With international stocks back in style, investors are looking for diversification -- and this ETF delivers plenty of it.It may be an understatement to say international stocks are experiencing an epic renaissance in 2025. With time running out on the year, it's clear the MSCI EAFE Index will beat the S&P 500 for just the second time since 2019 and will do so by a wide margin.That spells relief for investors who had embraced international equities in the name of diversification, only to be left disappointed ...

Core Insights - The Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) are both focused on providing exposure to developed international markets, with SCHF tracking the FTSE Developed ex US Index and IEFA targeting the MSCI EAFE universe [4][5] - Both funds have significant holdings in major companies such as ASML and Roche, and they share similar sector allocations, particularly in financial services [6][8] - The main differences between the two funds lie in their expense ratios and dividend yields, with SCHF offering a lower expense ratio of 0.03% and a higher dividend yield of 3.5% compared to IEFA's 0.07% expense ratio and 2.9% yield [7][8] Fund Characteristics - SCHF has a portfolio of 1,501 companies, while IEFA holds 2,600 stocks, indicating a broader diversification in IEFA [2][4] - Sector allocations for both funds show a tilt towards financial services (22-24%), industrials (19-20%), and healthcare (10%) [2][6] - Both funds have generated a one-year return of approximately 22% and have similar maximum five-year drawdowns of around -30% [6][8] Investment Considerations - For cost-conscious investors, SCHF's lower expense ratio may be more appealing, while income-focused investors might prefer its higher dividend yield [7][8] - The choice between SCHF and IEFA may ultimately depend on individual investment goals, with SCHF slightly edging out in terms of fees and income potential [8]

Vanguard says there are two corners of the stock market they like most over the next five to 10 years — and neither of them is the high-flying tech sector, which has fueled the market over the last few years as investors have piled into the AI trade. Instead, the asset management behemoth, which oversees $11.9 trillion, said in its 2026 outlook report this month that value stocks and non-US developed market stocks are the two best equity investments in the medium term when weighing risks against potential ...

Economic Outlook - Global economic growth is projected to be at its lowest levels since the pandemic, but the outlook has improved slightly due to increased AI-related investments offsetting U.S. import tariffs [1] - Fitch Ratings forecasts global economic growth of 2.5% in 2025 and 2.4% in 2026, a 0.1 percentage point upward revision from September [2] - OECD anticipates global GDP to decline from 3.2% in 2025 to 2.9% in 2026, before recovering to 3.1% in 2027 [2] Global Equity Performance - The S&P World Index has increased by 19.61% over the past year and 2.59% quarter to date, outperforming the S&P 500 [3] - Investors with portfolios concentrated in U.S. ETFs may have higher exposure to the information technology sector, particularly the "Magnificent 7" tech giants, which constitute about 35% of the S&P 500 [4] Investment Strategies - International equity ETFs provide a practical solution for investors looking to reduce U.S. asset exposure, offering diversification and potential for improved risk-adjusted returns [5] - In November, international equity ETFs experienced inflows of $24.6 billion [6] Market Conditions - Anticipation of a Fed rate cut in December is enhancing the attractiveness of global equities, with an 87.2% probability of a rate cut indicated by the CME FedWatch tool [7] - A declining U.S. dollar is also increasing interest in global equity funds, with the U.S. Dollar Index falling 0.54% over the past five days and 8.75% year to date [8] ETF Recommendations - Recommended international equity ETFs include Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF), Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF), Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF (DFAI), and Avantis International Equity ETF (AVDE), all with significant exposure to Japan, the U.K., and Canada [9][10] - For dividend-focused investments, options include WisdomTree International Hedged Quality Dividend Growth Fund (IHDG), Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIGI), and iShares International Select Dividend ETF (IDV), with yields of 2.55%, 1.86%, and 4.44% respectively [11][12] - Emerging market ETFs like iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG), Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO), and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) have shown a gain of 17.92% over the past year [13]

Core Insights - Northeast Financial Group increased its holdings in the Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Premium Income ETF (GPIX) by $9.25 million in Q3 2025, acquiring 171,817 shares, bringing its total stake to 286,368 shares [2][3] Group 1: Investment Strategy - GPIX employs a covered call strategy to enhance returns, providing investors with exposure to the S&P 500 while generating a high yield of 7.97% [5][12] - The fund's net assets are reported at $1.76 billion, with a 1-year total return of 15.17% as of December 2, 2025 [4][5] Group 2: Performance Metrics - As of September 30, 2025, Northeast Financial's GPIX holdings were valued at $14.96 million, a significant increase from $5.71 million in Q2 2025 [2] - GPIX shares were priced at $52.44, reflecting a 13.1% increase over the past year, slightly outperforming the S&P 500 [3][4] Group 3: Portfolio Composition - Northeast Financial's GPIX stake represents 3.72% of its total reportable assets under management, which amount to $401.58 million [3] - The portfolio primarily consists of equity holdings that mirror the S&P 500, maintaining diversification across styles, capitalizations, and industries [7][8]

Economic Landscape - The current economic environment presents heightened uncertainty for investors, driven by concerns over AI bubbles, overvalued U.S. asset prices, and ongoing economic and geopolitical tensions [1] Investment Strategies - Broadening exposure to global equities is recommended as a strategy, with the S&P World Index gaining 16.39% over the past year and 0.91% quarter to date, outperforming the S&P 500 [2] Investor Sentiment - U.S. equity funds experienced a slowdown in demand, with only $1.15 billion added in the week ending Nov. 12, marking the weakest weekly net inflow since mid-October [3][4] - Inflows into U.S. large-cap funds dropped sharply to $2.35 billion from $11.91 billion the previous week, indicating a shift in investor sentiment [4] AI Bubble Concerns - There are growing concerns on Wall Street regarding a potential bubble in the AI sector, with fears that excessive capital inflow may obscure future revenue and profit visibility [5] Sector Exposure - Portfolios heavily invested in U.S. market indexes like the S&P 500 are significantly exposed to the information technology sector, particularly the "Magnificent 7" tech leaders [6] - Approximately 36% of the S&P 500 is allocated to information technology, highlighting the importance of managing concentration risk and ensuring diversification [7] International Equity ETFs - Adding international equity ETFs can enhance geographical exposure and improve overall diversification, with specific ETFs like Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF) and Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF (DFAI) showing significant exposure to Japan, the U.K., and Canada [8][9] Dividend-Focused Funds - Global dividend-focused funds are recommended for reliable income during market volatility, with options like WisdomTree International Hedged Quality Dividend Growth Fund (IHDG) and Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIGI) offering attractive dividend yields [11][12] Emerging Market ETFs - Emerging market ETFs present opportunities for higher returns, with inflows of $2.17 billion in the week ending Nov. 12, marking a third consecutive week of additions [13] - The Dow Jones Emerging Markets Index has gained 21.05% over the past year and 1.05% quarter to date, indicating strong performance [13]