Core Viewpoint - The First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW) provides broad exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, with a focus on stability and predictable cash flows from large cap companies [1][2]. Group 1: Fund Overview - EDOW is a passively managed ETF launched on August 8, 2017, and has accumulated assets of over $224.51 million, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in its segment [1]. - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.50% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.39%, which is competitive within its peer group [3]. Group 2: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising approximately 20.40% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Consumer Discretionary [4]. - Nike, Inc. (class B) accounts for about 3.86% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings representing around 35.29% of total assets under management [5]. Group 3: Performance Metrics - EDOW aims to match the performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average Equal Weight Index, with a year-to-date return of approximately 8.35% and a one-year return of about 14.55% as of July 29, 2025 [6]. - The ETF has traded between $32.19 and $39.21 over the past 52 weeks, indicating a stable price range [6]. Group 4: Risk and Alternatives - The ETF has a beta of 0.89 and a standard deviation of 14.39% over the trailing three-year period, suggesting lower volatility compared to the market [7]. - EDOW holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong potential for investors seeking exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment [8]. Group 5: Competitive Landscape - Other ETFs in the same space include the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), with assets of $651.02 billion and $702.71 billion respectively, and lower expense ratios of 0.09% and 0.03% [9]. Group 6: Market Trends - Passively managed ETFs are gaining popularity among both institutional and retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [10].

Group 1 - US stock market futures experienced a significant increase following the announcement of a truce between the US and EU to avoid a trade war [1] - The agreement is characterized as a truce rather than a new trade deal, indicating a cautious approach to future trade relations [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of macro drivers in asset classes such as stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, and crypto, highlighting their impact on market conditions [1]

Core Insights - The Q2 earnings season shows a positive trend with a higher number of companies exceeding consensus estimates, indicating a stabilizing macroeconomic environment and encouraging management commentary [1] - Earnings estimates for the second half of the year are beginning to rise again due to the positive performance in Q2 [1] Earnings Performance - For the 117 S&P 500 companies that reported Q2 results, total earnings increased by 8.3% year-over-year, with revenues up by 5.3%. Notably, 87.2% of these companies surpassed EPS estimates, and 80.3% exceeded revenue estimates [2] - The EPS beat percentage of 87.2% is above the historical average of 81.9%, while the revenue beat percentage of 80.3% is also higher than the historical average of 70% [3] Sector Analysis - **Finance Sector**: Earnings for finance companies are up 17.3% year-over-year with revenues increasing by 5.5%. A significant 91.2% of finance companies beat EPS estimates, and 79.4% surpassed revenue estimates [5][6] - **Technology Sector**: Q2 earnings are expected to grow by 13% with revenues up by 11.8%. The "Magnificent -7" stocks are expected to see an 11.9% increase in earnings on 11.4% higher revenues [7][8] - **Consumer Discretionary Sector**: Earnings are projected to increase by 107.9% with revenues up by 2.3% in Q2, and Q3 earnings are expected to rise by 6.8% [9] - **Aerospace Sector**: Q2 earnings are expected to grow by 20.1% with revenues up by 10.4%. Q3 earnings are projected to surge by 257.3% year-over-year [10]

Core Viewpoint - The Franklin U.S. Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF (LVHD) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market, with a focus on stable income through investments in profitable U.S. companies with high dividend yields and lower volatility [1][7]. Group 1: Fund Overview - LVHD is a passively managed ETF launched on December 28, 2015, and is sponsored by Franklin Templeton Investments [1]. - The fund has accumulated assets exceeding $579.65 million, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [1]. - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.27%, which is competitive within its peer group [4]. Group 2: Investment Characteristics - Large cap companies, typically with market capitalizations above $10 billion, are considered stable investments with lower risk and more reliable cash flows compared to mid and small cap companies [2]. - Value stocks, characterized by lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, have historically outperformed growth stocks in most markets, although growth stocks tend to perform better in strong bull markets [3]. Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Consumer Staples sector, comprising approximately 24.40% of the portfolio, followed by Utilities and Real Estate [5]. - Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) is the largest individual holding at about 2.65% of total assets, with Chevron Corp (CVX) and Medtronic Plc (MDT) also among the top holdings [6]. - The top 10 holdings collectively account for around 25.11% of total assets under management [6]. Group 4: Performance Metrics - LVHD aims to match the performance of the QS Low Volatility High Dividend Index, which focuses on stable income through investments in high dividend yield stocks with lower volatility [7]. - The ETF has recorded a gain of approximately 7.90% year-to-date and an increase of about 12.48% over the past year as of July 28, 2025 [7]. - Over the past 52 weeks, LVHD has traded within a range of $37.37 to $41.26 [7]. Group 5: Risk and Diversification - The ETF has a beta of 0.66 and a standard deviation of 13.37% over the trailing three-year period, indicating lower volatility compared to the broader market [8]. - With around 122 holdings, LVHD effectively diversifies company-specific risk [8]. Group 6: Alternatives and Market Position - LVHD carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a stable position based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum [9]. - Other comparable ETFs include the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), which have significantly larger asset bases of $71.33 billion and $141.62 billion, respectively [10].

Core Viewpoint - The SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF (SPMD) is a passively managed ETF that provides broad exposure to the Mid Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $13.78 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs in this category [1] Group 1: Mid Cap Blend Characteristics - Mid cap companies, with market capitalizations between $2 billion and $10 billion, typically offer higher growth prospects compared to large cap companies while being less risky than small cap companies, providing a balance of stability and growth potential [2] - Blend ETFs hold a mix of growth and value stocks, exhibiting characteristics of both types of equities [2] Group 2: Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for SPMD are 0.03%, making it one of the least expensive options in the ETF space [3] - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.41% [3] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Industrials sector, comprising about 23.10% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Consumer Discretionary [4] - Interactive Brokers Gro Cl A (IBKR) represents approximately 0.87% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 6.81% of total assets under management [5] Group 4: Performance Metrics - SPMD aims to match the performance of the S&P 1000 Index, having gained about 3.93% year-to-date and 6.76% over the past year as of July 24, 2025 [6] - The ETF has traded between $44.89 and $59.56 in the past 52 weeks [6] - It has a beta of 1.05 and a standard deviation of 19.52% over the trailing three-year period, indicating effective diversification of company-specific risk with approximately 404 holdings [7] Group 5: Alternatives and Market Position - SPMD holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating favorable expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum [8] - Other comparable ETFs include the Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) and the iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH), with assets of $85.79 billion and $98.68 billion respectively, and expense ratios of 0.04% and 0.05% [9] Group 6: Investment Appeal - Passively managed ETFs like SPMD are increasingly favored by retail and institutional investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [10]

Core Insights - Bitcoin and gold have both experienced a year-to-date return of 28% as of July 16, 2025, indicating a trend towards diversification in investment portfolios [1][8] - The rise in international stocks, a positive return in the bond market, and gains in alternative assets have contributed to this diversification trend [1] Investment Themes - Investors are increasingly turning to ETFs to gain exposure to alternative assets like gold and bitcoin, as well as niche altcoins and precious metals [2] - Total assets under management (AUM) in gold ETFs surpassed $170 billion in April 2025, while cryptocurrency ETFs reached $123.9 billion by April 30 [3] Market Comparisons - Gold's market cap stands at approximately $22.6 trillion, significantly larger than Bitcoin's market cap of around $2.4 trillion [4] - The SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD) is the leading gold ETF with $102 billion in AUM, while the iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has $48 billion [5] ETF Performance - The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) is projected to exceed $100 billion in AUM soon, having reached $86 billion by mid-July [7] - IBIT has grown at a remarkable pace, hitting $80 billion in just 374 days, significantly faster than previous records [7] Other Asset Performance - Other metals like platinum and palladium have seen substantial gains, with platinum up over 50% and palladium up 40% in 2025 [9] - Ether has also rebounded, moving back into positive territory after a significant decline earlier in the year [10] Emerging Trends - The crypto market is witnessing innovations and new products, with a focus on Solana and leveraged products for cryptocurrencies like XRP [11] - Active ETF AUM is on the rise, complementing the growth of low-cost index funds, indicating a shift in investment strategies [13] Conclusion - The year 2025 has been characterized by volatility, driving strong performances in gold and bitcoin, with central banks actively purchasing gold and a "buy the dip" mentality in the crypto market [14]

Market Overview - The Nasdaq Composite Index has been reaching new records, driven by strong corporate earnings, AI optimism, and expectations of Federal Reserve policy support [1] - ETFs tracking the Nasdaq, such as Invesco QQQ and QQQM, have gained momentum alongside the index [1] Earnings Season - The second-quarter earnings season has started strong, with S&P 500 earnings from 62 companies up 9.3% year-over-year, supported by a 5.8% increase in revenues [2] - Approximately 82.3% of companies have beaten EPS estimates, indicating a favorable outlook for future earnings [2] AI Impact - The generative AI trend is a significant growth driver for Nasdaq, with increased demand for data centers, GPUs, and AI-focused software [4] - Companies like Advanced Micro Devices, Broadcom, and Palantir are experiencing heightened investor interest due to their involvement in AI [4] Interest Rate Expectations - Markets are anticipating at least one rate cut by the Federal Reserve later this year, which would benefit high-growth tech stocks sensitive to borrowing costs [5] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech may provide further insights into monetary policy direction [5] Global Investment Trends - International investors are increasingly returning to U.S. tech stocks, viewing them as a safe haven amid geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty in other regions [6] - This trend is contributing to capital inflows into Nasdaq-tracking ETFs like QQQ and QQQM [6] ETF Highlights - Invesco QQQ (QQQ) has an AUM of $357.1 billion and an average daily volume of 44 million shares, charging 20 bps in annual fees [7] - Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM) has lower annual fees of 15 bps and an AUM of $55.1 billion, with a focus on the top three firms [9] - First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW) has an AUM of $1.9 billion and charges 55 bps in annual fees [10] - Invesco NASDAQ Next Gen 100 ETF (QQQJ) holds 111 securities with an AUM of $629.1 million and charges 15 bps in annual fees [11] - Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares (QQQE) has an AUM of $1.2 billion and charges 35 bps in annual fees [12] Conclusion - The momentum of the Nasdaq is likely to be tested with major earnings reports from tech companies, but the current sentiment remains bullish [13]

Core Insights - The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend category and has amassed over $74.67 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in this category [1][5] - RSP seeks to match the performance of the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index, which equally weights the stocks in the S&P 500 Index [5] - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.17% and an operating expense ratio of 0.20%, which is competitive within its peer group [6] Fund Characteristics - RSP is managed by Invesco and was launched on April 24, 2003 [1][5] - The ETF has a diversified portfolio with about 507 holdings, which helps to mitigate company-specific risk [10] - The heaviest sector allocation is in Industrials at approximately 15.9%, followed by Financials and Information Technology [7] Performance Metrics - As of July 23, 2025, RSP has increased by about 6.97% year-to-date and 10.8% over the past year [10] - The ETF has traded between $152.93 and $187.62 in the past 52 weeks [10] - RSP has a beta of 0.97 and a standard deviation of 16.20% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a relatively stable performance compared to the market [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), which track the S&P 500 Index and have significantly larger asset bases of $649.33 billion and $695.06 billion, respectively [11] - SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VOO charges 0.03%, making them cheaper alternatives for investors [11]

Core Insights - The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Discretionary ETF (RSPD) is a passively managed ETF launched on November 1, 2006, providing broad exposure to the Consumer Discretionary sector [1] - The ETF has assets over $207.32 million and aims to match the performance of the S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Discretionary Index [3] - The ETF has an annual operating expense of 0.40% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.70% [4] Sector Overview - The Consumer Discretionary - Broad sector is ranked 11th among 16 Zacks sectors, placing it in the bottom 31% [2] - The ETF offers approximately 100% allocation in the Consumer Discretionary sector, providing diversified exposure [5] Holdings and Performance - Carnival Corp (CCL) accounts for about 2.33% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings representing approximately 21.73% of total assets [6] - The ETF has returned roughly 5.65% year-to-date and 15.50% over the past year, with a trading range between $44.09 and $56.27 in the last 52 weeks [7] Alternatives - The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Discretionary ETF has a Zacks ETF Rank of 4 (Sell), indicating it may not be the best choice for investors seeking exposure to this sector [8] - Alternatives include the Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR) with $6.29 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.09%, and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) with $22.97 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.08% [9]

Group 1 - The initiative "Financial Serenity" focuses on providing in-depth analysis of the asset management sector, driven by rigorous data analysis and actionable insights [1] - The column is managed by Tommaso Scarpellini, who has extensive experience in banking and financial analytics [1] - The mission is to deliver valuable, data-driven perspectives to assist investors in making informed decisions in the evolving asset management market [1] Group 2 - The content is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice or investment recommendations [3] - There is no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the data presented, and users are encouraged to conduct their own research [3] - The article does not reflect the views of Seeking Alpha as a whole, and the analysts may not be licensed or certified [4]