SNPE: ESG Screening Has Implications For Style Factor Exposures, Performance Potential, A Hold
The Xtrackers S&P 500 Scored & Screened ETF (SNPE) uses ESG screening, which has shifted its factor exposure toward information‑technology and growth stocks, allowing it to outperform the traditional S&P 500 tracker IVV since its 2019 inception. However, the current U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict and soaring oil prices expose SNPE to heightened downside risk, potentially leading to a deeper drawdown than IVV. The analyst rates SNPE as a Hold, acknowledging both its historical outperformance and present‑day vulnerabilities.
IVOO: Multiplier Effects Gone In The AI-Age, Avoiding Cyclicals And Discretionary
The Vanguard S&P Mid‑Cap 400 ETF (IVOO) is heavily weighted toward cyclical sectors, with about 65% in discretionary, financials, industrials, materials and real estate. The analyst warns that uncertain U.S. consumer demand, rising unemployment and AI‑driven productivity gains could dampen...
Equity ETFs Added $110 Billion in February – See the Leading ETFs
Equity exchange‑traded funds recorded $110 billion of net inflows in February, according to FactSet data. Vanguard’s S&P 500 ETF (VOO) topped the list with $17 billion, followed by Invesco’s equal‑weight S&P 500 ETF (RSP) at $5.6 billion. Other top performers included Vanguard’s international (VXUS) and...
Direct Indexing Is Not New, but It Has Become Newly Essential
Direct indexing, once a niche tool for the ultra‑wealthy, is now becoming a core component of portfolio construction thanks to advances in technology and lower operational costs. Continuous monitoring enables advisors to make incremental, tax‑loss harvesting adjustments throughout the year...
Fidelity Rolls Out Private Markets Model Portfolios with Alts Education for Advisors
Fidelity introduced two new model‑portfolio suites that embed private equity, private credit and private real‑estate assets, targeting RIAs and broker‑dealers. The portfolios, available through Envestnet, require a $100,000 minimum and combine active, passive and ETF strategies with third‑party managers. Alongside...
Top Performing Leveraged/Inverse ETFs: 03/01/2026
Leveraged and inverse ETFs posted strong weekly gains, with Defiance’s IONX leading at 36.79% after IonQ’s earnings surge. Gold‑related leveraged products such as GDXU, AGQ, and NUGT posted 20%‑plus returns driven by rising precious‑metal prices amid Middle‑East tensions. Regional and...
How Factor Investing Behaves Across Global Markets
Factor investing relies on five core characteristics—value, momentum, quality, low volatility and size—to capture distinct return patterns. While the framework is applied worldwide, factor performance can diverge dramatically across markets. Local market structure, macroeconomic conditions, and investor behavior dictate whether...
Covered Call ETFs Explained: Income, Upside Limits, and Volatility Protection
Covered call ETFs are gaining traction among Canadian self‑directed investors seeking higher distribution yields than traditional equities or bonds. These funds generate cash flow by writing call options against the underlying portfolio, delivering enhanced income in volatile markets. While they...
Defiance Launches DRNL: 2X Leveraged ETF on Drones
Defiance ETFs announced the launch of DRNL, a 2x daily leveraged exchange‑traded fund that tracks the BITA Pure Drone and Aerial Automation Index. The ETF aims to deliver twice the daily percentage change of companies involved in drone manufacturing, software,...
Nicholas Wealth Adds Income-Focused Nuclear and Defense ETFs to Suite
Nicholas Wealth’s XFUNDS platform has launched two new actively‑managed income ETFs: the Nicholas Nuclear Income ETF (NUKX) and the Nicholas Defense and Rare Earth Income ETF (WEPN). Both funds blend equity holdings, commodity‑linked ETFs, and an options overlay to generate...
IShares MSCI EM Swap UCITS ETF: BlackRock Lists Emerging Market Swap Instrument in London
BlackRock's iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Swap UCITS ETF launched in London on 23 February 2026, ticker ESWP, expanding its synthetic ETF suite. The fund tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets Index via unfunded total‑return swaps, offering a 0.14% TER, 4 basis...
How to Spot and Avoid Illiquid ETFs
The column explains that ETF liquidity is driven primarily by the liquidity of the underlying securities, not by daily trading volume. It describes the in‑kind creation and redemption process that keeps ETF prices aligned with NAV. Real‑world examples show that...
RLTY: Monthly Income From The Growth Of AI Data Centers
Closed‑end fund RLTY offers an 8.3% yield but pays out more than it earns, eroding NAV over time. The fund is positioned to capture AI data‑center growth through holdings in REITs such as DLR, AMT, and EQIX. However, its 34.6%...
With Post-IRAN Volatility, I Return To Watching IDVO Closely
Amplify CWP International Enhanced Div Inc ETF (IDVO) employs an active, ex‑US covered‑call strategy that leans heavily into cyclical sectors, aiming to monetize heightened market volatility. The author sees recent post‑Iran geopolitical turbulence as a catalyst to accumulate IDVO, hoping...
RSPG: A Clean Way To Take Advantage Of The Iran Conflict
RSPG, the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Energy ETF, offers investors exposure to 22 U.S. energy companies positioned to benefit from rising oil prices amid the Iran conflict. Its equal‑weight methodology normalizes valuation outliers and reduces concentration risk, eliminating the...
KWEB: Almost So Bad, It's Good, Where To Dip Your Toe
The KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB) remains a "Hold" as most of its downside appears priced in, though a further 10% drop to $27‑$28 could test long‑term support. Valuation is reasonable with a 6.75% yield, but a P/E above...
IFLN: A New Fallen Angels ETF In An Old Shell
Invesco Bloomberg Enhanced Fallen Angels ETF (IFLN) has been relaunched in an existing open‑end fund shell, effectively resetting its strategy to focus on "fallen angels"—high‑yield bonds that have slipped to BB or lower. The fund now holds roughly 81% BB‑rated...
Crude Oil And The War In The Middle East
US Oil Fund (USO) and Brent Oil ETF (BNO) are both rated hold as traders navigate heightened volatility from the Middle‑East conflict. Brent and distillate futures present greater upside risk than WTI, while seasonal demand backs gasoline and WTI. Both...
Fidelity: Position Portfolios for Resiliency to Navigate Volatility
Fidelity’s Q4 2025 portfolio review of 3,371 advisor‑constructed accounts shows a heavy tilt toward equities, with 72 % of assets in stocks and only 23 % in bonds. U.S. equities dominate the equity sleeve at 79 % and ETFs feature in 59 % of...
Bitcoin ETF Custody Concentrates Power in One Place, and Now a Single Operational Failure Causes Dangerous Ripples
Spot Bitcoin ETFs now hold over $54 billion, roughly 1.5 million BTC, turning the cryptocurrency into a familiar ticker. The ETF structure separates economic exposure from technical ownership, placing the underlying coins in a trust that relies on a custodian’s private‑key control....
ERShares Details Pioneering Private-Access ETF Structure
ERShares has detailed the structure of its Private‑Public Crossover ETF (XOVR), the first ETF to provide private‑company exposure through an SPV that reports daily NAV alongside public equities. The fund’s private sleeve includes holdings such as SpaceX and operates under...
BOND: Active Bond ETF Beating The Benchmark, But Lagging Competitors
PIMCO’s Active Bond ETF (BOND) is an actively managed, multi‑sector bond fund launched in 2012, holding nearly 1,900 securities with a 30‑day SEC yield of 4.56% and a net expense ratio of 0.54%. Since inception it has generated a total...
Defence Tech Emerges as Strategic Allocation
European defence spending is entering a structural re‑armament phase, with global military outlays reaching a record $2.7 trillion in 2024. NATO members have agreed to raise defence budgets to 5% of GDP, allocating 1.5% to cyber, AI and other non‑traditional domains....
GREK: Greek Stocks Appear Undervalued
The Global X MSCI Greece ETF (GREK) is trading at roughly 10 times forward earnings, delivering a base‑case internal rate of return above 14 percent. Nearly half of its $348 million assets are concentrated in domestic banks, reflecting the country’s financial‑services tilt. Greece’s...
Invesco Lists Two US Dollar Corporate Bond ETFs on London Stock Exchange
Invesco launched two new US‑dollar‑denominated corporate bond ETFs on the London Stock Exchange on 2 March 2026. Both funds track the iBoxx USD Corporates Investment‑Grade Spread Select Top 50 % TCA Index, using a rules‑based, quarterly‑rebalanced selection that targets higher‑yielding bonds within each sector and maturity...
VGIT: U.S. Force Projection Could Undermine Debasement Trade
The United States’ military escalation against Iran has triggered a rapid flight‑to‑quality, pushing U.S. Treasury prices up and yields down while simultaneously stoking inflation concerns via higher oil prices. This dual dynamic creates a paradox for intermediate‑term bond investors, as...
WhiteHorse Finance Inc (WHF) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Westwood Holdings Group reported Q4 2025 revenue of $27.1 million, driven by a growing ETF franchise that now holds over $200 million in assets and the launch of the YLDW ETF. The firm closed its Westwood Energy Secondary Fund II with more...
Leveraged ETF Watchlist And Focus On SPXU History
ProShares UltraPro Short S&P 500 ETF (SPXU) delivers –3X daily exposure to the S&P 500, attracting short‑term traders seeking inverse market bets. The fund manages about $489 million in assets and sees roughly $284 million in average daily trading volume. SPXU is prone to...
Cathie Wood Goes Bargain Hunting: 3 Stocks She Just Bought
Cathie Wood’s Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK) recently added three new positions: design‑software firm Figma, gene‑editing company CRISPR Therapeutics, and AI‑focused data‑center provider CoreWeave. Figma now represents about 0.66% of the fund after a third purchase in February, while CRISPR has...
SCYB: Trouble Not Yet Boiling Over In High Yield
Schwab’s High Yield Bond ETF (SCYB) received a hold rating as macro‑economic headwinds raise concerns in the junk bond market. The fund offers a 6.7% distribution yield, a short 2.9‑year duration, and 58% exposure to BB‑rated issuers, but technical resistance...
IJR: The Smart Way To Play The 2026 Rotation
The iShares Core S&P Small‑Cap ETF (IJR) has been upgraded to a Buy as it trades roughly 30% below the S&P 500 valuation while delivering faster earnings growth. Its profitability screen removes the 43% of unprofitable firms found in broader small‑cap...
AVLV: A Value ETF With A Distinct Sector Mix
Avantis US Large‑Cap Value ETF (AVLV) combines traditional value screens with profitability filters, delivering a sector‑balanced portfolio that includes notable allocations to technology and industrials. The fund trades at roughly a 24% price‑to‑earnings discount to the Russell 1000 and has posted...
Cross Staff Loads Up on 289,000 Shares of AKRE
Cross Staff Investments Inc filed a 13F on February 27, 2026 showing a new $18.97 million position in the Akre Focus ETF (AKRE), amounting to 289,630 shares and roughly 10.45 % of the fund’s reportable assets. AKRE, an actively managed ETF that targets high‑return...
NFTY: Comparatively Better, Structurally Weak
The First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF (NFTY) provides U.S. investors with an equal‑weight exposure to the Nifty 50 constituents, but its performance is hampered by a weakening Indian rupee. Over the past two decades the equal‑weight index has generated...
SPYD Just Did The Unthinkable: Matching SPY In A Growth Market
The SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) has outperformed the benchmark SPY since June 2022, challenging the notion that yield‑focused funds lag in growth markets. SPYD’s equal‑weighting, broader sector exposure and high dividend yield give it a defensive edge...
DIVI: The New Strategy Still Has To Prove Itself
The Franklin International Core Dividend Tilt Index ETF (DIVI) offers a 3.40% yield and a low 0.09% expense ratio, targeting developed markets outside North America. In August 2022 the fund underwent a strategy overhaul, resetting its performance history and leaving...
ECH: Recent Pullback May Be A Sign Of Things To Come
The iShares MSCI Chile ETF (ECH) is currently rated Hold as analysts cite high risk and an unclear growth outlook for Chile through 2026. While the fund benefits from solid momentum and liquidity, its expense ratio is above average and...
METL: Active Diversified Metals Miners, Up 50% Since Inception In The Past Year
Since its September 2025 debut, the Sprott Active Metals & Miners ETF (METL) has delivered a cumulative return exceeding 50%, outpacing the broader Natural Resources sector. The fund’s portfolio is notably overweight in copper and uranium, differentiating it from gold‑centric...
SCHY: International Dividend Equity ETF, Cheap Valuation, Above-Average Yield, Solid Growth, Significant Momentum
Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF (SCHY) delivers a 3.2% dividend yield, low 0.08% expense ratio, and about $2.25 B in assets under management. The fund’s valuation appears cheap relative to peers, and recent price action shows strong momentum over the past...
FRDM: Are Emerging Market Equities Driving The U.S. Market?
The Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF (FRDM) uses a "freedom‑weighting" model to pick stocks from 24 emerging‑market nations, deliberately excluding companies with more than 20% state ownership. With $2.97 billion in assets and a 0.49% expense ratio, the fund has consistently outperformed...
CLSE: Impressive Performance Amid Capital Rotation Reinforces Buy Rating
Convergence Long/Short Equity ETF (CLSE) has delivered strong relative performance, outpacing the S&P 500 and its peers IVV and IWV since the author’s November 2025 coverage. Since converting to an ETF, CLSE has exceeded the broad‑market IWV benchmark by roughly 28.5%, reflecting...
CGCP: Plodding Along Doing Its Job, 5% Yield
Capital Group Core Plus Income ETF (CGCP) retains a ‘Buy’ rating, delivering a 5% yield and out‑performing major passive bond funds AGG and BND by 62 basis points over the past two years. The fund’s portfolio is weighted toward investment‑grade...
IHE: U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF With Excellent GARP Features
The iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE) is anchored by Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly, whose earnings per share have nearly doubled in the past year. IHE’s aggregate one‑year EPS growth estimate is an impressive 19.07% while trading at a modest...
SPMD: It's Time To Ride The Long-Lasting Momentum In Mid Caps
The State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF (SPMD) has been upgraded to a buy, with analysts forecasting a 20% price return in 2026. The rally is attributed to anticipated rate cuts, a stable macro environment, and earnings growth...
This Advisor Added $3.33 Million to a Bond Position to Balance Nvidia and Apple Holdings
On February 6, 2026 Larson Financial Group LLC disclosed a $3.33 million purchase of 61,408 shares of the JPMorgan Active Bond ETF (JBND), raising its stake to 1.09 % of its 13F assets. The addition increased the fund’s quarter‑end value by $3.27 million...
#58449
Global X Disruptive Materials ETF (DMAT) will be renamed Global X Rare Earth & Critical Materials ETF, trading under the new ticker EART effective March 2, 2026. The option symbol will also shift from DMAT to EART, with the contract multiplier increasing...
Investors Double Down on Robotics: ROBO Sees $225M Flow Surge
Investors are pouring money into the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF as the rise of “physical AI” expands the addressable market for intelligent hardware. Assets under management jumped to $1.7 billion, driven by a $452 million year‑to‑date inflow, with $255 million...
ETJ: There's Only One CEF That Will Survive A Market Crash
ETJ, a closed‑end fund, hedges its U.S. equity holdings by buying out‑of‑the‑money S&P 500 put options that cover nearly the entire portfolio. This strategy allowed the fund to post positive returns during the 2008 financial crisis and positions it as a...
MAGS Or MAGY: Which Magnificent Seven ETF Is Worth It?
Roundhill’s Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS) is downgraded from buy to hold, with the analyst citing an elevated 28× earnings multiple that remains above the 22× threshold needed for a purchase. Heavy AI‑driven capital expenditures are turning the traditionally asset‑light Magnificent...
Option ETF Popularity Showcases Need for Portfolio Security
Option‑strategy ETFs have hit a new record, attracting roughly $65 billion of inflows projected for 2025. The Calamos Laddered S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF (CPSL) exemplifies this trend by bundling twelve monthly Calamos Structured Protection ETFs into a single ticker. CPSL...