Group 1 - The current AI boom may be experiencing irrational exuberance, with concerns from industry leaders like Google CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman about a potential bubble [4][5][9] - If the AI rally collapses, it could have catastrophic effects on the broader market, prompting investors to shift towards defensive dividend ETFs to mitigate risks [6] - The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) offers exposure to 30 blue-chip U.S. stocks, which tend to perform better during downturns, especially if the downturn is related to non-blue-chip sectors like AI [7][9] Group 2 - Many ETF holdings are heavily weighted towards Nvidia and other large-cap tech stocks, creating overlapping exposure that increases risk if the AI rally falters [8] - The iShares International Select Dividend ETF (IDV) currently yields 4.58% and benefits from the dollar's 10.6% depreciation against the Euro year-to-date, making it an attractive option for investors [9]

The current economic landscape highlights the heightened uncertainty confronting investors. From AI bubble concerns and worries about U.S. asset prices being overvalued to persistent economic and geopolitical frictions, diversification has become essential for investors seeking to safeguard and stabilize their portfolios.Against this backdrop, broadening exposure to global equities emerges as a compelling strategy. The S&P World Index, which tracks the performance of stocks from 24 developed economies, has ...

Core Insights - The U.S. government shutdown has ended, providing potential for a sustained rally in Wall Street, but global market stability remains uncertain due to high valuations in artificial intelligence [1] - Economic uncertainty and high market valuations are causing investors to be increasingly cautious, despite signs of easing U.S.-China trade tensions [2] Economic Indicators - Corporate layoffs surged by 183.1% in October, the highest increase in nearly two decades, attributed to cost-cutting and AI-driven restructuring [3] - Retail sales for the upcoming holiday season are expected to grow by 3.7% to 4.2%, reaching approximately $1.01 trillion to $1.02 trillion, although this growth is slower than the previous year's 4.3% increase [4] - The U.S. GDP growth rate for Q4 2025 is projected at 1.2% year over year, with S&P Global forecasting below-trend growth due to ongoing policy uncertainty [5] Market Valuation Concerns - The U.S. stock market has risen over 30% since April, but the "Buffett Indicator" suggests potential overheating, as the total market capitalization of U.S. stocks is now around $72 trillion, more than double the GDP [6][7] Investment Strategies - In a volatile market, dividend ETFs are becoming increasingly attractive for investors seeking steady income alongside capital gains [8] - Not all dividend stocks serve the same purpose; high-yield stocks provide current income, while dividend growth stocks indicate quality investing [9] - Low-priced dividend ETFs are recommended as they offer higher growth potential and affordability compared to higher-priced stocks [10] Dividend ETFs Overview - Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) priced at $27.16, yielding 3.80% annually [11][12] - Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (CGDV) priced at $43.37, yielding 1.28% annually [13] - State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) priced at $43.25, yielding 4.52% annually [14] - iShares International Select Dividend ETF (IDV) priced at $38.36, yielding 4.53% annually [15] - First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL) priced at $43.69, yielding 4.65% annually [16] - Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (DIVO) priced at $45.53, yielding 4.46% annually [17]

Investment Trend Overview - The investment trend is shifting towards skepticism about American assets, with the iShares MSCI ACWI ex US ETF (ACWX) gaining 26.7% this year compared to a 14.8% increase in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) [1] U.S.-China Trade Relations - Recent easing of U.S.-China trade tensions and the Federal Reserve's rate cuts have not improved SPY's performance, which decreased by 0.03% over the past month, while ACWX increased by 0.5% [2] Factors Affecting U.S. Market Appeal - The decline in U.S. market attractiveness began in April following President Trump's "Liberation Day," which caused a selloff in U.S. stocks, bonds, and the dollar [3] - Uncertain policy sentiment and overexposure to U.S. assets are significant factors contributing to the U.S. market's waning appeal [5] Concentration Risks in U.S. Tech Sector - Concerns about AI-led bubbles and overvaluation are impacting major U.S. equity indexes, particularly due to the "Magnificent 7" companies, which constitute about one-third of the S&P 500's market cap [6] - In contrast, Europe's STOXX Europe 600 has a more balanced structure, with its top 10 stocks accounting for only 17% of the index's market cap across various sectors [7] Valuation Comparison - As of November 7, 2025, ACWX has a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 18.44X, significantly lower than the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) at 29.89X, indicating that international equities are undervalued [8] Performance of International Equities ETFs - The best-performing international equities ETFs of 2025 include: - First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund (FDT) – Up 41.2% YTD - iShares International Select Dividend ETF (IDV) – Up 37.7% YTD - First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (FDTS) – Up 37.6% YTD - Global X MSCI SuperDividend EAFE ETF (EFAS) – Up 31.5% YTD - Franklin FTSE Eurozone ETF (FLEU) – Up 34.4% YTD [9]

Group 1: Core Insights - The Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF) is a smart beta ETF that provides broad exposure to the Foreign Large Value ETF category, having debuted on 08/13/2013 [1] - FNDF is managed by Charles Schwab and has accumulated over $17.26 billion in assets, making it the largest ETF in its category [5] - The fund aims to replicate the performance of the Russell RAFI Developed ex US Large Co. Index (Net) before fees and expenses [5] Group 2: Cost and Performance - FNDF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.25%, positioning it as one of the cheaper options in the ETF space [6] - The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.91% [6] - As of 08/22/2025, FNDF has increased by approximately 27.41% year-to-date and 18.74% over the past year, with a trading range between $32.25 and $42.27 in the last 52 weeks [9] Group 3: Holdings and Risk - FNDF's top holdings include Shell Plc (2.28% of total assets), Samsung Electronics Ltd, and Totalenergies (TTE), with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 11.8% of total assets [7][8] - The fund has a beta of 0.78 and a standard deviation of 15.58% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10] - FNDF consists of approximately 947 holdings, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [10] Group 4: Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Foreign Large Value segment include iShares International Select Dividend ETF (IDV) and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI), with assets of $5.79 billion and $11.85 billion respectively [12] - IDV has an expense ratio of 0.49%, while VYMI has a lower expense ratio of 0.17% [12]