Shares of AppLovin (APP 6.25%) were among the winners today after the fast-growing ad tech company received an endorsement from Citigroup, which called it a top pick.That news was enough to send the stock up 6.5% as of 3:05 p.m. ET. AppLovin gets a boostAppLovin has been volatile. The stock, which was a breakout winner last year, is now up against high expectations in a chaotic advertising and economic environment.However, Citi's note today clearly gave the stock a boost. The bank reaffirmed AppLovin as a t ...

The United States’ Largest Companies 2025: JPMorgan Leads The Way As U.S. Remains World’s Dominant Country https://t.co/3pkY3mx0zQ https://t.co/3pkY3mx0zQ ...

Core Insights - Upwork, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPWK) is highlighted as a small-cap stock with potential investment opportunities in 2025, following previous attention from an activist investor [1]. Company Overview - Upwork is categorized as a small-cap company that has been public for 18 months to 6 years and is currently trading significantly below its initial offering price [1].

[Applause] imagine living the same day over and over again. Like dying million times, being reborn million times only to face the same wounds, the same scars. the same unhealed traumas. Imagine, picture the ancestral maze where no matter where you turn, every way leads you back to the same hunting memory. and not only your memory but the echos of your parents' pain, your grandparents' struggles like a nightmare. And this is not a science fiction. This is the reality of transgenerational trauma. I know diffi ...

Market Opportunity - US investors can use exchange-listed options to hedge against extreme weather [1] - China lacks a similar system for weather-related risk management [1] Industry Analysis - The absence of a weather risk management system in China presents a potential market opportunity [1]

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG) is a smart beta ETF designed to provide broad exposure to the energy sector, specifically focusing on natural gas companies [1][5]. Fund Overview - FCG was launched on May 8, 2007, and is managed by First Trust Advisors [1][5]. - The fund has accumulated assets of over $349.35 million, positioning it as an average-sized ETF within the energy sector [5]. - FCG aims to match the performance of the ISE-Revere Natural Gas Index, which is an equal-weighted index of companies involved in natural gas exploration and production [5]. Cost and Expenses - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.57%, which is competitive within its peer group [6]. - It offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.77% [6]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - Approximately 97.6% of FCG's portfolio is allocated to the energy sector, providing concentrated exposure [7]. - The top holding, Eqt Corporation (EQT), constitutes about 4.8% of the fund's total assets, with the top 10 holdings making up approximately 43.36% of total assets [8]. Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, FCG has experienced a loss of about -1.41%, and over the last 12 months, it is down approximately -8.13% as of July 14, 2025 [9]. - The fund has traded between $19.37 and $27.24 in the past 52 weeks [9]. Risk Assessment - FCG has a beta of 0.89 and a standard deviation of 30.27% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a higher risk profile compared to its peers [10]. - The fund holds about 41 positions, suggesting more concentrated exposure than other ETFs in the sector [10].

Core Insights - The First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX ETF (FXD) is a smart beta ETF launched on May 8, 2007, providing broad exposure to the Consumer Discretionary sector [1] - FXD is managed by First Trust Advisors and has accumulated over $334.25 million in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The fund aims to match the performance of the StrataQuant Consumer Discretionary Index using the AlphaDEX stock selection methodology [5] Fund Characteristics - FXD has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.61%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.10% [6] - The ETF has a significant allocation of approximately 75.6% in the Consumer Discretionary sector, with Telecom and Industrials also represented [7] - The top three holdings include Carvana Co. (CVNA) at 2.07%, Five Below, Inc. (FIVE), and Spotify Technology S.a. (SPOT), with the top 10 holdings comprising about 15.9% of total assets [8] Performance Metrics - As of July 14, 2025, FXD has returned approximately 1.78% year-to-date and 9.79% over the past year, with a trading range between $50.42 and $68.52 in the last 52 weeks [10] - The fund has a beta of 1.20 and a standard deviation of 22.04% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10] Alternatives - Investors seeking to outperform the Consumer Discretionary ETFs segment may consider alternatives such as the Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR) and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY), which have significantly larger asset bases of $6.17 billion and $22.66 billion respectively [12] - VCR has a lower expense ratio of 0.09% compared to FXD, while XLY has an expense ratio of 0.08% [12]

Core Insights - The FlexShares Quality Dividend Defensive ETF (QDEF) is a smart beta ETF launched on December 14, 2012, providing broad exposure to the Style Box - All Cap Blend category [1] - QDEF aims to match the performance of the Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive Index, focusing on high-quality, income-oriented U.S. equity securities [5][6] Fund Management and Performance - Managed by Flexshares, QDEF has accumulated assets of over $445.48 million, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - The ETF has gained approximately 7.36% year-to-date and 13.87% over the past year, with a trading range between $62.50 and $75.33 in the last 52 weeks [10] Cost Structure - QDEF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.37%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.77% [7] Sector Allocation and Holdings - The ETF's largest sector allocation is in Information Technology, comprising about 29.5% of the portfolio, followed by Healthcare and Financials [8] - Top holdings include Apple Inc (6.32%), Nvidia Corp, and Microsoft Corp, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 37.02% of total assets [9] Risk Profile - QDEF has a beta of 0.84 and a standard deviation of 13.90% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10] Alternatives - While QDEF is a viable option for investors seeking to outperform the Style Box - All Cap Blend segment, alternatives such as iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT) and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) are also available [11][12]

Designed to provide broad exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend category of the market, the Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF (EQWL) is a smart beta exchange traded fund launched on 12/01/2006.What Are Smart Beta ETFs?Market cap weighted indexes were created to reflect the market, or a specific segment of the market, and the ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by products based on this strategy.Market cap weighted indexes offer a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market ...

Core Insights - The Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (SPHQ) is a smart beta ETF launched on December 6, 2005, designed to provide broad exposure to the large-cap blend category of the market [1] Fund Overview - SPHQ is managed by Invesco and has accumulated over $14.16 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in its category [5] - The ETF aims to match the performance of the S&P 500 Quality Index, which tracks stocks in the S&P 500 with the highest quality scores based on return on equity, accruals ratio, and financial leverage ratio [5] Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for SPHQ are 0.15%, positioning it as one of the cheaper options in the ETF space [6] - The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.05% [6] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The Information Technology sector represents 24.6% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Financials [7] - Visa Inc accounts for approximately 5.88% of the fund's total assets, with the top 10 holdings making up about 48.04% of total assets under management [8] Performance Metrics - As of July 14, 2025, SPHQ has increased by approximately 6.76% year-to-date and around 12% over the past year [10] - The fund has traded between $59.24 and $72.11 in the last 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.92 and a standard deviation of 15.97% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG), with assets of $32.48 billion and $92.92 billion respectively [12] - DGRO has an expense ratio of 0.08% and VIG has an expense ratio of 0.05% [12]