January has already seen a fair share of market volatility, underscoring the year’s turbulent start and potentially setting the tone for what lies ahead in the months to come, while strengthening the case for increased portfolio exposure to gold. President Trump’s recent announcement of tariffs on eight European nations has made matters worse for an already volatile market environment.Since last Monday, the CBOE Volatility Index has surged about 27% and is up roughly 31% since the start of 2026, reflecting ...

U.S. equities ended sharply lower on Tuesday as investor sentiment weakened amid renewed trade tensions between the U.S. and Europe. The CNN Business Fear & Greed Index slipped to 48.3, moving into the "Neutral" zone from 55.3 previously, as risk-off positioning picked up across markets.Stocks sold off after President Donald Trump threatened additional tariffs of up to 10% on several European countries starting Feb 1, with duties potentially rising to 25% by June if negotiations over Greenland control break ...

"Amplify has a broad suite of ETFs that appealed to investors in 2025 and that were positioned to tap into popular investment strategies. It is exciting to watch their growth,†Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, said. Performance Leaders: Silver, AI, and Blockchain Several of Amplify's thematic offerings emerged as performance leaders in their respective categories. The Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ) was a standout, benefiting from a resurgence in precious metals demand. Meanwhile, the Am ...

You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. How a Total Portfolio Approach Can Improve the 60/40 Portfolio “The appeal is straightforward. The goal isn’t to chase higher returns at all costs, but to build a portfolio that behaves more predictably when markets get rough. That kind of predictability matters because portfolios that hold up closer to expectations make it easier for investors to stay invested through tough periods, which is ofte ...

I ventured into investing in high school in 2011, mainly in REITs, preferred stocks, and high-yield bonds, starting a fascination with markets and the economy that has not faded despite the years. More recently I have been combining long stock positions with covered calls and cash secured puts. I approach investing purely from a fundamental long-term point of view. On Seeking Alpha I mostly cover REITs and financials, with occasional articles on ETFs and other stocks driven by a macro trade idea.Analyst’s D ...

Now is the perfect time to start hunting for undervalued dividend ETFs with high upside potential. Amplify CWP International Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (NYSEARCA:IDVO), VanEck Energy Income ETF (NYSEARCA:EINC), and VanEck Natural Resources ETF (NYSEARCA:HAP) specifically are well- positioned to deliver. There is a clear case for why these dividend ETFs can offer blockbuster returns alongside their yields in the coming months. The Federal Reserve is being increasingly pressured to reduce interest rates, an ...

Dividend Income ETFs - Dividend income ETFs provide simplified stock investing and generate significant cash flow, typically featuring high yields and diversified portfolios focused on blue-chip stocks [1] - These funds generally have low expense ratios and are passively managed, making them attractive for investors seeking high yields with some growth potential [1] Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF (VYM) - VYM has a 2.45% SEC yield and a low expense ratio of 0.06%, with over 500 holdings diversified across various sectors, particularly financial and tech stocks, which constitute nearly 40% of its total holdings [2] - The fund has achieved an annualized return of 12.5% over the past decade, indicating strong performance beyond its high yield, with top holdings including Broadcom, JPMorgan, and Walmart [3] - VYM primarily invests in large-cap stocks, especially value stocks, with only 7% allocated to small-cap stocks [4] Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) - SCHD offers a higher SEC yield of 3.81% and a 0.06% expense ratio, with an annualized return of 12.9% over the past decade, although returns have slowed recently, evidenced by a 7.7% return over the past three years [5] - The fund holds approximately 100 stocks, focusing on energy and consumer staples, with top holdings including Lockheed Martin, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Chevron, which together account for 41% of total assets [6] - SCHD emphasizes large-cap value stocks, with over half of its capital in this category and no investments in growth stocks [7] iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) - HDV has a 3.36% SEC yield and a slightly higher expense ratio of 0.08%, with a portfolio concentrated in consumer staples and energy stocks, yielding an annualized return of 10.0% over the past decade [8] - The fund's largest positions include Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and Johnson & Johnson, which together represent more than 20% of total assets, and it is more top-heavy with 57% of capital in its top 10 holdings [9] - HDV also prioritizes large-cap value stocks, with over 70% of its holdings in this category and only 1% in growth stocks, contributing to its high yield and reduced volatility [10]

Core Insights - Vanguard offers 103 ETFs, with 49 achieving double-digit total returns in the last 12 months and 88 generating positive returns, indicating strong overall performance [1] - The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) is highlighted as a strong candidate for continued success, having delivered over 38% total return in the past year [2][4] - The Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) and the Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX) are also noted for their strong performances, with returns of nearly 36% and over 26% respectively [5][6] Performance Highlights - VYMI's current price is $92.65, with a dividend yield of approximately 3.7%, primarily driven by share appreciation [3][4] - VGK closely follows VYMI in performance, making it a contender for 2026 [5] - VOX, focusing on the communications sector, has shown a total return of over 26% [6] Future Predictions - The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) is predicted to be the top performer in 2026, with significant holdings in major tech companies like Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, and Broadcom, which together make up nearly 49.6% of the ETF [7][8] - Expectations for Nvidia and Broadcom are high due to anticipated growth in AI applications and sales of custom AI accelerators [9][10] - Apple is expected to achieve record revenue in late 2025, with the potential launch of AI-powered smart glasses serving as a catalyst for stock performance [11] Conclusion - The Vanguard Information Technology ETF is positioned to potentially deliver market-beating returns in 2026, making it a strong candidate among Vanguard funds [12]

Explore how two flagship ETFs differ in risk, sector exposure, and income potential -- key factors for building a resilient portfolio.The Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ 0.08%) and Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP 0.26%) stand apart on sector exposure, diversification, and yield, while both maintain massive assets and nearly identical expense ratios.Both QQQ and RSP are flagship exchange-traded funds (ETFs) managed by Invesco, but they take very different approaches: QQQ concentrates on the largest Na ...

Core Insights - The AIQ ETF outperformed the Nasdaq for most of the year, ending with a 32% increase [2][4] - The ETF is diversified with 86 holdings, reducing the impact of any single stock [4] - A significant portion of the ETF, 72%, is composed of information technology stocks, with major international exposure [5] Performance Analysis - The AIQ ETF managed to outperform the Nasdaq even during market downturns, particularly before the Liberation Day tariffs announcement [4] - Samsung is the largest holding at 5.25% of total assets, while the fund has substantial allocations to top memory chip companies like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix [4][6] Future Outlook - AI stocks are expected to remain strong heading into 2026, with the AIQ ETF already up 3% as of January 16 [7] - Many of the ETF's top holdings are trading at reasonable valuations, suggesting potential for continued growth as the AI boom persists [7]