Industry Voices Gear Up for ExchangeETF Trends is now VettaFi. Read More --As the ETF industry continues its record-breaking trajectory, the upcoming Exchange conference is shaping up to be the most consequential industry gathering of the year. From March 15–18, 2026, the industry will gather at the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas for what has become the definitive summit for the ETF ecosystem. For financial advisors, the event offers a unique intersection of technical due diligence, macroeconomic strategy, and p ...

Core Viewpoint - The iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) and iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) provide different exposures to equities, with IEMG focusing on emerging markets and IXUS covering both developed and emerging markets globally [1] Cost & Size Comparison - IXUS has a lower expense ratio of 0.07% compared to IEMG's 0.09% - As of February 7, 2026, IXUS has a 1-year return of 31.67%, while IEMG has a return of 37.83% - IXUS offers a dividend yield of 3.01%, whereas IEMG has a yield of 2.51% - IXUS has assets under management (AUM) of $54.40 billion, while IEMG has a significantly larger AUM of $137.65 billion [2] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, IXUS experienced a maximum drawdown of 30.05%, while IEMG had a higher drawdown of 37.16% - An investment of $1,000 in IXUS would have grown to $1,282 over five years, compared to $1,073 for IEMG [4] Portfolio Composition - IEMG holds 2,707 emerging-market stocks, primarily focused on the tech sector (23%), followed by financials (16%) and industrials (12%) - The top holdings in IEMG include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics, and Tencent Holdings, indicating a strong focus on Asian tech [5] - IXUS tracks an MSCI index with 4,211 securities, with its largest positions also in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics, and ASML Holding - The top sectors for IXUS are financial services (22%), industrials (15%), and technology (12%) [6] Implications for Investors - IEMG aims to maximize growth for holders due to its focus on emerging markets, but both funds share similar top holdings and strong allocations to Asian stocks, leading to comparable volatility [8] - IXUS has outperformed IEMG by over 20% in the last five years and has shown a price return that is over 35% higher since both ETFs launched on October 18, 2012, suggesting IXUS has an edge [9] - For investors seeking a stronger international tech focus, IEMG remains a viable option due to its concentration in tech companies [10]

International diversification seems to be the theme among many amid suggestions of a "sell the U.S. theme." I don't quite share the degree of conviction nor the common methods suggested, as I believe most arguments to be highlyPearl Gray is a proprietary investment fund and independent market research firm. We primarily focus on Fixed-Income and Capital Flows. However, our Seeking Alpha readers can expect a cross-asset blend, extending to analysis of equity REITs (including Preferred Shares), Investment Fun ...

Core Insights - The article compares two ETFs, FlexShares Global Quality Real Estate Index Fund (GQRE) and Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF (VNQI), highlighting their differences in cost, geographic exposure, and performance [1][2]. Cost and Size Comparison - GQRE has an expense ratio of 0.45% and assets under management (AUM) of $359.7 million, while VNQI has a lower expense ratio of 0.12% and a significantly larger AUM of $3.9 billion [3]. - The one-year return for GQRE is 3.6%, compared to VNQI's 15.9%, and VNQI also offers a slightly higher dividend yield of 4.27% versus GQRE's 4.06% [3]. Performance and Risk Analysis - Over the past five years, GQRE experienced a maximum drawdown of 16.24%, while VNQI had a lower drawdown of 6.71% [4]. - The growth of $1,000 invested over five years would yield $1,043 for GQRE and $851.21 for VNQI, indicating GQRE's better performance despite its higher risk [4]. Portfolio Composition - VNQI invests in over 700 real estate stocks across more than 30 countries, with a portfolio heavily weighted towards global property companies, making up 71% of its holdings [5]. - GQRE holds 170 securities, focusing on quality global REITs, with major positions in American Tower, Digital Realty Trust, and Public Storage [7]. Investor Implications - VNQI's larger size and lower expense ratio may appeal to income-focused investors, especially those concerned about U.S. market volatility due to high interest rates and political uncertainty [9]. - The global real estate market is projected to outperform U.S. real estate for the first time since 2017, with global REITs up 10.4% compared to U.S. REITs at 4.5% [10]. - GQRE's focus on quality REITs has allowed it to outperform VNQI over the past five years, despite its smaller size [11].

Core Viewpoint - The iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (NASDAQ:ACWX) has experienced significant performance in 2025, benefiting from a resurgence in international stocks despite excluding U.S. companies from its portfolio [1]. Group 1: Fund Overview - ACWX tracks the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index, providing exposure to approximately 2,000 stocks across developed and emerging markets outside the United States, including companies like Tencent, SAP, ASML, and Samsung [2]. - The fund has $7.3 billion in assets, a 0.32% expense ratio, and a 2% dividend yield, with only 12% of its portfolio concentrated in the top 10 holdings, indicating a more balanced risk profile compared to U.S.-focused funds [4][7]. Group 2: Performance Drivers - The performance of international equities has been significantly influenced by the movement of the U.S. dollar; a weaker dollar enhances returns for U.S.-based investors when converting foreign currency returns back to dollars [3]. - In 2025, ACWX's gains were amplified by U.S. dollar weakness, which provided a favorable environment for international stocks [4]. Group 3: Sector Exposure and Diversification - ACWX offers more balanced sector exposure compared to the S&P 500, which has a 34% weight in technology stocks; ACWX diversifies risk across financials, industrials, healthcare, and consumer sectors, leading to different return characteristics [5]. Group 4: Future Considerations - Monitoring the U.S. dollar's stability or strength in 2026 is crucial, as a resurgent dollar could diminish the currency boost for U.S. investors, potentially compressing international equity returns even if foreign stocks perform well locally [6].

Core Insights - Investing in global ex-U.S. markets through dedicated ETFs offers an efficient way to achieve international diversification for U.S.-focused portfolios [1] Group 1: Investment Strategies - There are various strategies available for investing in international markets, making it challenging for investors to choose the right one [1] Group 2: Analyst Background - The analyst has a Master's in Banking & Finance from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and a diverse investing background that includes corporate finance, M&A, and investment analysis [1] - The focus areas of the analyst include real estate, renewable energy, and equity markets, with expertise in financial modeling, valuation, and qualitative analysis [1] - The analyst aims to share insights and analysis on interesting companies with a global audience through Seeking Alpha [1]

Core Insights - Grenke reported a 5.8% increase in new leasing business in Q3 2025, totaling €781.2 million ($917 million), compared to €738.5 million in the same quarter of the previous year [1] - The company aims for €2.4 billion in new business for the full year, with IT equipment being the most leased asset category, accounting for 26.5% of total contracts [1][2] Business Performance - The proportion of direct business with customers remained stable at 17.9%, with lease applications rising to approximately 159,000, resulting in around 77,000 new leasing agreements [2] - The DACH region (Austria, Switzerland, and Germany) was the top performer, generating €207.2 million in new business, a 9.4% increase, with Germany contributing over 21.7% [2][3] Regional Growth - Western Europe, excluding DACH, saw a 12.3% increase in new business to €197.3 million, while Southern Europe grew by 7.9% to €179.7 million [3] - The 'Other Regions' category reported a significant 22.2% increase to €59.1 million, with notable contributions from the US market [3] Financial Overview - As of September 30, 2025, the company's deposit business was €2.19 billion, showing a slight decrease from the end of 2024 [4] - Grenke Bank's new lending business, primarily microcredit, increased modestly to €10.2 million [4] - Overall earnings for the first half of 2025 were recorded at €26.2 million, with a strong performance in the leasing division, which saw a 9.8% rise in new business [5]

Group 1 - International diversification is gaining attention among investors due to a weaker dollar and inconsistent US economic policies, leading to better returns in foreign equities [1] - There is a notable lack of large foreign-value or blended ETFs focused on growth, despite the presence of many such funds in the market [1] - The analysis emphasizes the importance of cash flow potential, relative value, and economic moat in equity evaluation [1] Group 2 - The individual investor's approach combines public accounting experience with quantitative analysis to identify investment opportunities [1] - The focus is on both long and short positions, with a particular interest in short stories [1] - The use of algorithms and technical analysis is highlighted as a method to uncover overlooked companies in the stock market [1]