Core Viewpoint - U.S. investors are increasingly seeking international equities exposure despite global uncertainties, with Fidelity Investments' enhanced international equities ETF, FENI, being a notable option for this investment strategy [1][5]. Group 1: Fund Performance - FENI has delivered a return of 27.1% over the past 12 months, outperforming the average return of 24.5% in the ETF Database Foreign Large Cap Equities Category [3]. - The fund charges a fee of 28 basis points and is set to reach its three-year milestone as an ETF in November, having converted from a mutual fund [2]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - FENI employs a computer-aided active investment strategy, typically investing at least 80% of its assets in common stocks within the MSCI EAFE index, aiming to outperform this index [4]. - The fund's strategy incorporates factors such as growth, historical valuation, and profitability, which may provide resilience in uncertain market conditions [4][5].

Core Insights - Ariel Global Fund achieved a +23.30% return in 2025, outperforming MSCI ACWI and MSCI ACWI Value indices, but lagged in Q4 with a +2.88% return compared to +3.29% and +3.66% for the indices [1] - The positive performance was supported by moderating inflation, easing financial conditions, and resilient corporate earnings, particularly from U.S. mega-cap technology stocks, alongside improvements in Europe, Japan, and a strong rebound in China [1] - Stock selection was the primary driver of performance, with gains in financials and information technology, while consumer discretionary and healthcare holdings faced challenges [1] Company Insights - Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) is a utility company providing electricity and natural gas in the northeastern U.S., with a market capitalization of approximately $25.71 billion [2] - The stock of Eversource Energy experienced a one-month return of -8.46%, trading between $52.28 and $76.41 over the past 52 weeks, closing at around $68.41 on March 30, 2026 [2] - Ariel Investments initiated a position in Eversource Energy, anticipating operational stability from divestitures and a major offshore wind project, but exited the position when key indicators did not improve [3]

Core Insights - International equities and value-oriented strategies are gaining investor interest, particularly highlighted by the inflows into the American Century Quality Diversified International ETF (QINT) [3][5] - The QINT fund has attracted over $27 million in the last month and nearly $88 million year-to-date, indicating strong demand for international exposure [4] - American Century manages nearly $6 billion across more than 15 ETFs, with the largest being the American Century U.S. Quality Growth ETF (QGRO) at over $2 billion [4] International Equities - The appeal of QINT is attributed to its international exposure, as non-U.S. markets have outperformed recently, prompting advisors to seek diversification outside the U.S. [5][6] - Testani noted that 70% of companies are located outside the U.S., while the U.S. accounts for nearly two-thirds of global market capitalization but only 25%-30% of global GDP, suggesting significant opportunities abroad [6] Value Investing - As investors become disillusioned with the concentration of the "Magnificent Seven" stocks in U.S. indexes, there is a growing interest in value investments [7][8] - The top 10 names in U.S. growth indexes represent almost 60% of the index, while in the S&P 500, they account for nearly 40%, indicating a high concentration risk [7] - Funds like the Focused Large Cap Value ETF (FLV) are gaining traction by providing broader exposure to sectors such as healthcare and financials [8][9] Municipal Bonds - The American Century Diversified Municipal Bond ETF (TAXF) is attracting interest, having pulled in approximately $38 million year-to-date, with a total of $582 million in assets [11] - Municipal bonds offer tax exemptions and have a low default rate, with some bonds classified as high yield due to lack of ratings, presenting opportunities for active managers [12][13] - Nearly 13% of TAXF's portfolio consists of high-yield municipal bonds, indicating a fertile ground for value addition in the municipal bond space [13]

Group 1 - The article discusses 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 [1] - The Pragmatic Investor covers various sectors including global macro, international equities, commodities, technology, and cryptocurrencies, aiming to guide investors at all levels [1] - Features of The Pragmatic Investor include a dedicated portfolio, weekly market updates, actionable trades, technical analysis, and a chat room for investor interaction [1]

Core Insights - International equities have gained significant attention in 2026, with investors increasingly seeking ex-U.S. offerings despite geopolitical volatility [1] - The American Century Quality Diversified International ETF (QINT) presents a quality-focused investment opportunity in the international equities space [1][2] Fund Overview - QINT charges a fee of 34 basis points to track the American Century Quality Diversified International Equity Index, targeting companies with strong growth prospects and healthy financials [2] - The ETF emphasizes larger, less volatile firms with appealing fundamentals, balancing growth and value stocks based on market conditions [3] Performance Metrics - Launched in 2018, QINT has shown strong long-term performance, returning 21% over the last year, outperforming its ETF Database Foreign Large Cap Equities Category average [4] - Recent global economic turmoil has led to the ETF being considered oversold, suggesting a potential buying opportunity [5] Investment Strategy - QINT's rules-based index approach is more focused than typical international equities ETFs, utilizing a smaller, more refined list of equity investments [3][6] - The emphasis on quality in ex-U.S. equities may differentiate QINT from other ETFs that primarily assess firms based on market capitalization [6]

Core Viewpoint - Non-US markets have significantly outperformed US equities, prompting investors to reconsider their international exposure strategies as emerging markets and developed international markets show strong performance [3][5][8]. Market Performance - International equities have outperformed US stocks by approximately 15% since November 2024, with a notable gap of 8 percentage points in January 2026 compared to the S&P 500 [3][8]. - The S&P 500 has declined by 1.6% in 2026, while emerging markets have risen sharply, indicating a shift in market dynamics [5]. ETFs Overview - Three ETFs are highlighted as key investment vehicles for gaining international exposure: - **iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG)**: - Holds $148.6 billion in assets with a low expense ratio of 0.09% - Up 7.2% year-to-date and 33% over the past year, with major holdings in Tencent, Samsung, and HDFC Bank [2][9][10]. - **Fidelity Fundamental Emerging Markets ETF (FFEM)**: - Actively managed with a 0.60% expense ratio, focusing on technology and financial sectors - Up 9.8% year-to-date, with Taiwan Semiconductor making up 14% of the portfolio [2][11][12]. - **Fidelity International Value Factor ETF (FIVA)**: - Targets developed international markets with a value tilt, yielding 2.3% and an expense ratio of 0.18% - Up 3.4% year-to-date and 31% over the past year, with holdings in companies like ASML and Nestle [2][13][14]. Investment Considerations - The performance of international equities is driven by structural factors such as a weaker US dollar, attractive valuations, global growth, and increased European defense spending [3][8]. - Investors are advised to consider the trade-offs associated with each ETF, including currency risk and the potential for volatility in emerging markets [15][16].

Core Insights - 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 [1] Group 1: Company Overview - The Pragmatic Investor aims to preserve and increase wealth through robust portfolio strategies [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 updates, actionable trades, technical analysis, and a chat room for investor engagement [1]

Core Insights - International equities experienced record inflows of $60 billion in January, driven by investors seeking opportunities outside the U.S. due to domestic uncertainties [1] - A focus on fundamentals is suggested as a strategy to differentiate investment approaches in international equities for 2026 [1][3] Investment Trends - Investors are increasingly looking for advanced investment strategies rather than passive, market cap-weighted exposure to non-U.S. equities, especially in light of U.S. and geopolitical risks [2] - The Fidelity Fundamental Developed International ETF (FFDI) exemplifies an active approach to investing in developed market equities outside the U.S., charging a fee of 55 basis points [4] Performance Metrics - FFDI has achieved a return of 12.3% over the last three months and 25% over the past year, indicating strong performance and momentum as its price is above the 50- and 200-day simple moving averages [5] - The fund's performance has generated a buy signal according to YCharts, suggesting potential for outperformance compared to passive international equity offerings [5][6]

Neuberger Berman Adds New International Equities ETF NBIEIt's been a huge last 12 months for international equities ETF performance, as U.S. investors flock to ex-U.S. diversification. Asset managers have responded, adding to the space with new funds. Neuberger Berman is the latest to make a move, launching NBIE, the International Core Equity ETF, a potential option for investors to consider as uncertainty continues to loom over a tech-heavy U.S. stock market.See more: Active ETFs for Market Volatility in 2 ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the investment strategies and focus areas of The Pragmatic Investor, led by economist James Foord, emphasizing the importance of building diversified 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]