Argor-Heraeus' CEO Robin Kolvenbach holds one kilo bars of silver and gold at the plant of refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus in Mendrisio, Switzerland, July 13, 2022. Denis Balibouse | ReutersGold and silver prices plunged on Friday, sparking a global sell-off of stocks and funds linked to the metals. By 5:04 a.m. ET, spot silver was down 15% to settle at around $98.66 per ounce — taking it back below the $100 milestone. Stock Chart IconStock chart iconSpot silverMeanwhile, spot gold shed 7% to tra ...

Core Insights - The Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) and SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW) are both international equity ETFs with different regional focuses, catering to diverse investment strategies [1] Cost & Size Comparison - VWO has an expense ratio of 0.07% and assets under management (AUM) of $111.14 billion, while SPDW has a lower expense ratio of 0.03% and AUM of $35.1 billion [2] - The one-year return for VWO is 28.53%, compared to SPDW's 35.3%, and the dividend yield for VWO is 2.64%, while SPDW offers a higher yield of 3.2% [2] Performance & Risk Analysis - Over the past five years, VWO experienced a maximum drawdown of -34.31%, while SPDW had a lower drawdown of -30.20% [4] - A $1,000 investment in VWO would have grown to $1,069 over five years, whereas the same investment in SPDW would have grown to $1,321 [4] Portfolio Composition - SPDW provides exposure to 2,413 companies in developed international markets, with significant holdings in financial services, industrials, and technology [5] - VWO focuses on emerging markets, with major investments in technology, financial services, and consumer cyclical sectors, including a substantial stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which constitutes over 10% of its assets [6] Investor Considerations - Both ETFs have minimal exposure to U.S. stocks, which may present unique risks for U.S. investors due to differing market behaviors influenced by local economic and political factors [7] - SPDW's top holdings are primarily European companies, while VWO's are mainly Asian, indicating a geographical investment strategy difference [8] - For investors seeking technology-focused exposure, VWO is preferable, while SPDW is characterized as a more balanced option with a higher dividend yield [9]

Investors have likely looked to diversify throughout the year and entering this one, but still, concentration risk is a big issue. Much of that risk stems from the megacap tech companies expected to continue to deliver big returns. So what can advisors and investors do? See more: 3 Takeaways From T. Rowe Price's 2026 Outlook Markets entered 2025 facing significant concentration risk. Indeed, 2024 saw almost half of its performance owe the Magnificent Seven. 2025 also produced some major concentration risk. ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures rose on Wednesday after a significant sell-off on Tuesday, with major benchmark indices showing positive movement [1] - The S&P 500 index experienced its worst session since October 2025, dropping over 2% due to heightened risk-off sentiment following President Trump's new trade stance towards Europe [1] Trade Relations - President Trump threatened European countries with additional tariffs starting February 1 if negotiations over Greenland control fail, with potential duties increasing to 25% from June [2] - European officials warned of possible retaliation that could impact up to 25% of U.S. exports to Europe, including services, and mentioned the possibility of reducing Treasury holdings [2] Economic Indicators - The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.27%, while the two-year bond was at 3.58% [3] - The CME Group's FedWatch tool indicates a 95% likelihood of the Federal Reserve maintaining current interest rates in January [3] Index Performance - Major indices showed slight gains in premarket trading on Wednesday: Dow Jones up 0.19%, S&P 500 up 0.27%, Nasdaq 100 up 0.23%, and Russell 2000 up 0.33% [4] - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:SPY) increased by 0.24% to $679.18, while Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:QQQ) rose by 0.14% to $608.93 [4] Company Focus - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) projected to report quarterly earnings of $2.46 per share on revenue of $24.16 billion, down 0.33% in premarket [8] - Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) fell 5.48% despite better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, projecting first-quarter revenue of $12.16 billion, slightly below consensus [7] - GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME) rose 2.70% after CEO Ryan Cohen disclosed a purchase of 500,000 shares at an average price of approximately $21.12 per share [9] Analyst Insights - Professor Jeremy Siegel noted a significant market transition, with a shift from large-cap growth to small-cap and value stocks, indicating a 10% to 12% pullback in large-cap growth stocks relative to value [13] - Siegel highlighted that the economic backdrop remains supportive, with resilient growth data and stable labor markets, suggesting that small-cap stocks do not require high earnings growth to perform well [14][15] Upcoming Economic Data - Investors are awaiting the delayed report of October's construction spending and December's pending home sales data, scheduled for release at 10:00 a.m. ET [16] Commodities and Global Markets - Crude oil futures decreased by 1.18% to around $59.65 per barrel, while Gold Spot rose by 2.24% to approximately $4,870.22 per ounce [17] - Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) traded 1.64% lower at $89,347.25 per coin [19]

Core Viewpoint - The "Magnificent Seven" stocks now account for 35% to 40% of the S&P 500, indicating a historically high concentration risk in the index [1] Group 1 - The concentration of the "Magnificent Seven" stocks in the S&P 500 is unprecedented, raising concerns about market stability [1]

Market Overview - The S&P 500 has increased by 17% over the past year and 2.5% over the past month, currently surpassing the 6,950 mark with 7,300 as a potential target [1] - A rotation is occurring in the market, with mega-cap tech stocks cooling while overall breadth improves, indicating a shift towards more diverse growth across small caps and energy stocks [2] - Despite modest upside forecasts for the S&P 500 in 2026, rising valuation metrics and ongoing volatility may lead to selective trimming of positions [2][3] Company-Specific Insights Tesla (TSLA) - Tesla shares are currently trading at $440, down approximately 9% over the last month, facing rising price pressures and increased competition, particularly from BYD in China [4] - Deliveries fell by about 8.6% year-over-year, and the Cybertruck is underperforming in sales volume [4] - Major fund managers, including ARK Innovation ETF, are reducing their Tesla holdings, indicating a lack of confidence in the stock's future performance [4] GE HealthCare Technologies (GEHC) - GE HealthCare Technologies is trading at $82 per share, with sales in China declining by approximately 11% and 18% year-over-year in the first and second quarters of 2024, respectively [6] - The company has been downgraded by UBS due to competitive pressures and risks from rising generics that are not fully priced in [6] - Despite a steady dividend payout of 0.18%, the stock faces limited upside and increased competition in the medical technology market [8] UnitedHealth (UNH) - UnitedHealth shares are trading at less than $340, down 34% over the past year, primarily due to rising medical costs and a significant drop in Medicaid margins projected to decline from -0.1% in 2025 to -1.8% in 2026 [9] - The company has faced management challenges, including curbing earnings guidance and scrutiny over diagnosis practices, leading to increased uncertainty [10] - Analysts suggest selling UNH shares until clearer visibility on its performance emerges [10]

Core Insights - The S&P 500 is experiencing unprecedented concentration, with the 10 largest companies accounting for about 40% of the index's weight, significantly above the long-term average of approximately 20% [1][2] Group 1: Market Concentration - Analysts express concern that high concentration may lead to lower S&P 500 returns over the next decade compared to a less concentrated market [2] - The top 10 stocks in the S&P 500 account for 35% of the index's earnings, making the current weight of 40% reasonable [6] Group 2: Investment Alternatives - The Invesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF tracks the S&P 500 but weights stocks based on trailing-12-month revenue, imposing a 5% weight cap on individual stocks [3][5] - The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF measures performance by giving equal weight to all constituents, eliminating concentration risk entirely [8][9] Group 3: Performance and Fees - The Invesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF has returned 545% since its inception in 2008, while the S&P 500 has returned 630%, indicating potential for continued underperformance due to concentration risk [6][10] - The Invesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF has a relatively high expense ratio of 0.39%, while the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF has a lower expense ratio of 0.2%, making it a more cost-effective option for investors seeking exposure without concentration risk [7][11]

Core Insights - The international equity proposition has gained traction as the MSCI EAFE Index has significantly outperformed the S&P 500, prompting advisors and investors to consider allocating more to ex-US markets [1] - The ALPS O'Shares International Developed Quality Dividend ETF (OEFA) is highlighted as a viable option for diversifying US-heavy portfolios, showing performance comparable to the S&P 500 over the past year [2] Group 1: Market Dynamics - A small number of US companies dominate the value of US stocks, leading to an all-time high in concentration risk [3] - While current tech companies are profitable, there are concerns that some may falter for various reasons, indicating potential vulnerabilities in the market [3] Group 2: OEFA Advantages - OEFA offers a different sector profile compared to US-focused funds, which is significant given the current dominance of domestic communication services and technology stocks [4] - The ETF's reduced reliance on growth sectors may benefit investors if the market shifts towards value sectors, with industrial, consumer cyclical, and healthcare stocks making up over 61% of its holdings [5] Group 3: International Exposure - International stocks tend to have a higher concentration in sectors outside of technology and communications services, suggesting that future growth may be concentrated outside the US [6] - OEFA provides exposure to eight GICS sectors and includes stocks from 15 countries, enhancing breadth in international investment [6]

Core Insights - Healthcare investing is characterized by defensive traits during market volatility, but regulatory and political risks can lead to abrupt selloffs [1] - Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF (FHLC) offers a low-cost entry point for investors seeking exposure to the healthcare sector without selecting individual stocks [1] Fund Overview - FHLC tracks the MSCI USA IMI Health Care Index, providing exposure to U.S. healthcare companies across various segments including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and health insurance [2] - The fund has an expense ratio of 0.084% and includes over 80 holdings, focusing on capital appreciation and modest dividend income [2] Concentration Risk - Eli Lilly constitutes over 13% of FHLC's portfolio, linking its performance closely to GLP-1 obesity drugs, which have seen a 46% increase in stock price over the past year [3] - The top five holdings also include UnitedHealth, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and AbbVie [3] Performance Analysis - FHLC has shown strong short-term performance, gaining 5.3% in the last month and 17.9% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 [4] - However, over five years, FHLC returned 42.6%, significantly lagging behind the S&P 500's 84.5% return, with a widening gap over ten years (154% vs. 235%) [4] Sector Challenges - The underperformance of FHLC reflects broader challenges in the healthcare sector, including drug pricing pressures and slower innovation cycles outside oncology and rare diseases [5] - Recent momentum may indicate potential sector rotation, but investing after outperformance carries inherent risks [5] Policy and Income Considerations - Investors face political and regulatory uncertainties, with an 87.5% probability that enhanced ACA premium tax credits will expire by January 2026, impacting health insurers like UnitedHealth [7] - FHLC's yield of 1.33% is considered modest compared to other market alternatives, with dividend growth of approximately 4.6% annually over five years, barely keeping pace with inflation [8] Suitability for Investors - Growth-focused investors seeking maximum capital appreciation may find FHLC unsuitable due to its long-term underperformance [9] - Retirees prioritizing income generation may also find better yield opportunities in other sectors without sacrificing stability [9] Alternative Options - Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) is presented as an alternative, with a slightly higher expense ratio of 0.09%, larger asset base of $20.4 billion, and a higher dividend yield of 1.38% [11] - VHT's longer track record since 2004 and superior liquidity may provide additional confidence for long-term investors [11] Tactical Allocation - FHLC may serve as a tactical allocation for investors seeking low-cost exposure to the healthcare sector, but concentration risk and historical underperformance necessitate careful position sizing [12]

Core Viewpoint - The dominance of mega-cap technology stocks in market returns raises concerns about concentration risk [1] Group 1 - The performance of the market is heavily influenced by a small number of large technology companies [1] - Investors are increasingly wary of the potential risks associated with this concentration in the technology sector [1] - The reliance on a few mega-cap stocks for market gains could lead to volatility if these stocks underperform [1]