The State Street SPDR S&P Global Dividend ETF (WDIV) was launched on 05/29/2013, and is a smart beta exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Global Large-Cap Value Equity ETF category of the market.What Are Smart Beta ETFs?For a long time now, the ETF industry has been flooded with products based on market capitalization weighted indexes, which are designed to represent the broader market or a particular market segment.Investors who believe in market efficiency should consider market ca ...

This Smart Beta Emerging Markets ETF Has Outperformed Since January Investors are looking for opportunities in ex-U.S. equities. In January, flows into ex-U.S. international equities ETFs helped to break records as investors clamored for ways to diversify into cheaper stocks away from mega cap tech. Several ETFs have performed well amid this growing demand, suggesting further opportunities within the emerging markets sector. One smart beta ETF, in particular, offer a unique spin on this space and is proving ...

An Exchange 2026 Interview With VictoryShares President By the end of 2015, there were just over $2 trillion in total net assets in the U.S. ETF market, which would increase by over six times in the next decade. 2015 was also the year that Mannik Dhillon, president of VictoryShares and Victory Capital Solutions, joined the company. TMX VettaFi caught up with Dhillon at ETF Exchange 2026 to reflect on an industry that turned from a fledgling corner of the financial market to a sophisticated, multi-trillion-d ...

Core Viewpoint - Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (GSLC) has underperformed compared to its peers and benchmarks, leading to a recommendation of "Hold" for investors [3][17]. Fund Overview - GSLC was launched on September 17, 2015, with an NAV of approximately $14.7 billion, focusing on large-cap American-listed stocks [3][4]. - The fund employs a rules-based approach to select stocks based on four factors: Value, Momentum, Quality, and Low Volatility [4][9]. Performance Analysis - GSLC has lagged behind the SPY ETF in 2025 and early 2026, primarily due to underweighting key stocks like Alphabet (GOOG) and Eli Lilly (LLY) [7][17]. - The fund's performance has been hindered by a lack of aggressive momentum chasing, resulting in a struggle to differentiate itself from traditional passive ETFs [7][8]. Peer Comparison - GSLC has a total of 445 holdings, which is less than SPY and IVV, but it aims for a more defensive and strategic tilt through its smart beta approach [9][11]. - The fund's average daily share volume is over 360,000 shares, translating to more than $40 million, indicating sufficient liquidity for large investors [5][10]. Financial Metrics - GSLC has an expense ratio of 0.09%, comparable to SPY, but has not delivered the same level of performance, making it a challenging sell [7][17]. - The fund's Sharpe ratio is 1.24, indicating a decent risk-adjusted return, although it is slightly below the benchmark's Sharpe ratio of 1.33 [15][16]. Conclusion - While GSLC offers a viable option for U.S. large-cap exposure, its recent underperformance and missed opportunities in stock selection have led to a cautious outlook [17].

Core Insights - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares (VYM) is a smart beta ETF that debuted on November 10, 2006, providing broad exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value category [1] Fund Overview - VYM is managed by Vanguard and has amassed over $73.43 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in its category [5] - The fund seeks to match the performance of the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which consists of common stocks of companies that generally pay higher-than-average dividends [5] Cost Structure - VYM has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.04%, making it one of the least expensive products in the market [6] - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 2.32% [6] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The Financials sector constitutes approximately 19.4% of VYM's portfolio, followed by Information Technology and Healthcare [7] - Broadcom Inc (AVGO) accounts for about 7.57% of the fund's total assets, with Jpmorgan Chase & Co (JPM) and Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM) also being significant holdings [8] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, VYM has increased by roughly 5.01%, and it is up approximately 19.09% over the last 12 months as of March 11, 2026 [10] - The fund has traded between $114.78 and $156.50 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.75 and a standard deviation of 12.57% for 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 Index Fund ETF Shares (VTV), with SCHD having $83.85 billion in assets and VTV having $167.63 billion [12]

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust NASDAQ Transportation ETF (FTXR) is a smart beta ETF designed to provide exposure to the transportation sector, with a focus on outperforming traditional market cap weighted indexes [1][5]. Fund Overview - FTXR was launched on September 20, 2016, and is managed by First Trust Advisors, accumulating over $810.85 million in assets, making it an average-sized ETF in the Industrials category [1][5]. - The fund aims to match the performance of the Nasdaq US Smart Transportation Index, which is a modified factor weighted index targeting US transportation companies [5]. Cost and Expenses - FTXR has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.60%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.42% [6]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Industrials sector, comprising approximately 67.6% of its portfolio, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Energy [7]. - General Motors Company (GM) is the largest holding at about 9.34%, with Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) and Ford Motor Company (F) also among the top holdings. The top 10 holdings represent about 60.32% of total assets [8]. Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, FTXR has increased by approximately 6.73%, and it has risen about 35.55% over the last 12 months as of March 5, 2026. The fund has traded between $25.70 and $43.10 in the past 52 weeks [10]. - FTXR has a beta of 1.29 and a standard deviation of 22.01% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a more concentrated exposure compared to its peers with around 40 holdings [10]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the transportation sector include the U.S. Global Jets ETF (JETS) and the iShares U.S. Transportation ETF (IYT), with JETS having $760.77 million in assets and IYT at $1.22 billion. Both have competitive expense ratios of 0.60% and 0.38%, respectively [12].

Core Insights - The Franklin International Dividend Booster Index ETF (XIDV) has outperformed the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) with a year-to-date return of 8.95% compared to IEFA's 8.75% [1] - XIDV's performance advantage is attributed to its rules-based dividend optimization framework, which focuses on higher-yielding, lower-volatility market segments [1] - The ETF's strategy aims to provide a dividend yield two to three times that of its parent index without using leverage or derivatives [1] Performance and Strategy - XIDV employs a three-stage optimization process to maximize dividend yield while controlling volatility and limiting concentration risk [1] - The ETF has minimal exposure to technology (~0.14%), contrasting with IEFA's significant tech weight, and instead focuses on sectors like European utilities, UK insurers, and Nordic banks [1] - The top holdings of XIDV include high-quality companies known for substantial dividend payouts, such as Carrefour SA (2.61%) and Engie SA (2.70%) [1] Income and Geographic Exposure - XIDV manages approximately $62 million in assets and has an expense ratio of 0.19%, offering a dividend yield around 6.7%, nearly double IEFA's ~3.5% yield [1] - The ETF includes about 7% Canadian exposure, benefiting from strong Canadian financials and energy sectors [1] - The structural edge of XIDV in emphasizing high dividend yield while maintaining volatility discipline is expected to remain relevant in the current market environment [1]

Core Insights - The WisdomTree Japan Opportunities Fund (OPPJ) is a smart beta ETF launched on June 28, 2013, providing broad exposure to the Asia-Pacific (Developed) ETFs category [1] Fund Overview - OPPJ is managed by WisdomTree and has accumulated assets exceeding $202.51 million, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - The fund aims to replicate the performance of the WisdomTree Japan Opportunities Index, which tracks Japanese companies [5] Cost Structure - OPPJ has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.58%, which is competitive within its peer group [6] - The fund offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.43% [6] Holdings and Sector Exposure - The fund's total assets are entirely in Japanese Yen (JPY), with significant holdings in Marubeni Corp and Sumitomo Corp [7] - The top 10 holdings represent approximately 154.27% of OPPJ's total assets under management, indicating a concentrated investment strategy [8] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, OPPJ has gained about 24.16%, with a 0% change over the last 12 months as of February 13, 2026 [9] - The fund has traded between $35.34 and $57.61 in the past 52 weeks [9] - OPPJ has a beta of 0.22 and a standard deviation of 0.00% over the trailing three-year period, effectively diversifying company-specific risk with approximately 122 holdings [10] Alternatives in the Market - Other ETFs in the Asia-Pacific (Developed) segment include JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF (BBJP) with $16.2 billion in assets and iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) with $18.52 billion [12] - BBJP has a lower expense ratio of 0.19%, while EWJ charges 0.50% [12]

Group 1: Global Index Investment Trends - The global index investment scale is reaching new heights, with ETF assets expected to reach $19.85 trillion by the end of 2025, driven by policy support and increasing demand for index investment [1][7][47] - Smart Beta ETFs are leading the diversification of products, while technology-themed ETFs are gaining significant attention, and low-risk fixed income ETFs continue to attract market interest [1][7][24] - The global ETF market is experiencing growth in both equity and fixed income categories, with equity ETFs being the primary tool for asset allocation [7][10] Group 2: Domestic Index Investment Development - By the end of 2025, there will be 3,433 index products in the domestic market, with a total scale of 7.23 trillion yuan, reflecting a growth of 44.32% compared to the previous year [1][32] - The domestic index investment ecosystem is continuously improving, with a focus on policy-driven growth, supply-demand dynamics, and accelerated innovation [1][32][47] - The bond index products are particularly notable for their rapid growth, with a year-on-year increase of 60.91% [32][46] Group 3: Innovations in Index Products - Internationally, index innovation is focusing on expanding underlying asset types and enhancing regional index systems, with a notable increase in thematic and strategy-based products [4][5][6] - The Smart Beta ETF market is transitioning from slow growth to a period of significant expansion, with a 47.6% year-on-year increase in the number of products [20][22] - The ESG ETF market is evolving from a focus on principles to practical implementation, with total assets reaching $776.7 billion by the end of 2025 [16][18] Group 4: Thematic and Fixed Income ETFs - Thematic ETFs are increasingly concentrated among leading issuers, with a focus on technology, climate, and healthcare sectors, reflecting ongoing market preferences [24][26] - Fixed income ETFs are experiencing significant inflows, particularly in the U.S., where net inflows reached a record high of over $420 billion in 2025 [27][29] - The demand for short-term liquidity management products is driving the expansion of fixed income ETF scales, meeting low-risk investment needs [47]

The gap between academic finance and crypto market structure is closing. 📉📈We’re excited to announce our collaboration with the @HKUST MSc in Financial Mathematics program for their Spring 2026 Capstone. A group of Master’s students will be building institutional-grade Smart Beta and Statistical Arbitrage models using BitMart’s historical market data.Web3 education becomes meaningful when students work with real data and real challenges. As the project progresses, we’ll be sharing key insights and research ...