The S&P 500 Index remained on edge near its all-time high of $6,945Â as investors prepared for the new year. It remains nearly 42% above its lowest level in April last year. ...

The S&P 500 Index and VOO ETF dropped sharply on Friday as investors reacted to the latest earnings by top companies like Broadcast and Oracle, which sent jitters on the booming artificial intelligenc... ...

Core Viewpoint - The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) has underperformed compared to high-growth technology stocks and alternative funds like the NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF (SPYI) in 2023, leading to a recommendation for SPYI as a better investment option [1][5]. Performance Comparison - The SCHD ETF has a total return of 4.68% in 2023, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices have increased by 22% and 17%, respectively [1]. - Over the past three years, SCHD's return was only 20%, significantly lower than the Nasdaq 100's 120% and the S&P 500's 78% [2]. Sector Composition - SCHD is primarily composed of companies in traditional industries, with energy being the largest sector at approximately 20% of its holdings [3]. - Other significant sectors in SCHD include consumer staples, healthcare, and industrials, which have faced challenges due to external factors like tariffs [4]. Comparison with SPYI - The NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF (SPYI) offers a higher yield of 12% and has outperformed SCHD with a three-year return of 58% compared to SCHD's 20% [5][6]. - In 2023, SPYI returned 15%, significantly higher than SCHD's 4.98% [6]. Investment Strategy - SPYI employs a covered call strategy, investing in S&P 500 companies and writing call options to generate monthly premiums for dividends [7]. - SPYI also utilizes tax loss harvesting to enhance returns, which contributes to its superior performance compared to other covered call ETFs [7]. Recommendations - Analysts recommend SPYI as a preferable option for investors seeking dividend income, especially given its historical performance and higher yield compared to SCHD [8].

Core Insights - The S&P 500 Index experienced a significant decline last week, dropping from a year-to-date high of $6,915 to a low of $6,640 due to concerns surrounding the AI industry and valuation issues [3][4][7] - Despite the recent downturn, 91% of S&P 500 companies reported strong financial results, with a blended earnings growth of 13.1%, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in the US [5][6] Market Reactions - The index's decline was influenced by earnings reports from major AI companies like Palantir and AMD, which raised valuation concerns among investors [4][7] - Upcoming earnings reports from key companies such as Occidental, Applied Materials, and Nvidia are expected to impact the S&P 500 Index, with Nvidia's results being particularly significant [8][9] Government Shutdown Impact - The ongoing US government shutdown is another critical factor affecting the S&P 500 Index, with expectations that it may continue through November 16, which could negatively influence market sentiment [9][10] - Any signs of resolution in the shutdown could lead to a bullish market reaction as it would allow for the release of key macroeconomic data [10] Federal Reserve Statements - Statements from Federal Reserve officials, including Anna Paulson and Raphael Bostic, are anticipated to provide insights into future monetary policy, which could influence market movements [11][12] - A report indicating a drop in inflation for October would be viewed positively by the market, potentially supporting the S&P 500 Index [12]

Core Insights - Vanguard is expanding its Investor Choice program to allow ETF investors to direct how their shares are voted in proxies, including significant corporate compensation packages [1][2] - The program will apply to approximately $3 trillion in assets and 20 million investors, enhancing individual investor influence over proxy voting [6] Vanguard's Investor Choice Program - The program offers several proxy voting options, including following corporate board recommendations, third-party advisor policies, mirroring other shareholders' votes, and ESG recommendations [2][4] - Vanguard aims to address regulatory concerns regarding its influence in corporate America by allowing individual investors to direct votes, thereby mitigating criticisms of its size [3][4] Adoption and Impact - Currently, about $1 trillion in assets are involved in the program, with only 80,000 investors opting for a voting policy for the 2025 proxy season, indicating a need for broader awareness [6] - No single voting policy received more than 35% adoption, suggesting a diverse range of preferences among investors [6]

Core Insights - The S&P 500 Index and its leading ETFs, such as SPY and VOO, have reached all-time highs this year, driven by favorable conditions in the artificial intelligence sector [1] Group 1 - The ongoing tailwinds in the artificial intelligence industry have significantly contributed to the surge in the S&P 500 Index [1]