Foreign equities have long been a portfolio staple among investors, as this corner of the market has the potential to deliver uncorrelated returns and key diversification benefits. But for those willing to stomach a higher level of risk, adding exposure to smaller capitalization firms from around the world is a compelling strategy, since these companies typically have greater growth potentials than their large-cap counterparts. Below we outline three ex- U.S. small cap ETFs that have been battling for investor attention: the FTSE All-World ex-US Small Cap Index ETF (VSS, A+), MSCI EAFE Small Cap ETF (SCZ, A), and the Emerging Market SmallCap Fund (DGS, A-) [Download How To Pick The Right ETF Every Time]. [click to continue…]
While the majority of exchange-traded products are used for long-term investments that can potentially pay off big over time, not all funds are created with this large payout in mind. Enter money market ETFs; this breed of funds has caught the attention of countless investors who are looking to preserve capital and, luckily, there are […]
Alternative energy has been a hot button issue for the last 50 year,s and investors have always found a way to play this heated market. In the last decade, there has been the launch of a number of ETFs that offer a specialized basket of products for alternative energy exposure, with 12 of these funds […]
With the economic turnaround in the U.S. gaining momentum, real estate investments were among the first to come back. They were also among the first funds to be crushed in the financial crisis, but as home sales and prices are heading up for the first time in five years, real estate is being pulled back […]
The U.S.’s growing aging population has made pharmaceutical spending a significant portion of our nation’s GDP, and has also affected job creation and stock market appreciation. This spike in national interest in healthcare has also occurred on Wall Street, where investors are embracing this market and its attractive growth potential. While there are some potential roadblocks […]
The financial sector has seen more than its fair share of ups and downs, but the enduring volatility of this sector has done little to diminish its appeal to investors. While those with a long-term focus may have avoided financials, the increased volatility has attracted more active investors who are counting on strong movements in these funds. […]
Master limited partnerships (MLPs) have long been popular with investors looking for tax-advantaged income from investments, and MLPs’ introduction to the ETF space has been a huge success. Generally focused on natural resources, this relatively new sectors of ETFs has brought in a new style of investing, with funds seeing a huge influx of investments. With […]
With many investors shedding their home country bias, opportunities in all market conditions have become the main staple for a diversified portfolio, and finding the next up and coming economy can lead to huge payoffs. The Middle East and Africa have been particularly overlooked, as these regions of the world have largely been inaccessible to mainstream investors […]
Preferred stock ETFs have become a big hit with some investors. These ETFs offer “hybrid” exposure that has delivered strong returns and provided valuable diversification benefits to traditional portfolios by combining the benefits of both traditional equities and bonds. Of this specialized universe of funds, two stand out as consumer favorites with easily some of the highest average trading […]
Emerging markets have taken center stage in recent years as investors have become increasingly attracted to the lucrative opportunities presented in this corner of the market. India has long been a point of interest for investors, leading to the creation of numerous ETFs to allow simplified access to this diverse economy. Two funds in particular, India Earnings Fund and […]
The U.S. housing sector has spent the last five years trying to recover from the bruises left by the real estate crash. In 2012, things finally started to turn around for this sector, bringing in positive returns and cash for the two largest Homebuilder ETFs: iShares Dow Jones US Home Construction Index Fund and SPDR S&P […]
