities, commodities, technology, and cryptocurrencies [1]. - The group aims to guide investors of all levels through features such as a dedicated portfolio, weekly market updates, actionable trades, technical analysis, and a chat room for discussions [1]. Group 2: Market Focus - The focus areas of The Pragmatic Investor include macroeconomic trends, equity markets, commodity prices, technological advancements, and the evolving landscape of cryptocurrencies [1].

Group 1 - The Pragmatic Investor focuses on building diversified portfolios to preserve and increase wealth [1] - The investment group covers various sectors including global macro, international equities, commodities, tech, and cryptocurrencies [1] - Features offered by The Pragmatic Investor include a portfolio, weekly market updates, actionable trades, technical analysis, and a chat room for investors [1]