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Is Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-22 11:21
Group 1: Core Insights - The Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF) is a smart beta ETF that provides broad exposure to the Foreign Large Value ETF category, having debuted on 08/13/2013 [1] - FNDF is managed by Charles Schwab and has accumulated over $17.26 billion in assets, making it the largest ETF in its category [5] - The fund aims to replicate the performance of the Russell RAFI Developed ex US Large Co. Index (Net) before fees and expenses [5] Group 2: Cost and Performance - FNDF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.25%, positioning it as one of the cheaper options in the ETF space [6] - The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.91% [6] - As of 08/22/2025, FNDF has increased by approximately 27.41% year-to-date and 18.74% over the past year, with a trading range between $32.25 and $42.27 in the last 52 weeks [9] Group 3: Holdings and Risk - FNDF's top holdings include Shell Plc (2.28% of total assets), Samsung Electronics Ltd, and Totalenergies (TTE), with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 11.8% of total assets [7][8] - The fund has a beta of 0.78 and a standard deviation of 15.58% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10] - FNDF consists of approximately 947 holdings, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [10] Group 4: Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Foreign Large Value segment include iShares International Select Dividend ETF (IDV) and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI), with assets of $5.79 billion and $11.85 billion respectively [12] - IDV has an expense ratio of 0.49%, while VYMI has a lower expense ratio of 0.17% [12]
Is iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF (EMGF) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 11:20
Core Insights - The iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF (EMGF) is designed to provide broad exposure to the emerging markets category and was launched on December 8, 2015 [1] - The fund is managed by Blackrock and has accumulated over $939.89 million in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in the Broad Emerging Market ETFs category [5] - EMGF seeks to match the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Diversified Multiple-Factor Index [5] Investment Strategy - Smart beta ETFs, like EMGF, aim to outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes by selecting stocks based on specific fundamental characteristics [3][4] - The fund employs a non-cap weighted strategy to enhance risk-return performance [3] Cost and Performance - EMGF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.26%, positioning it as one of the cheaper options in the market [7] - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.35% [7] - Year-to-date, EMGF has increased by approximately 19.39% and has risen by about 16.63% over the past year [10] Holdings and Diversification - The top 10 holdings of EMGF account for about 25.08% of its total assets, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing being the largest at approximately 9.65% [8][9] - The ETF holds around 597 stocks, which helps to effectively diversify company-specific risk [11] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the emerging markets space include Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG), which have significantly larger asset bases of $95.96 billion and $101.31 billion respectively [13] - VWO has a lower expense ratio of 0.07% while IEMG charges 0.09% [13]
Is WisdomTree U.S. MidCap ETF (EZM) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 11:20
Core Insights - The WisdomTree U.S. MidCap ETF (EZM) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Mid Cap Value category and was launched on February 23, 2007 [1] - The ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by market cap weighted indexes, but there is a growing interest in smart beta strategies that aim to outperform the market through stock selection [2][3] - Smart beta ETFs utilize non-cap weighted strategies based on fundamental characteristics to enhance risk-return performance [3][4] Fund Overview - The WisdomTree U.S. MidCap ETF is sponsored by WisdomTree and has assets exceeding $795.22 million, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - The ETF seeks to match the performance of the WisdomTree U.S. MidCap Earnings Index, which focuses on earnings-generating mid-cap companies [5] Cost Structure - The annual operating expense ratio for the ETF is 0.38%, which is competitive within its peer group [6] - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.29% [6] Holdings and Sector Exposure - The fund's total assets are primarily in U.S. dollars, with significant holdings in Fox Corp - Class A (FOXA) and Aptiv Holdings Ltd (APTV) [7] - The top 10 holdings account for approximately 107.03% of total assets under management, indicating a concentrated investment strategy [8] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, the ETF has gained about 3.77%, and it has increased approximately 9.17% over the last 12 months as of August 21, 2025 [9] - The ETF has traded between $51.81 and $68.19 in the past 52 weeks [9] - With a beta of 1.07 and a standard deviation of 20.65% over the trailing three years, the fund is classified as a medium risk option [10] Alternatives - The WisdomTree U.S. MidCap ETF is a viable choice for investors looking to outperform the Mid Cap Value segment, but alternatives like iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) and Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF (VOE) are also available [11][12] - IWS has $13.76 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.23%, while VOE has $18.64 billion in assets with a 0.07% expense ratio [12]
Is First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend ETF (FGD) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 11:20
Core Insights - The First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend ETF (FGD) is a smart beta ETF launched on November 21, 2007, providing broad exposure to the Foreign Large Value ETF category [1] - The ETF aims to match the performance of the Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index, which is a dividend yield weighted index of 100 stocks from developed markets [5] Fund Overview - FGD has accumulated assets of over $862.53 million, positioning it as an average-sized ETF within its category [5] - The fund's annual operating expenses are 0.56%, which is competitive with peer products [6] - The ETF has a trailing 12-month dividend yield of 4.64% [6] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, FGD has increased by approximately 32.41%, and it has risen about 27.32% over the last 12 months as of August 21, 2025 [9] - The ETF has traded between $21.80 and $29.06 in the past 52 weeks [9] - FGD has a beta of 0.76 and a standard deviation of 14.83% over the trailing three-year period, indicating it is a low-risk investment [10] Holdings and Sector Exposure - The top 10 holdings of FGD account for about 16.52% of total assets, with Spark New Zealand Limited being the largest holding at approximately 1.97% [7][8] - The ETF holds around 105 different stocks, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Foreign Large Value segment include the Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) and the Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF), which have significantly larger asset bases of $11.88 billion and $17.35 billion, respectively [12] - VYMI has a lower expense ratio of 0.17%, while FNDF charges 0.25% [12]
Is First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 11:20
Core Insights - The First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU) provides broad exposure to the Utilities/Infrastructure ETFs category, having debuted on 05/08/2007 [1] - FXU is managed by First Trust Advisors and has accumulated over $1.73 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The ETF seeks to match the performance of the StrataQuant Utilities Index, which uses a modified equal-dollar weighted methodology to select stocks [6] Fund Characteristics - FXU has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.63% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.08% [7] - The fund has a heavy allocation to the Utilities sector, representing 97.6% of its portfolio [8] - The top three holdings include Edison International (4.23%), Evergy, Inc., and Pg&e Corporation, with the top 10 holdings accounting for 40.08% of total assets [9] Performance Metrics - As of 08/21/2025, FXU has increased by approximately 19.58% year-to-date and 28.29% over the past year [11] - The ETF has a beta of 0.63 and a standard deviation of 17.29% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [11] - FXU has 41 holdings, providing more concentrated exposure compared to its peers [11] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Utilities/Infrastructure segment include Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU), with VPU having $7.42 billion and XLU $21.55 billion in assets [13] - VPU has a lower expense ratio of 0.09% compared to FXU, while XLU has an expense ratio of 0.08% [13]
Is Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Growth ETF (RFG) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 11:20
Core Insights - The Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Growth ETF (RFG) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Mid Cap Growth category, launched on March 1, 2006 [1] - RFG aims to match the performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Pure Growth Index, which focuses on securities with strong growth characteristics [5] Investment Strategy - Smart beta ETFs, like RFG, utilize non-cap weighted strategies to potentially outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes [3] - Various methodologies exist within smart beta, including equal-weighting and fundamental weighting, though not all guarantee superior results [4] Fund Details - RFG is managed by Invesco and has assets totaling approximately $292.57 million, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in its segment [5] - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.44% [6] Sector Exposure - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Industrials sector, comprising about 30.6% of the portfolio, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Healthcare [7] - The top 10 holdings represent approximately 21.11% of total assets, with Carpenter Technology Corp (CRS) being the largest at 2.9% [8] Performance Metrics - As of August 21, 2025, RFG has returned approximately 2.55% year-to-date and 4.19% over the past year, with a trading range between $39.08 and $53.39 in the last 52 weeks [10] - The fund has a beta of 1.08 and a standard deviation of 21.65% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Mid Cap Growth space include Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF (VOT) and iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (IWP), with VOT having $17.38 billion in assets and IWP $19.96 billion [12] - VOT has a lower expense ratio of 0.07%, while IWP's is 0.23%, making them potentially more attractive options for cost-conscious investors [12]
Is WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap ETF (EES) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-20 11:21
Core Insights - The WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap ETF (EES) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Small Cap Value category and was launched on February 23, 2007 [1] - The ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by market cap weighted indexes, but smart beta strategies have emerged as alternatives for investors seeking to outperform the market through superior stock selection [2][3] - EES is sponsored by WisdomTree and has assets exceeding $615.56 million, aiming to match the performance of the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Earnings Index [5] Fund Details - EES has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.38%, which is competitive within its category, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.33% [6] - The fund's top holdings include Valaris Ltd and Brighthouse Financial Inc, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 106.07% of total assets [7][8] Performance Metrics - As of August 20, 2025, EES has gained about 0.87% year-to-date and approximately 7.27% over the past year, with a trading range between $42.54 and $58.78 in the last 52 weeks [9] - The ETF has a beta of 1.10 and a standard deviation of 22.13% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Small Cap Value space include iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) and Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR), with IWN having $11.31 billion in assets and VBR having $30.67 billion [12] - IWN has a lower expense ratio of 0.24%, while VBR has an even lower expense ratio of 0.07%, making them potentially more attractive options for cost-conscious investors [12]
Is First Trust Mid Cap Core AlphaDEX ETF (FNX) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-20 11:21
Core Insights - The First Trust Mid Cap Core AlphaDEX ETF (FNX) debuted on May 8, 2007, and provides broad exposure to the Style Box - Mid Cap Blend category of the market [1] - Smart beta ETFs aim to outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes by selecting stocks based on fundamental characteristics rather than market capitalization [2][3] - FNX has accumulated over $1.15 billion in assets, making it an average-sized ETF in its category, and seeks to match the performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Mid Cap Core Index [5] Fund Details - FNX has an annual operating expense of 0.58%, which is relatively high compared to other ETFs, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.23% [6] - The ETF's largest sector allocation is in Financials at approximately 20.1%, followed by Industrials and Consumer Discretionary [7] - The top 10 holdings of FNX account for about 4.95% of its total assets, with Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) being the largest individual holding at 0.58% [8] Performance Metrics - As of August 20, 2025, FNX has increased by approximately 3.97% year-to-date and 6.85% over the past year, with a trading range between $94.92 and $127.28 in the last 52 weeks [10] - The fund has a beta of 1.10 and a standard deviation of 20.62% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the mid-cap space include Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) and iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH), which have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios of 0.04% and 0.05%, respectively [12]
Is WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend ETF (DGS) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-20 11:21
Group 1: Core Insights - The WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend ETF (DGS) was launched on October 30, 2007, and offers broad exposure to the emerging markets category [1] - DGS has amassed over $1.62 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in the Broad Emerging Market ETFs segment [5] - The fund seeks to match the performance of the WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index, which is fundamentally weighted and focuses on small-cap stocks [6] Group 2: Cost and Performance - DGS has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.58%, which is competitive within its peer group [7] - The 12-month trailing dividend yield for DGS is 2.69% [7] - Year-to-date, DGS has increased by approximately 16.32%, and it is up about 9.01% over the last 12 months as of August 20, 2025 [11] Group 3: Holdings and Diversification - The top 10 holdings of DGS account for approximately 99.15% of its total assets under management [9] - The fund holds about 1,082 stocks, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [11] - The US Dollar constitutes about 63.85% of total assets, with significant exposure to the Indonesian Rupiah and Indian Rupee [8] Group 4: Alternatives - Other ETFs in the emerging markets space include Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG), with VWO having $96.05 billion and IEMG $101.53 billion in assets [13] - VWO has a lower expense ratio of 0.07%, while IEMG charges 0.09% [13]
Is Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF (RPV) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-20 11:21
Core Insights - The Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF (RPV) is a smart beta ETF that debuted on March 1, 2006, providing broad exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value category [1] - Smart beta ETFs aim to outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes by selecting stocks based on specific fundamental characteristics [3] - RPV has accumulated over $1.33 billion in assets and seeks to match the performance of the S&P 500 Pure Value Index [5] Fund Details - RPV has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.33% [6] - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Financials sector, approximately 18.8%, with Consumer Staples and Healthcare also being prominent sectors [7] - CVS Health Corp (CVS) is the largest holding at 3.23% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings comprising about 23.69% of total assets [8] Performance Metrics - As of August 20, 2025, RPV has gained approximately 7.41% year-to-date and 12.92% over the past year, with a trading range between $81.66 and $97.21 in the last 52 weeks [10] - The fund has a beta of 0.95 and a standard deviation of 17.83% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), with SCHD having $71.3 billion in assets and VTV $142.2 billion [12] - SCHD has a lower expense ratio of 0.06% compared to RPV, while VTV has an expense ratio of 0.04% [12]