Investing in exchange traded funds (ETFs) is an excellent option for investors of all sizes and risk tolerance levels. Indeed,…]## 3 Magnificent Dividend ETFs Every Investor Should Own for Their Retirement Accounts[Chris MacDonald | Jul 8, 2025 at 8:45 AM EDT For investors looking for meaningful and sustained dividend income today or in retirement, there are plenty of options to choose…]## FBCG, FDVV & FIDI: 3 Fidelity ETFs to Generate Big Retirement Income[Chris MacDonald | Oct 8, 2025 at 11:22 AM EDT Inve ...

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust NASDAQ-100 Select Equal Weight ETF (QQEW) is a passively managed ETF aimed at providing broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $1.73 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs in this category [1] Group 1: Large Cap Growth - Large cap companies typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion and are considered more stable with predictable cash flows, exhibiting less volatility compared to mid and small cap companies [2] - Growth stocks are characterized by faster growth rates, higher valuations, and above-average sales and earnings growth rates, although they tend to be more volatile [3] Group 2: Costs - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.55%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.43% [4] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation of approximately 50.5% to the Information Technology sector, with Healthcare and Telecom also being prominent sectors [5] - Western Digital Corporation (WDC) represents about 3.21% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings comprising approximately 26.18% of total assets under management [6] Group 4: Performance and Risk - QQEW aims to match the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index, having lost about 5.29% year-to-date and gained approximately 3.83% over the past year as of February 27, 2026, with a trading range between $106.81 and $146.24 in the past 52 weeks [7] - The ETF has a beta of 1.06 and a standard deviation of 17.41% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile with effective diversification across 51 holdings [8] Group 5: Alternatives - The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ) are alternative ETFs tracking similar indices, with VUG having $196.69 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.03%, while QQQ has $399.83 billion in assets and charges 0.18% [11] Group 6: Bottom-Line - Passively managed ETFs like QQEW are increasingly popular among retail and institutional investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [12]

Armor Advisors L.L.C. boosted its position in shares of iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA:SLV – Free Report) by 69.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 123,277 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock after purchasing an additional 50,500 shares during the quarter. iShares Silver Trust comprises about 2.9% of Armor Advisors L.L.C.’s portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest position. Armor Advisors L.L.C.’s holdings in ...

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]

Core Viewpoint - The Invesco Global ex-US High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (PGHY) is designed to provide broad exposure to the High-Yield/Junk Bond ETFs category, with a focus on non-U.S. issuers and a smart beta strategy [1][5]. Fund Overview - PGHY was launched on June 20, 2013, and has accumulated over $201.3 million in assets, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in its segment [1][5]. - The fund is managed by Invesco and aims to match the performance of the DB Global Short Maturity High Yield Bond Index [5]. Cost and Expenses - PGHY has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35%, making it one of the more cost-effective options in the high-yield space [7]. - The ETF offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 7.18% [7]. Holdings and Sector Exposure - The ETF's top holdings include Industrial & Commercial Bank Of China Ltd (1.4% of total assets), Samarco Mineracao Sa, and Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio [9]. - The top 10 holdings account for approximately 6.73% of PGHY's total assets under management [9]. Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, PGHY has gained about 0.87% and is up approximately 7.02% over the last 12 months as of February 6, 2026 [11]. - The ETF has traded between $18.92 and $20.26 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.19 and a standard deviation of 5.22% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a high-risk profile [11]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the high-yield space include iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) and iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY), with assets of $17.64 billion and $25.79 billion respectively [13]. - HYG has an expense ratio of 0.49%, while USHY has a lower expense ratio of 0.08% [13].

Market Overview - The market is experiencing a shift with a new Fed chair nominee and a turn towards risk-off trading in certain sectors [1][2] - Interest rates have been stable recently, contributing to a resilient economy and strong corporate earnings [3][4] Fixed Income Performance - Emerging markets have been the best-performing area in fixed income year-to-date, indicating opportunities outside the US [6] - The yield curve is steepening, suggesting normalization in interest rates, with long-term rates higher than short-term rates [5] Investment Strategies - Investors are diversifying away from US-centric assets towards emerging markets, driven by attractive risk-return profiles [11] - Flows into option income ETFs have outpaced those into traditional dividend ETFs, reflecting a shift in income generation strategies [14] Bond Market Insights - Investment-grade credit, particularly in the triple B range, is recommended for its yield advantage with similar default risk [19] - Private credit is gaining attention, offering yields close to 7% with low duration, appealing to investors transitioning from money market funds [22] Economic Outlook - Credit fundamentals remain strong, with tight spreads indicating a robust economy [44] - The potential for volatility exists due to the new Fed chair and midterm elections, but the overall outlook for fixed income remains positive [38][41] Risks and Considerations - Attention is needed on private capital stocks, which may face stress, particularly in less liquid vehicles [27] - Investors should be cautious about extending duration too quickly and ensure a balanced portfolio to mitigate risks [50]

Group 1: Small-Cap Market Dynamics - The small-cap benchmark, tracked by the iShares Russell 2000 ETF, has reached record highs this month, outperforming large-cap indices, indicating a potential shift in market leadership [1][2] - The macro and fundamental case for U.S. small caps remains strong, supported by long-term structural forces rather than short-term positioning [2] - Small-cap earnings revisions are outpacing historical norms and those of mid- and large-cap stocks, suggesting a robust growth outlook inconsistent with a late-cycle slowdown [5] Group 2: Productivity and Financial Conditions - Strong productivity growth allows for above-trend growth without causing inflation, enabling the Federal Reserve to maintain easy financial conditions [3] - The current market environment allows for a focus on labor market and services inflation data as key determinants of policy risk, with geopolitical volatility being treated as opportunities to add risk [4] Group 3: Regional Banks and Financial Fundamentals - Regional banks have shown solid fundamentals this quarter, contributing positively to small-cap performance, with attractive relative valuations [7] - There has been a notable absence of discussions about credit health during earnings calls, indicating a stable outlook for regional banks [8] Group 4: Artificial Intelligence Adoption - The adoption of artificial intelligence is expected to be a significant catalyst for small caps, particularly as it expands beyond software into physical products [9] - The integration of AI into physical products is anticipated to be a major investment theme in 2026, with sectors like power providers, semiconductors, and tech hardware being primary beneficiaries [10] - AI adoption could help small caps close margin gaps that have historically favored large caps, indicating a potential for re-rating in the small-cap sector [11]

Group 1 - Brazilian equities are entering 2026 with a more nuanced but still constructive outlook after a strong rally in 2025 driven by flows [1] - The investment thesis for the iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (EWZ) has shifted away from distressed valuations [1] Group 2 - The analyst covers stocks primarily in Brazil and Latin America, with occasional insights on global large caps [2]

Economic Outlook - The U.S. economy is described as a "coiled spring" ready for a significant rebound, with a forecast of a "golden age" for U.S. equities similar to the 1980s boom [1] - The "rolling recession" over the past three years, caused by aggressive Federal Reserve rate hikes, has created economic tension that is expected to lead to substantial GDP growth and wealth creation [2] Policy and Market Dynamics - The current economic environment is characterized as "Reaganomics on steroids," with a combination of fiscal stimulus and pro-business deregulation anticipated to drive capital spending, especially in AI and robotics [3] - Predictions indicate real GDP growth could accelerate to 6-8%, driven by a 4-6% increase in productivity, which would help suppress unit labor costs [4] Housing Market Insights - The housing market is central to the "coiled spring" thesis, with existing home sales at levels not seen since the early 1980s, despite a larger population [6] - A sharp recovery in the housing market is expected as interest rates stabilize and inventory becomes available, with major homebuilders like Lennar Corp., KB Home, and D.R. Horton Inc. reducing prices to clear inventory [7] Investment Shifts - There is a notable shift in asset allocation, with skepticism towards gold due to its high valuation relative to the M2 money supply, while Bitcoin is favored for its mathematical scarcity and halving mechanics [8]

Core Insights - The iShares MSCI China ETF (MCHI) has outperformed the S&P 500 significantly, gaining 45% over the past year compared to the S&P 500's 19% increase, indicating a recovery in Chinese equities after a prolonged downturn [2][4] - The fund's performance is heavily influenced by Tencent, which holds a 17.5% weighting in the portfolio, reflecting the importance of China's gaming and social media sector [3][4] Fund Overview - MCHI has a portfolio valued at $7.7 billion, tracking over 500 Chinese companies, with a mix of traditional state banks and consumer internet companies like Meituan and PDD Holdings [3][4] - The fund charges an annual fee of 0.59% [3] Economic Context - Beijing's shift towards aggressive economic support aims to increase household consumption from 40% to 45% of GDP by 2030, which is expected to benefit internet and consumer sectors [6] - Early indicators show retail sales grew by 5% in early 2025, suggesting that stimulus measures are effectively driving consumer activity [6] Investment Considerations - Monitoring of quarterly GDP reports and monthly retail sales data is crucial, as continued strengthening in consumption data would support investments in consumer-exposed holdings like Meituan, Trip.com, and JD.com [7] - The significant allocation to Tencent creates both opportunities and risks, necessitating close attention to Tencent's quarterly earnings, particularly regarding gaming revenue and regulatory developments [8]