Group 1 - Hundreds of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) launched in the last year, complicating the investment landscape for investors [3] - Many ETF investors adopt a long-term strategy due to the automatic diversification and lower oversight requirements of ETFs [4] - The iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) has over 25 years of history and offers broad exposure to more than 600 small-cap U.S. companies [5][8] Group 2 - IJR is diversified across sectors, with financials, industrials, and information technology being the most represented [5] - Small-cap stocks have significant growth potential but also carry substantial risk, which IJR mitigates through its diversified portfolio [6] - The recent interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve are expected to lower borrowing costs, potentially stimulating growth for small-cap stocks in 2026 [6][8] Group 3 - The Procure Space ETF (UFO) focuses on companies involved in the space industry, holding just under 50 stocks and charging a higher annual fee of 0.75% [9] - UFO has delivered strong returns due to government contracts, reduced launch costs, and expanding commercial satellite use [8]

Group 1 - The largest gold ETF, SPDR Gold Trust, maintained its holdings at 1052.54 tons as of December 18 [2] - On December 18, spot gold experienced fluctuations, reaching a high of $4374.37 per ounce before closing at $4332.61, down $5.48 or 0.13% [2] - Despite weaker-than-expected U.S. inflation data, market skepticism about data reliability and strong employment figures prevented gold from sustaining its upward momentum [2] Group 2 - Analysts suggest that the recent inflation data, despite its limitations, indicates a potential easing of inflationary pressures, which could influence Federal Reserve actions [3] - Following the inflation report, the market slightly increased the probability of a Federal Reserve rate cut in January 2026 from 26.6% to 28.8% [3] - Initial jobless claims fell to 224,000, below the revised previous value of 237,000 and market expectations of 225,000, highlighting a contrast between strong employment data and weak inflation data [3] Group 3 - Technically, gold appears to be in a consolidation phase with mixed signals from technical indicators [4] - The daily chart shows the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) above the 100-day SMA, both trending upwards, indicating a bullish pattern [4] - Key support levels for gold are identified at $4300, with further potential declines towards $4285, $4250, and $4200 if the price breaks below [4]

Core Insights - The investment landscape is experiencing heightened volatility as it transitions into 2026, leading to investor fatigue and caution [1][7] - Vanguard ETFs are positioned as a strategic choice for both retirees and growth investors, providing a way to navigate a crowded market without needing to reinvent investment strategies [2][3] Vanguard ETFs Overview - Vanguard ETFs, particularly the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSE: VOO), are highlighted for their ability to offer exposure to over 500 dominant US companies, making them a reliable growth option despite a modest dividend yield of 1.13% [5][6] - The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF achieved a return of over 35% in 2025, with a dividend yield of 3.74%, showcasing the potential for income and growth [7] - The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF includes small and mid-cap stocks, providing a broader market exposure beyond the S&P 500 [7] Investment Strategy - The current market conditions make timing investments challenging, thus Vanguard ETFs are recommended for their ability to mitigate risks while capturing market growth [4][6] - The resilience of the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is emphasized, particularly if the tech sector continues to perform well, while still offering benefits from other sectors like healthcare and industrials [6]

Group 1 - The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) stocks has significantly inflated the value of the S&P 500, leading to concerns about the index's traditional safety due to its heavy tech weighting [1] - Alternative investment options include exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that offer diversification while minimizing tech exposure, such as the Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF, Invesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF, and State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF [2] Group 2 - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF offers a high dividend yield of 2.4%, which is more than double the S&P 500 average of 1.1%, and holds 566 stocks for excellent diversification [4][5] - The Invesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF tracks the S&P 500 based on revenue rather than market cap, resulting in a portfolio with limited tech exposure, where healthcare is the largest sector at 21% [7][9]

Core Insights - The ETF industry has experienced significant growth, achieving record inflows of nearly $1.4 trillion, nearly 1,100 new launches, and record trading volume, referred to as the "ETF Triple Crown" [1] - ETF assets have reached $13.2 trillion, accounting for 37% of the combined assets of mutual funds and ETFs, with predictions that ETF assets will soon surpass mutual fund assets [2] ETF Awards and Trends - The SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) was awarded ETF of the year, having nearly $100 billion in assets and $33 billion in organic flows, outperforming larger competitors [3] - The Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL) was recognized as the favorite new ETF, being the largest by assets among 2025 launches at over $4 billion, demonstrating the continued appeal of low-cost options [4] - The Horizon Landmark ETF (BENJ) was noted for its clever naming, while the Baron First Principles ETF (RONB) and Bitwise Dogecoin ETF (BWOW) received mentions for their unique branding [5] ETF Issuer Recognition - Vanguard was named ETF issuer of the year, launching 15 ETFs and attracting $421 billion, which constitutes one-third of all ETF flows [6] Industry Trends - The concept of "ETF as a Share Class" was highlighted as the story of the year, with 91 filers seeking exemptive relief, indicating a shift in the industry's recognition of ETFs as legally equivalent to mutual funds [7]

subman / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Quick Read JPMorgan Active Value ETF holds a 24% weighting in financials and 16% in healthcare with individual positions capped at 3%. JPMorgan Tech Leaders ETF maintains all 62 holdings below 5% weighting to reduce single-stock concentration risk. If you’re thinking about retiring or know someone who is, there are three quick questions causing many Americans to realize they can retire earlier than expected. take 5 minutes to learn more here JPMorgan (N ...

Core Insights - The U.S. bond market has shown resilience and record-breaking activity in 2025, with the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index returning approximately 7.1% year to date, highlighting the importance of fixed income in investment portfolios [1][10] Bond ETF Market Performance - Bond ETFs captured about one-third of the nearly $1 trillion that flowed into all ETFs in 2025, indicating a significant increase in investor interest, particularly in passively managed ETFs [2][10] - The performance of bond ETFs was influenced by attractive starting yields due to the Federal Reserve's rate cuts totaling 175 basis points since September 2024, which left yields relatively high [6][10] - Market volatility and demand for liquidity during uncertain periods, such as tariff-driven uncertainty, enhanced the appeal of bond ETFs as they provided intraday pricing and liquidity [7] - Actively managed bond ETFs experienced explosive growth, capturing over $100 billion in flows, which accounted for 40% of all fixed income ETF flows as of September 2025 [8] - The normalization of the yield curve attracted significant capital into intermediate and long-term bond ETFs, as investors sought to lock in higher yields [9] 2026 Outlook for Bond ETFs - The outlook for bond ETFs in 2026 is cautiously optimistic, driven by expected interest rate cuts that typically boost bond prices, creating opportunities for income and diversification [11] - Persistent volatility due to inflation and uneven growth suggests that flexible, active management strategies will be favored to navigate credit risk and shifting rates [11] - A well-constructed actively managed portfolio of intermediate maturity bonds may offer capital appreciation and inflation-beating returns in 2026 [12] Recommended Bond ETFs for 2026 - Schwab Core Bond ETF (SCCR) has assets of $1.07 billion, gained 6.2% year to date, and charges 16 basis points in fees [14] - Vanguard Core Bond ETF (VCRB) has assets of $4.8 billion, gained 7.4% year to date, and charges 10 basis points in fees [15] - JPMorgan Active Bond ETF (JBND) has assets of $4.7 billion, surged 8% year to date, and charges 25 basis points in fees [16]

Core Insights - The potential reclassification of marijuana to a schedule III drug could significantly impact the cannabis industry, leading to increased medical research and reduced taxes for companies operating in this sector [1][2] - The rescheduling may open up banking activities for cannabis companies, which have previously faced challenges due to legal restrictions associated with schedule I drugs [2] Industry Implications - The rescheduling could lead to more US cannabis companies being listed and the ability for ETFs to hold these stocks directly, enhancing investment opportunities [3] - A potential increase in state-level legalization efforts may occur as a result of the rescheduling, further boosting the market for cannabis products [4] Financial Performance - The AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (MSOS) is currently the largest cannabis ETF with $1 billion in assets, experiencing a 77% increase over five days and a year-to-date appreciation of 62% [5] - Despite recent gains, MSOS is still down significantly from its peak price of $52 in February 2021, indicating high volatility in the cannabis ETF market [5]

Group 1: Cannabis Industry - MSOX, which aims for 2x daily returns of the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF, achieved a ~94% weekly return due to anticipation of a major policy change regarding marijuana reclassification by President Trump [1] Group 2: Natural Gas Market - KOLD, providing daily inverse leveraged exposure to natural gas, returned over 52% last week as U.S. natural gas prices fell due to milder winter weather forecasts and high production levels [2] Group 3: Gold Mining Sector - GDXU, a leveraged equity fund for gold miners, returned over 17% last week, driven by a 0.25% Federal Reserve rate cut and strong central bank purchasing [3] - JNUG, which seeks to return 200% of the daily performance of the MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index, ranked fourth with a ~14% return [4] - NUGT, aiming for 200% of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index performance, also benefited from optimistic financial forecasts and strong central bank buying [5] Group 4: Banking Sector - DPST, providing 3x leveraged exposure to U.S. regional banking stocks, performed well following the Fed's quarter-point rate cut and anticipated balance sheet expansion [6] Group 5: Aerospace & Defense Industry - DFEN, which aims to triple the daily return of defense industry stocks, saw strong performance due to robust Q3 earnings from major companies and positive investor sentiment regarding proposed defense budgets for FY2026 [7] Group 6: Silver Market - AGQ, offering 2x daily long leverage to silver bullion, returned ~10%+ last week, driven by tightening inventories and sustained industrial demand [8] Group 7: Pharmaceutical Sector - PILL ETF, tracking pharmaceutical companies, returned over 9% last week, supported by reduced policy uncertainty and strong growth potential in innovative therapies [9] Group 8: Semiconductor Industry - SOXS, which inversely tracks the PHLX Semiconductor Index, achieved ~9%+ returns due to investor caution regarding valuations in AI-linked stocks following a drop in Broadcom's stock [10]

Core Insights - The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) provide direct exposure to precious metals, with differences in historical risk, recent returns, and ongoing costs [1][2] Cost & Size Comparison - IAU has an expense ratio of 0.25%, while SLV's is 0.50%, making IAU more affordable for long-term investors [3][4] - As of December 12, 2025, IAU's one-year return is 60.2%, compared to SLV's 98.9% [3] - IAU has assets under management (AUM) of $68.3 billion, while SLV has $33.4 billion [3] Performance & Risk Metrics - Over five years, IAU's maximum drawdown is -21.88%, while SLV's is -38.79% [5] - A $1,000 investment in IAU would grow to $2,322 over five years, while the same investment in SLV would grow to $2,532 [5] Fund Structure - Both IAU and SLV aim to mirror the prices of gold and silver, respectively, and do not hold traditional equities or distribute dividends [6][7] - SLV holds 100% exposure to real estate as classified in sector data, reflecting the underlying commodity rather than traditional property holdings [6] - IAU also shows 100% real estate sector exposure due to commodity classification [7] Market Context - Investors are increasingly turning to metal ETFs like IAU and SLV amid concerns about inflation and rising sovereign debt globally [8][13] - Both ETFs have outperformed the S&P 500's total return, with SLV significantly exceeding IAU's performance [10][13] Volatility Considerations - Silver is traditionally more volatile than gold, which can be advantageous in a bull market, as seen in the last five years [11]