Retail investors aren't just along for the ride anymore. They're driving market leadership. And the Retail Kings ETF shows us exactly where the money is going with a focus on momentum and participation.Joining us to break it down is Sylvia Jablonsky, chief investment officer at Defiance ETF. Silia, great to have you here at the desk. >> Thank you so much for having me.Happy to be here. >> All right, so Defiance just recently launched Retail Kings in partnership with Futurum. Yes.I think it's important, let' ...

any type of robot, unmanned vehicles, 3D printers and navigation systems, and more. In the future, AI could empower robots to do countless jobs humans do today, for better or worse. Either way, it promises remarkable productivity gains.Those are just the obvious areas. Drug discovery, financial modeling, scientific research, and more offer big opportunities empowered by AI productivity enhancement. Together, the ETF wrapper has allowed such specific, targeted ETFs to come to market for investors. Tax effici ...

Core Insights - The article highlights the top-performing leveraged and inverse ETFs for the week, showcasing significant returns driven by market dynamics and investor sentiment [1] Group 1: Top Performing Inverse ETFs - ProShares UltraShort Ether ETF (ETHD) led with a 47.24% weekly return, reflecting a risk-off sentiment due to hawkish Fed Chair nomination and a stronger dollar, resulting in forced liquidations and record ETF outflows [1] - ProShares UltraShort Bloomberg Natural Gas (KOLD) achieved a 34.24% return as U.S. natural gas prices fell sharply due to changing weather patterns and increased production [1] - ProShares UltraShort Bitcoin ETF (SBIT) gained approximately 29.31% as Bitcoin prices declined amid expectations of quantitative tightening following the Fed Chair nomination [1] - ProShares Short Ether ETF (SETH) also performed well with a 23.62% return, benefiting from a decline in Ether's price [1] Group 2: Top Performing Leveraged ETFs - Defiance Daily Target 2X Long SMCI ETF (SMCX) returned 33.27%, supported by Super Micro Computer's raised revenue guidance to $40 billion amid strong demand for AI infrastructure [1] - Direxion Daily Transportation Bull 3X Shares (TPOR) saw a 22.62% return as U.S. spot truck rates surged nearly 40% due to severe winter storms disrupting supply chains [1] - Direxion Daily Regional Banks Bull 3X Shares (DPST) performed well with a 21.62% return, driven by all-time high regional bank shares and increased M&A activity [1] - Direxion Daily Homebuilders & Supplies Bull 3X Shares (NAIL) returned over 21% due to a proposed housing program aimed at affordability and declining mortgage rates [1] - Direxion Daily MSCI Mexico Bull 3X Shares (MEXX) achieved over 18% returns, benefiting from broader market shifts and U.S. economic data [1] - Direxion Daily Dow Jones Internet Bear 3X Shares (WEBS) was included in the top performers as AI market enthusiasm faced scrutiny over valuations and earnings [1]

Join for a 100% Risk-Free trial and see if our proven method can help you too. You do not need to pay for the costly lessons from the market itself.My last coverage on the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSEARCA: VIG ) was published on Nov 10, 2025. The analysis rated VIG as a buy after examining its past earnings growth rates (which were closeSensor Unlimited is an economist by training with a PhD, with a focus on financial economics. She is a quantitative modeler and for the past decade she has been ...

Key Takeaways China may curb Treasury exposure, pushing yields higher and fueling fiscal risk worries.Short-duration bonds, floating-rate ETFs and inverse Treasury plays may benefit from rising yields.Diversification via global bonds, dividend ETFs and low-volatility equities may reduce risk.U.S. Treasuries are at risks of incurring losses in the near term after reports that Chinese regulators advised domestic financial institutions to curb their holdings of U.S. government bonds amid concerns about market ...

Explore how expense ratios, sector exposure, and portfolio breadth set these two consumer staples ETFs apart for different investor goals.The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK 0.68%) and the Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC 0.82%) both target the U.S. consumer staples sector, aiming to give investors exposure to companies providing essential goods. This comparison digs into cost, performance, risk, holdings, and structure to help clarify which ETF may appeal more to different types of investors.Snapsho ...

Key Takeaways Nikkei 225 surged past 57,000 after Sanae Takaichi's LDP won a supermajority.21-trillion-yen stimulus plan and food tax suspension are driving optimism across diverse Japanese industries. EWJ and peers offer diversified exposure to Japan's rally amid a stronger yen. Investor optimism around the Japanese equity market is on full display as the Nikkei 225 surged past the historic 57,000-point mark in intraday trading on Feb. 9, 2026, setting a new record. This powerful rally was ignited by the l ...

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]

Core Insights - The Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (FSTA) and the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (RSPS) target U.S. consumer staples stocks but employ different strategies leading to distinct outcomes [1] Cost & Size - FSTA has a significantly lower expense ratio of 0.08% compared to RSPS's 0.40%, resulting in annual fees of $8 versus $40 for every $10,000 invested [2][3] - As of February 3, 2026, FSTA has a 1-year return of 8.34%, while RSPS has a return of 7.01% [2] - FSTA has a larger asset under management (AUM) of $1.3 billion compared to RSPS's $232 million [2] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over five years, FSTA has a lower maximum drawdown of -16.57% compared to RSPS's -18.61% [4] - An investment of $1,000 in FSTA would grow to $1,385 over five years, while the same investment in RSPS would grow to $1,067 [4] Holdings Composition - FSTA holds 96 stocks, primarily in consumer defensive sectors (98%), with top positions in Costco Wholesale, Walmart, and Procter & Gamble making up nearly 37% of its assets [5] - RSPS, in contrast, holds 36 stocks with an equal-weight strategy, where each stock constitutes roughly 3% of the portfolio, promoting a more balanced exposure [6] Investment Implications - FSTA's concentration in large brands may benefit investors when these companies perform well, but could pose risks if they underperform [7] - RSPS's equal-weight approach may reduce volatility, as all stocks are treated equally, potentially leading to more stable performance [8] - There is no definitive winner between the two ETFs, as each offers unique advantages that may appeal to different investor preferences [9]

Core Insights - Small-cap stocks and ETFs may not always outperform larger indices but can offer significant hidden investment opportunities [1] Group 1: Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF - The Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) provides excellent diversification, focusing solely on international small-cap value stocks with a 0.36% expense ratio and a 2.84% yield [2] - AVDV consists of over 1,600 stocks, with less than 10% of total assets in its top 10 holdings; seven of these have more than doubled in value over the past year, particularly in the gold and precious metals sectors [3] - The fund has achieved an annualized return of 15.6% over the past five years and has increased by over 60% in the last year, showcasing the potential of small-cap investments [4] Group 2: Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF - The Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF (DFAS) aims to maximize returns while minimizing federal income taxes, featuring a 0.27% expense ratio, a 0.94% yield, and an annualized return of 11.5% over the past decade [5] - DFAS is diversified across more than 2,000 stocks, with its top 10 holdings constituting only 3% of total assets; nine of these holdings have increased in value over the past year, with six more than doubling [6] - Financial and industrial stocks account for nearly 40% of the fund's assets, with technology, consumer cyclicals, and healthcare also contributing significantly to returns [7] Group 3: Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Cap Company ETF - The Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Cap Company ETF (FNDA) includes over 800 small-cap stocks, emphasizing value; seven of its top 10 holdings have risen by over 100% in the past year, although these holdings represent only 5% of total assets [8] - FNDA also focuses heavily on industrial stocks, which make up more than 20% of the portfolio, alongside financials, consumer cyclicals, technology, and real estate, each exceeding 10% of total assets [9] - The fund has generated an annualized return of 11.8% over the past decade, with a 0.25% expense ratio and a 1.15% yield [9]