International stocks roared back in 2025 with many major global indexes returning more than 20% last year. Some countries even gained more than 50%. That's not to say there's no more opportunity for international investors, though.As countries continue to focus on growth, and as government spending picks up around the world, supporting their local economies, there's plenty of opportunity left for stock market growth. Investors should be selective in choosing an international ETF. Avoid those with high fees, ...

Core Insights - The VanEck Bitcoin ETF (HODL) and iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) provide investors with direct exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum respectively, while mitigating some risks associated with holding cryptocurrencies directly [2][5] Group 1: Cost and Size - Both HODL and ETHA have an expense ratio of 0.25% [3] - As of February 14, 2026, HODL has a one-year return of -29.18% and ETHA has a return of -23.90% [3] - HODL has assets under management (AUM) of $1.1 billion, while ETHA has AUM of $6.29 billion, indicating a significant difference in scale [3] Group 2: Performance and Risk Comparison - HODL experienced a maximum drawdown of -49.25% over one year, while ETHA had a higher drawdown of -61.57% [4] Group 3: Fund Composition and Market Context - HODL, launched on January 4, 2024, exclusively holds Bitcoin, while ETHA, launched six months later, exclusively holds Ether [5] - Both funds are characterized by high volatility and have faced negative returns in 2025, marking the first annual decline since 2022 [6] - HODL has increased nearly 40% since its inception, whereas ETHA has decreased by 41%, suggesting a potential advantage for HODL in the long term [8]

Group 1 - India's gold market is crucial for global demand, being the world's largest by population and deeply integrated into its culture through gift-giving and investing [1] - The WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Gold Miners Strategy Fund (GDMN) has experienced a remarkable 234% increase over the past year, highlighting the effectiveness of its actively managed strategy that combines gold futures with gold mining equities [1] - Indian investors are increasingly favoring gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) over mutual funds, with significant inflows into gold ETFs in January, surpassing equity fund flows for the first time [1] Group 2 - In January, gold prices reached record highs, doubling from January 2024 levels in dollar terms, while Indian equity investors showed restraint due to pending tariff agreements with the U.S. [1] - Net inflows into Indian equity mutual funds decreased by 14.35% month-on-month to 240.29 billion rupees ($2.65 billion), marking the second consecutive month of decline [1] - Flows to gold ETFs more than doubled from the previous month to 240.4 billion rupees, positioning them just ahead of equity flows for the first time [1] Group 3 - High gold prices may lead to a retreat in Indian jewelry demand this year, but increased ETF demand could provide a buffer for U.S. investors holding GDMN [1]

Core Insights - The ETF market experienced record net inflows of $166 billion in January 2026, surpassing the combined inflows of the previous three Januarys [1] - There is a significant shift from U.S. mega-cap stocks to international equities, with international equity ETFs attracting $68 billion in January, marking the first time they outpaced U.S. equity inflows since February 2023 [1] - The S&P 500 trades at approximately 22 times forward 2026 earnings, while international equities are closer to 13 times, indicating a potential for better returns from international markets [1] ETF Market Dynamics - International funds accounted for about one-third of net inflows despite representing only 17% of total ETF assets, with four of the top 10 most popular equity ETFs focusing on international markets [1] - Global ex-U.S. equity funds have seen their strongest inflow streak in four and a half years, driven by a rotation out of expensive U.S. tech stocks into more affordable international markets [1] Regional Performance - Emerging markets have shown strong performance, with three of the top 20 most popular ETFs being focused on these markets, including the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, which has attracted approximately $9 billion this year [1] - South Korean stocks have gained 28% year-to-date, with the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF seeing net inflows of around $1.7 billion [1] - European-focused ETFs have also seen strong demand, with inflows into both equity and bond funds surpassing those of U.S. counterparts [1] China and ADRs - Despite strong stock performance, China-focused ETFs have not seen significant inflows, although the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF attracted over $2 billion last year [1] - The ADR market represents a $2 trillion opportunity, with U.S. institutions holding more than $800 billion, primarily in Chinese firms [1] - New ADR indexes have been developed to provide more precise access to international opportunities through U.S.-listed securities, allowing for better replication of returns from underlying indices [1]

Group 1 - The Invesco Value Municipal Income Trust (IIM) offers investors access to a diversified pool of municipal bonds within a closed-end fund structure [2] - The CEF/ETF Income Laboratory manages portfolios targeting safe and reliable yields of approximately 8% to facilitate income investing [2] - The service includes managed portfolios, actionable income and arbitrage recommendations, and in-depth analysis of CEFs and ETFs, catering to both active and passive investors [2] Group 2 - The majority of holdings in the CEF/ETF Income Laboratory are monthly-payers, which enhances compounding and smooths income streams for investors [2]

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock is preparing to launch its iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, which aims to track Bitcoin's price while generating income through an actively managed strategy of writing call options on IBIT shares and related indices [1]. Group 1: ETF Structure and Strategy - The new ETF will sell options that grant other investors the right to purchase its IBIT shares at a predetermined price, collecting option premiums as income [2]. - Shares in the ETF will represent fractional beneficial interests in the fund's income, Bitcoin, IBIT shares, and cash [2]. - The fund's structure indicates a higher-risk, higher-fee strategy that has the potential for greater income compared to a passive spot Bitcoin ETF [6]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF, launched in October 2024, has $1.09 billion in assets under management and an expense ratio of approximately 0.99% [4]. - The new BlackRock ETF will compete with the Roundhill Bitcoin Covered Call Strategy ETF (YBTC) and YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF (YBIT), which have $225 million and $74 million in assets under management, respectively [5]. - Actively managed ETFs like BTCI and the new iShares offering typically charge higher fees to cover the costs associated with their option-writing strategies, unlike passive spot Bitcoin ETFs that maintain lower operating costs [5].

Core Insights - The article highlights 11 Vanguard ETFs that provide attractive dividend yields and growth potential, emphasizing the benefits of investing in ETFs due to their lower expense ratios compared to mutual funds [1][2][3] Investment Opportunities - Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) offers a dividend yield of 1.13% with a 5-year average annual return of 14.55% and a 10-year average of 15.61% [5] - Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) has a dividend yield of 1.12% and a 5-year average annual return of 13.12% [5] - Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) provides a higher dividend yield of 1.83% and a 5-year average annual return of 11.10% [5] - Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) offers a significant dividend yield of 3.86%, although it has a negative 5-year average annual return of -0.17% [5] - Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) yields 1.62% with a 5-year average annual return of 11.69% [5] - Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF (VYM) has a dividend yield of 2.44% and a 5-year average annual return of 12.48% [5] - Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF (VYMI) features a dividend yield of 3.69% with a 5-year average annual return of 12.49% [5] - Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) offers a dividend yield of 3.92% with a 5-year average annual return of 5.59% [5] - Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) has a dividend yield of 2.05% and a 5-year average annual return of 12.56% [5] - Vanguard S&P 500 Growth Index Fund ETF (VOOG) yields 0.49% with a 5-year average annual return of 15.33% [5] - Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) has a lower dividend yield of 0.40% but boasts a strong 5-year average annual return of 17.49% [5] Investment Strategy - The article encourages investors to consider a diversified approach by investing in multiple ETFs to balance growth and income [16] - It emphasizes the importance of understanding how money grows over time, illustrating potential future values based on different annual investment amounts and growth rates [4]

Core Insights - Investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can significantly enhance financial growth, offering a simple method to build wealth through diversified portfolios [1] - The Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF has a strong historical performance, potentially turning consistent investments into substantial wealth over time [2] Investment Strategy - The Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: MGK) focuses on mega-cap stocks, defined as those with market capitalizations of at least $200 billion, and includes 66 of the largest U.S. stocks with growth potential [4] - This ETF combines stability and growth, as mega-cap stocks are more resilient during market volatility, increasing the likelihood of recovery compared to smaller companies [5] Performance Metrics - Over the past decade, the Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF has achieved total returns exceeding 431%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 262% return [6] - An investment of $5,000 in the Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF a decade ago would have grown to approximately $26,000, compared to around $18,000 with an S&P 500 ETF [6] Long-term Investment Outlook - Investors in growth ETFs should be prepared for potential short-term downturns and are advised to maintain their investments for at least five years to mitigate market volatility impacts [7] - While future performance cannot be guaranteed, historical data provides insights into the fund's earning potential [10]

Core Insights - The podcast episode focuses on reviewing Todd Rosenbluth's favorite ETF picks from 2025, highlighting their performance and investment strategies [1][2][3] Group 1: ETF Performance - T. Rowe Price's International Equity ETF (TOUS) has outperformed both the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and the S&P 500, with a year-to-date increase of 33% compared to 31% for IEFA and more than double for the S&P 500 [6] - Vanguard's 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL), launched in the first quarter of 2025, has attracted $4.5 billion in assets, making it the most popular newly launched ETF this year [10][11] - NEOS's Nasdaq 100 High Income ETF (QQQI) has gathered $6 billion in assets, benefiting from options-based strategies to generate enhanced income [13][14] Group 2: Investment Strategies - The focus of the ETFs discussed includes international equity, short-term treasury investments, and growth strategies through Nasdaq-100 exposure [5][12] - The podcast emphasizes the importance of identifying trends in the ETF market, with a particular focus on actively managed and options-based strategies that have gained traction among investors [4][14]

Core Insights - The NIFTY 50 Index has increased by over +10% year-over-year, while the Invesco India ETF (PIN) has underperformed, declining by -7% in 2025 [1] - The Invesco India ETF has also underperformed compared to the S&P 500 [1] Investment Philosophy - The investment approach focuses on long-term value investing, emphasizing rational decision-making and downside protection [1] - The analysis aims to provide clear, research-based insights to help investors understand valuation, fundamentals, and risk [1]