Core Insights - Global stocks have shown strong gains in early 2026, with the iShares MSCI ACWI ex US ETF (ACWX) up 3.6% and the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) up 5% year-to-date as of January 23, 2026 [1] Country ETF Winners Norway - Norway iShares MSCI ETF (ENOR) reached a 52-week high of $30.82, slightly down from $30.86, while Global X MSCI Norway ETF (NORW) was at $31.93, down from $31.97 [2] - Norges Bank maintained a policy rate of 4.00%, with expectations for a rate cut in mid-2026, which could benefit stocks [2] - High oil prices around $65 and strong commodity demand have supported energy sector stocks [2] Turkey - Turkey iShares MSCI ETF (TUR) was at $39.40, slightly down from a 52-week high of $39.44 [3] - Turkey's annual inflation rate decreased to 30.89% in December 2025, down from 31.07%, marking the lowest since November 2021, which has bolstered investor confidence [3] South Korea - South Korea iShares MSCI ETF (EWY) was at $117.99, slightly down from a 52-week high of $118.41, and Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF (FLKR) was at $38.66, down from $38.75 [4] - The KOSPI index has reached record highs, driven by a strong rally in the chip sector, fueled by AI chip demand and December export surges [4] Japan - iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF (SCJ) was at $96.66, slightly down from a 52-week high of $96.78 [5] - Japanese stocks have surged to record highs amid expectations of snap elections by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who aims to leverage her approval ratings for a parliamentary majority [5][6] - The Bank of Japan has raised its economic growth forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026 to 0.9% from 0.7%, and for fiscal 2026 to 1.0% from 0.7% [7]

Core Viewpoint - The SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW) and iShares MSCI ACWI ex US ETF (ACWX) offer distinct investment strategies, with SPDW providing lower fees and higher yields, while ACWX offers broader non-U.S. equity exposure and a higher technology allocation [1][2]. Cost and Size Comparison - SPDW has an expense ratio of 0.03%, significantly lower than ACWX's 0.32% [3][10]. - As of January 9, 2026, SPDW's one-year return is 37.84%, compared to ACWX's 35.89% [3][10]. - SPDW has a dividend yield of 3.3%, higher than ACWX's 2.83% [3][10]. - Assets under management (AUM) for SPDW is $33.45 billion, while ACWX has $7.87 billion [3]. Performance and Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, SPDW has a maximum drawdown of -30.23%, slightly worse than ACWX's -30.03% [4]. - An investment of $1,000 would have grown to $1,304 in SPDW and $1,251 in ACWX over five years [4]. Holdings and Sector Allocation - ACWX holds 1,751 stocks, with a sector allocation of 25% in financial services, 15% in technology, and 15% in industrials [5]. - Major holdings in ACWX include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (3.9%), ASML (1.53%), and Tencent Holdings (1.4%) [5]. - SPDW focuses on developed markets, with a sector allocation of 23% in financial services, 19% in industrials, and 11% in technology [7]. - Key positions in SPDW include ASML (1.73%), Samsung (1.65%), and Roche (0.98%) [7]. Investment Implications - Investors seeking exposure to emerging markets and technology may prefer ACWX, particularly due to its holdings like TSMC, which has seen significant growth [12]. - Conversely, those looking for lower-cost access to developed markets and higher dividend yields may find SPDW more appealing [12].

Core Insights - The iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) focuses on emerging markets with a lower expense ratio, while the iShares MSCI ACWI ex US ETF (ACWX) provides broader non-U.S. exposure with a slightly higher yield and lower risk in recent periods [1][2] Cost and Size Comparison - IEMG has an expense ratio of 0.09% and assets under management (AUM) of $120.1 billion, while ACWX has an expense ratio of 0.32% and AUM of $7.9 billion [3] - Both IEMG and ACWX have a dividend yield of 2.7%, with IEMG showing a 1-year return of 36.8% compared to ACWX's 34.2% [3] Performance and Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, IEMG experienced a maximum drawdown of -37.16%, while ACWX had a lower maximum drawdown of -30.06% [5] - The growth of $1,000 over five years was $1,083 for IEMG and $1,267 for ACWX, indicating better performance for ACWX in terms of growth [5] Fund Composition - ACWX holds 1,751 stocks with a sector mix led by Financial Services (25%), Technology (15%), and Industrials (15%), with major holdings including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (3.83%) and Tencent Holdings Ltd (1.48%) [6] - IEMG focuses on 2,725 stocks, with a sector tilt favoring Technology (26%), Financial Services (21%), and Consumer Cyclical (12%), featuring top holdings like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (10.73%) and Tencent Holdings Ltd (4.14%) [7] Investment Implications - IEMG is suitable for investors seeking exposure to emerging markets with higher growth potential and lower costs, albeit with a higher risk profile [10] - ACWX is recommended for investors looking to reduce risk through a mix of stable developed and high-growth emerging markets, despite its higher fees [11]

Core Insights - The Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) offers lower costs and a broader selection of developed-market stocks compared to the iShares MSCI ACWI ex US ETF (ACWX), which has a different sector mix [2][10] Cost & Size Comparison - VEA has an expense ratio of 0.03%, significantly lower than ACWX's 0.32% - As of January 9, 2026, VEA's one-year return is 35.8%, while ACWX's is 34.2% - VEA provides a dividend yield of 3.1%, compared to ACWX's 2.7% - VEA has a total asset under management (AUM) of $268.9 billion, while ACWX has $7.87 billion [3][4] Performance & Risk Analysis - Over the past five years, VEA's maximum drawdown is -29.70%, slightly better than ACWX's -30.06% - An investment of $1,000 in VEA would have grown to $1,331, while the same investment in ACWX would have grown to $1,267 [5] Portfolio Composition - ACWX tracks large- and mid-cap stocks from developed and emerging markets outside the US, with approximately 1,751 holdings; major sectors include Financial Services (25%), Technology (15%), and Industrials (15%) [6] - VEA focuses on developed markets in Europe, the Pacific, and Canada, holding over 3,800 stocks; its leading sectors are Financial Services (24%), Industrials (19%), and Technology (12%) [7][8] Investment Implications - International stocks outperformed U.S. markets in 2025, making both VEA and ACWX attractive options for investors seeking exposure to non-U.S. equities, despite their differing cost structures [10]

Core Insights - The iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) and the iShares MSCI ACWI ex US ETF (ACWX) differ in cost and composition, with ACWX being more expensive but yielding higher dividends, while URTH is heavily weighted towards U.S. technology stocks [2][3] Cost & Size Comparison - URTH has an expense ratio of 0.24% and AUM of $6.74 billion, while ACWX has a higher expense ratio of 0.32% and AUM of $7.87 billion [4] - The 1-year return for URTH is 23.08%, compared to ACWX's 35.9%, and the dividend yield for URTH is 1.5% versus ACWX's 2.83% [4] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, URTH experienced a maximum drawdown of -26.06%, while ACWX had a deeper drawdown of -30.06% [6] - The growth of $1,000 over five years is $1,644 for URTH and $1,251 for ACWX, indicating better long-term growth for URTH despite ACWX's recent outperformance [6][9] Portfolio Composition - ACWX holds 1,751 non-U.S. companies, with a sector emphasis on financial services (25%), technology (15%), and industrials (15%), featuring top positions like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Tencent Holdings [7] - URTH covers 1,319 developed market stocks, heavily weighted towards U.S. technology, with major holdings including Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, resulting in a sector allocation of 26% technology and 17% financial services [8][9] Investment Implications - Both ETFs provide international diversification but cater to different investor preferences: URTH for those seeking U.S.-centric exposure and ACWX for those wanting to avoid U.S. equity dominance [11]

Core Insights - The Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is more cost-effective and diversified compared to the iShares MSCI ACWI ex US ETF (ACWX), making it a preferable option for investors seeking international equity exposure [1][12][13] Cost & Size Comparison - VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05%, significantly lower than ACWX's 0.32% [3][4] - VXUS has a total assets under management (AUM) of $124.7 billion, while ACWX has $8.4 billion [3] - The one-year return for VXUS is 33.7%, slightly lower than ACWX's 34.2% [3] Performance & Risk Metrics - Over the last five years, VXUS has generated a total return of 48.3%, compared to ACWX's 46.4% [11] - The maximum drawdown for VXUS is -29.43%, while ACWX's is -30.06% [5][11] - Both funds have a beta of 0.79, indicating lower volatility compared to the S&P 500 [3][11] Holdings & Sector Allocation - VXUS holds 8,602 stocks, providing broader diversification, while ACWX holds 1,751 stocks [6][7] - ACWX is heavily weighted towards financial services (25%), technology (15%), and industrials (15%) [6] - VXUS has a significant allocation to cash and others (53%), with smaller portions in industrials and technology [7] Dividend Yield - VXUS offers a higher dividend yield of 3.1% compared to ACWX's 2.7% [4][12]

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]