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]

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]

Core Insights - SWAN Capital LLC increased its stake in the Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF by acquiring an additional 35,964 shares, valued at approximately $3.19 million, bringing the total stake to $8.02 million at the end of the third quarter [1][2]. Investment Activity - The acquisition of shares occurred during the third quarter, with the previous stake valued at $4.83 million [2]. - Following the purchase, VIGI represented 3.25% of SWAN Capital's reportable assets, which totaled $246.64 million as of September 30, 2025 [7]. ETF Overview - The Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIGI) focuses on non-U.S. companies committed to increasing dividends over time, with a market capitalization of $9.22 billion as of November 15, 2025 [5]. - As of November 14, 2025, VIGI's price was $90.51, with a trailing twelve-month dividend yield of 1.87% and a one-year total return of 12.24% [4][7]. Performance Metrics - VIGI's performance slightly underperformed the S&P 500 by 0.48 percentage points over the past year [7]. - The ETF's expense ratio is ultra-low at 0.1%, allowing most gains to benefit investors directly [9]. Portfolio Composition - The ETF is structured to replicate its benchmark index, holding a diversified basket of international equities [5][8]. - Its top five holdings include two financial firms, a drugmaker, a food and beverage company, and an enterprise software business [10]. Dividend Distribution - The quarterly dividends from VIGI may vary, as many international companies do not follow the typical quarterly payout schedule familiar to U.S. investors [11].

Core Insights - The Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIGI) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Foreign Large Blend ETF category and was launched on March 3, 2016 [1] - VIGI is managed by Vanguard and has accumulated over $8.4 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The ETF seeks to match the performance of the NASDAQ International Dividend Achievers Select Index [5] Investment Strategy - Smart beta ETFs, like VIGI, track non-cap weighted strategies and aim to select stocks based on specific fundamental characteristics to enhance risk-return performance [3] - The S&P Global Ex-U.S. Dividend Growers Index focuses on high-quality companies in developed and emerging markets that are committed to growing dividends over time [6] Cost and Performance - VIGI has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.10%, making it one of the least expensive options in the ETF space [7] - The ETF's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 1.84% [7] - As of August 14, 2025, VIGI has gained approximately 12.51% year-to-date and 8.08% over the past year, with a trading range between $75.29 and $91.16 in the last 52 weeks [9] Holdings and Diversification - The ETF holds about 341 different stocks, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [9] - Major holdings include SAP Se (4.02% of total assets), Novartis Ag, and Royal Bank Of Canada [8] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA), which have larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [11]