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The Fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index (the Index), a market-capitalization-weighted index that as of December 31, 2023, is made up of approximately 3,957 common stocks of large-, mid-, and small-cap companies located in Canada and the major markets of Europe and the Pacific region. The Fund attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the Index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the Index.

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Greene&#39;s filing on Thursday marks her first periodic transaction report since June 2022, adhering to the &#34;Stock Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act.&#34;

Marjorie Taylor Greene Reveals New Stock Trades After 2-Year Gap: Berkshire Hathway, Goldman Sachs And Microsoft Make The List — But Trump&#39;s DJT Doesn&#39;t

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U.S. government debt is reaching unsustainable levels, and the latest analysis points to an even more concerning future.

National Debt Drama Deepens: Where To Stash Your Cash When The Fiscal Sky Falls

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Firebrand Republican Congresswoman&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38348258/marjorie-taylor-greene-takes-step-back-in-effort-to-remove-speaker-mike-johnson-but-blasts-him-as-a" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;(R-GA) made headlines Thursday&nbsp;with a disclosure of&nbsp;her latest financial transactions.
What Happened: Greene&#8217;s filing on Thursday marks her first periodic transaction report since June 2022, adhering to the &#8220;Stock Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act.&#8221; This act mandates U.S. lawmakers to publicly disclose financial transactions within 45 days of occurrence, typically within a value range.
All transactions occurred on either April 25 or 26.
The details of Greene&#8217;s transactions are as follows:
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Company</td>
<td>Value Range</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>)</td>
<td>$1,001-$15,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>)</td>
<td>$1,001-$15,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>)</td>
<td>$1,001-$15,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</td>
<td>$1,001-$15,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Schwab US Large-Cap Growth Idx (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWLGX#NASDAQ">SWLGX</a>)</td>
<td>$1,001-$15,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>)</td>
<td>$1,001-$15,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSCO#NASDAQ">TSCO</a>)</td>
<td>$1,001-$15,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>US Treasury Bill</td>
<td>$250,001-$500,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEA#NYSE">VEA</a>)</td>
<td>$1,001-$15,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VO#NYSE">VO</a>)</td>
<td>$1,001-$15,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>)</td>
<td>$15,001-$50,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VB#NYSE">VB</a>)</td>
<td>$1,001-$15,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Sale transactions:
<ul>
<li>iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EMG#NYSE">EMG</a>): $1,001-$15,000 </li>
<li>iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXUS#NASDAQ">IXUS</a>): $1,001-$15,000 </li>
<li>iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>): $1,001-$15,000)</li>
<li>iShares Core S&amp;P Small-Cap ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IJR#NYSE">IJR</a>): $1,001-$15,000)</li>
<li>iShares Core S&amp;P U.S. Growth ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IUSG#NASDAQ">IUSG</a>): $1,001-$15,000)</li>
</ul>
All the exchange-traded funds were part of mutual funds held in Greene&#8217;s managed IRA account.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-invest-in-startups">How To Invest In Startups</a>
No DJT Trades: Greene, an ardent backer of Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump, incidentally did not do any new transaction in Trump Media &amp; Technology Group Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DJT#NASDAQ">DJT</a>), the former president&#8217;s media company that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/03/37963370/trumps-djt-stock-is-worth-52x-more-than-nvidia-by-1-data-point">came public in late March following its merger with SPAC Digital World Acquisition.</a>
The stock is down about 16% since its public debut.
When Digital World Acquisition announced its decision with Trump Media &amp; Technology Group in 2021, Green was the first Congress member to invest in the SPAC. She then reported that she along with her then-husband Perry Greene bought $15,001-$50,000 worth of the SPAC&#8217;s shares
Greene hasn&#8217;t disclosed any sale of the stock since then.
The stock market has been on a tear this year despite the headwinds. The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), an ETF that tracks the broader S&amp;P 500 Index, rose 0.34% to $506.74, in premarket trading, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">Benzinga Pro data. </a>It has gained over 6.5% so far this year.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/05/38609896/wall-street-looks-to-feed-off-apples-post-earnings-power-but-key-jobs-data-may-upset-the-cart-analy">Wall Street Looks To Feed Off Apple&#8217;s Post-Earnings Power But Key Jobs Data May Upset The Cart: Analyst Says &#8216;A Lot Of These Clouds Will Lift&#8217; If This Happens</a>

Marjorie Taylor Greene Reveals New Stock Trades After 2-Year Gap: Berkshire Hathway, Goldman Sachs And Microsoft Make The List — But Trump's DJT Doesn't

U.S. government debt is reaching unsustainable levels, and the latest analysis points to an even<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/treasuries/24/02/37227285/government-debt-exceeds-120-of-gdp-why-former-imf-economist-very-worried-about-us-fiscal-crisis"> more concerning future.</a>
A new economic model developed by Bloomberg Economics predicts that in 88% of scenarios, U.S. debt as a percentage of GDP will rise in the coming 10 years.
In a Monday letter to investors, Citadel founder Ken Griffin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/04/38039631/ken-griffin-slams-irresponsible-us-deficit-we-must-stop-borrowing-at-the-expense-">referred to mounting national debt as a significant issue</a>, saying that &#8220;we must stop borrowing at the expense of future generations.&#8221;
According to a recent survey, about 85% of Americans worry that current debt levels <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/02/37324835/ticking-time-bomb-over-85-of-americans-fear-national-debt-crisis-impact-on-their-fu">could have a negative impact in their future</a>.
Official data from the St. Louis Fed shows that debt equaled 121% of the country&#8217;s GDP in the last quarter of 2023. The rate has floated around 120% in past years, after peaking at 132% during the COVID pandemic. These levels are above a previous historical record set following World War II.
In late May 2023, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/32704441/biden-signs-debt-ceiling-bill-to-avert-government-default">the government averted a default by raising the debt limit even higher</a> in an emergency measure. While lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree that government borrowing has reached unhealthy levels, a lack of agreement as to how to solve the problem keeps Congress from finding a satisfactory solution.
Earlier this year Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that the current rate of debt acquisition <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/02/37156426/jerome-powell-says-34-trillion-national-debt-is-ready-for-an-adult-conversation-janet-yellen-calls-s">means we're ​​&#8221;borrowing from future generations,"</a> and called for elected officials to have an adult conversation "about getting the federal government back on a sustainable fiscal path.&#8221;
With <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/03/37851477/u-s-national-debt-has-increased-by-nearly-8-5-billion-per-day-over-the-past-year">national debt increasing by an average of $8.5 billion a day during the past year</a>, Republicans generally argue for spending cuts, while Democrats point towards problems in tax revenue and high interest rates as the causes behind the rising fiscal deficit.
A recent budget proposal by President Joe Biden is aimed at reducing the federal deficit by $3 trillion in the next decade <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/03/37603424/bidens-budget-aims-to-slash-us-deficit-by-3-trillion-next-decade-through-higher-taxes-on-wealthy-big">by raising taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations</a>.
Where To Find Safe Haven: Bank of America chief strategist Michael Hartnett recently linked a rise in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-invest-in-gold">gold</a> and Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) with rising concerns over debt, as investors look for hedges against a possible debt-led crises affecting the U.S. economy.
As opposed to the U.S. dollar, which can be emitted to infinity by printing new cash, both Bitcoin and gold have a cap on their supply, making them safer assets to store value in times of economic volatility.
Also read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/37227285">Government Debt Exceeds 120% Of GDP: Why Former IMF Economist &#8216;Very Worried&#8217; About US Fiscal Crisis</a>
SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>), the largest ETF following the gold market by total assets, has gained over 23% in the last six months. Other gold ETFs, including iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IAU#NYSE">IAU</a>) and Abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SGOL#NYSE">SGOL</a>) follow a similar trajectory.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38053974">Bitcoin has hit a slump this week,</a> losing 5% of its value at the time of writing on Tuesday, yet the cryptocurrency has been enjoying a rally in recent months.
When concerns about national debt dominate the news, investors typically seek assets known for retaining value. With the debt ceiling suspension set to last until Jan. 1, 2025, Congress is likely to face another stand-off on debt issues following the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/2024-election">presidential election in November</a>, regardless of the winning candidate.
Real estate is another sector known to serve as a store of value, and investors can take part without the need to buy actual land. ETFs following the sector reflect its growth trends, with some of the largest being Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VNQ#NYSE">VNQ</a>) and Schwab US REIT ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHH#NYSE">SCHH</a>).
ETFs following companies in Europe, Asia, Australia and other developed territories, also known as foreign asset ETFs, can also serve as a safe haven from U.S. volatility. Some of the largest include Vanguard Tax Managed Fund FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEA#NYSE">VEA</a>) as well as iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEFA#BATS">IEFA</a>).
The new <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-01/us-government-debt-risk-a-million-simulations-show-danger-ahead?srnd=homepage-europe&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">report</a> by Bloomberg Economics executed one million simulations tinkering with several variables in order to encompass the widest possible range of future scenarios. In 88% of the scenarios, the debt ratio went up between now and 2034, making the path of U.S. government debt unsustainable.
Bloomberg's team started its analysis by setting off from projections published by the Congressional Budget Office, which warned earlier this year that the fiscal deficit is spinning out of control, even when assuming that inflation will stabilize at 2% and the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38021818"> Fed will drop interest rates</a>.
The firm used a computational analysis which created a model using "market pricing for future interest rates and data on the maturity profile of bonds," and its results surpassed Congress' predictions, taking U.S. debt into new records over the coming decade.
Now read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/37839953">Elon Musk Calls For &#8216;Strong-Willed President&#8217; After GOP Rep Warns &#8216;Economic Catastrophe Must Happen&#8217; Before Congress Gets Serious About &#8216;Out-Of-Control Spending&#8217;</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Vanguard has become a towering figure <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">in the world of exchange-traded funds (ETFs)</a>. 
As investors increasingly turn to ETFs for their diversification, lower costs, and liquidity, understanding the offerings and strategies of major players like Vanguard is essential. 
Yet, amidst this expansive array of financial instruments, one notable absence in Vanguard&#8217;s portfolio raises eyebrows: the lack of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/bitcoin-etf">Bitcoin ETF. </a>
Here, we delve into the five critical factors about Vanguard ETFs, also explaining why a Bitcoin ETF is deliberately missing from their portfolio lineup.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Vanguard&#8217;s Status In The ETF Arena</h3>
Vanguard ranks as the second-largest ETF issuer globally, overseeing a diverse portfolio of over a hundred ETFs and boasting an impressive $2.5 trillion in assets under management (AUM), just shy of BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>), which leads with $2.7 trillion AUM.
The Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>), with $426 billion in AUM as of Mar. 14, 2024, is not only Vanguard&#8217;s flagship fund but also the world&#8217;s second-largest ETF, trailing slightly behind the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) at $503 billion. 
Top 7 Vanguard&#8217;s ETFs By AUM
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>ETF</th>
<th>AUM (bn)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF </td>
<td>426.87 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF </td>
<td>385.48 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEA#NYSE">VEA</a>)</td>
<td>130.07 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VUG#NYSE">VUG</a>)</td>
<td>119.81 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Value ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTV#NYSE">VTV</a>)</td>
<td>115.14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BND#NYSE">BND</a>)</td>
<td>105.94</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Div Appreciation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIG#NYSE">VIG</a>) </td>
<td>77.92</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Champion of Low Fees</h3>
In the competitive ETF marketplace, cost efficiency is a significant battleground. Vanguard emerges as a victor here, offering the lowest average expense fees among its funds—an AUM-weighted average expense ratio of a mere 0.05%, according to data from VettaFi. 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Issuers</td>
<td>Expense Rank</td>
<td>Avg. Expense Ratio (%)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0.05%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BNY Mellon</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0.05%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Charles Schwab</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>0.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bondbloxx Investment Management Corp.</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GAMCO Investors, Inc.</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>0.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Humankind USA LLC</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>0.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>State Street</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>0.12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Deutsche Bank AG</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>0.13%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>0.15%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Data: VettaFi</figcaption></figure>
The cheapest ETFs issued by Vanguard are the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF, Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTI#NYSE">VTI</a>), and the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF, all screening an expense ratio of just 0.03%.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Leading The 2024 Inflow Race</h3>
In 2024, Vanguard outshines its competitors in attracting investment flows. The issuer has seen a staggering $75 billion in inflows over the past three months, eclipsing BlackRock&#8217;s $55.7 billion, thereby securing its position as the top performer in fund flows thus far this year.
The Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF has attracted $21 billion over the past three months, topping the ranking among its peers. 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Issuers</td>
<td>Fund Flow Rank</td>
<td>3-Month Fund Flow ($MM)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>$70,097.57</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BlackRock, Inc.</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>$55,791.59</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>$20,380.07</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>State Street</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>$16,097.65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dimensional</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>$9,362.99</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPMorgan Chase</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>$9,263.38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fidelity</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>$9,240.89</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Data: VettaFi</figcaption></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Conservative Product Range</h3>
Unlike some of its peers, Vanguard has opted for a more conservative route in its ETF offerings. The company does not offer leveraged ETFs, sticking strictly to equity and fixed-income products. 
This strategic choice highlights Vanguard&#8217;s focus on traditional investment vehicles over speculative or alternative assets. Vanguard&#8217;s portfolio notably lacks any commodities, currency, or Bitcoin-related ETFs.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Absence of Bitcoin and Crypto ETFs</h3>
This absence isn&#8217;t due to oversight but a deliberate decision. Vanguard has explicitly stated it has no plans to introduce a Bitcoin ETF or any other crypto-related products, distinguishing itself from other major ETF issuers — such as BlackRock, VanEck, Franklin Templeton, WisdomTree, Invesco, Fidelity, Global X, 21 Shares and ProShares – who have embraced the crypto bandwagon.
Why No Bitcoin ETF? Vanguard&#8217;s Reasoning
Vanguard&#8217;s stance on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies is grounded in a cautious approach to investment merit and client needs. Janel Jackson, global head of ETF Capital Markets and broker &amp; index relations at Vanguard, has expressed skepticism about the role of cryptocurrencies in long-term portfolios. 
Citing crypto&#8217;s speculative nature, lack of inherent economic value, and potential to disrupt portfolio stability, Vanguard sees crypto as an &#8220;immature asset class.&#8221; 
Instead, the company invests its interest in blockchain technology for its potential to enhance capital market efficiency, steering clear of cryptocurrencies as investment products.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/03/37712624/tightening-the-tap-regional-banks-tech-stocks-bitcoin-brace-for-liquidity-crunch-as-fed-li">Tightening The Tap: Regional Banks, Tech Stocks, Bitcoin Brace For Liquidity Crunch As Fed Lifeline Ends</a>

5 Things You Need To Know About Vanguard ETFs: Why There's No Bitcoin ETF In Their Lineup?

The Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEA#NYSE">VEA</a>) just formed a Golden Cross on the technical charts. Developed markets, outside the U.S., hope for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">a bullish price trend ahead</a>.
The VEA ETF: The VEA ETF tracks the FTSE Developed ex-U.S. All Cap Net Tax (US RIC) Index. It offers exposure to developed markets outside of North America, including:
<ul>
<li>Europe (~53%)</li>
<li>Japan (20%)</li>
<li>Australia (6%). </li>
</ul>
In essence, it is an investment vehicle popularly used to get overweight ex-U.S. developed markets. 
Currently, 70% of the ETF is invested in large-cap stocks, with the financial sector being the dominating sector at 21.62%.
The VEA ETF trumps the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) in depth of holdings and cost efficiency. While the VEA is invested across 4,500 holdings, the EFA portfolio is spread across 1,000 holdings. The VEA has an expense ratio of 0.05% versus the EFA which charges 0.35%.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36290012/s-p-500-likely-to-test-the-5-000-level-jp-morgan-on-where-to-allocate-in-2024">Japanese stocks remain attractive</a>, given rerating potential driven by corporate governance reforms,&#8221; John Bilton, head of Global Multi-Asset Strategy at JPMorgan, said. 
For the first quarter of 2024, Bilton expects to see U.K. equity as cheap and supported by valuations and flows. 
&#8220;It is a defensive market; with a positive gearing towards commodities,&#8221; he added.
Wells Fargo has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36389824/s-p-500-stuck-in-4600-4800-limbo-for-2024-wells-fargo-pinpoints-3-favored-sectors-f?utm_campaign=partner_feed&amp;utm_source=InvestingUK&amp;utm_medium=partner_feed&amp;utm_content=TopStories">year-end 2024 target</a> of 2,000-2,200 for the MSCI EAFE Index which tracks the developed markets ex-U.S. and Canada. The investment firm said they &#8220;prefer developed-market over emerging-market equities.&#8221;
Compelling alternatives to the VEA ETF include: the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VXUS#NASDAQ">VXUS</a>) and the RAFI-weighted Invesco FTSE RAFI Developed Markets ex-U.S. ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PXF#NYSE">PXF</a>) (which also includes Canadian stocks).
The VEA Chart: The VEA technical price chart indicates a Golden Cross forming. The 50-day SMA can be seen crossing over the 200-day SMA, indicating a bullish trend kicking in.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="650" height="650" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/08090259/VEA-Golden-Cross-Jan-8.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-176263" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/08090259/VEA-Golden-Cross-Jan-8.jpeg 650w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/08090259/VEA-Golden-Cross-Jan-8-300x300.jpeg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/08090259/VEA-Golden-Cross-Jan-8-150x150.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></figure>
At a P/E ratio of <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/VEA/">12.97</a>, investors in developed markets may find the VEA particularly attractive.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/01/36534976/earnings-season-preview-how-will-corporate-profit-outlooks-impact-markets-in-2024">Earnings Season Preview &#8211; How Will Corporate Profit Outlooks Impact Markets In 2024?</a>
Image: Shutterstock

These Developed Markets Outside US Are Getting Bullish: Here's What VEA ETF Technical Chart Shows

The Wells Fargo (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>) Investment Institute has released its 2024 Outlook, detailing their projections for market levels at the end of 2024 and highlighting their preferred sectors <a href="http://benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36290012/s-p-500-likely-to-test-the-5-000-level-jp-morgan-on-where-to-allocate-in-2024">for the upcoming year</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500 Index target 4,600-4,800 in 2024</h2>
Per the <a href="https://sites.wf.com/2024-outlook/">report</a>, Wells Fargo expects global earnings to be challenged in early 2024. They expect a rebound later in the year as the economy reaccelerates. Once investors begin to anticipate an economic and earnings recovery, they expect the S&amp;P 500 to gain into the end of the year. 
Wells Fargo has a 4.600-4,800 year-end 2024 target for the S&amp;P 500 Index. Apart from the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), the iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>) and the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) are two other popular ETFs that track the performance of the S&amp;P 500.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36290012/s-p-500-likely-to-test-the-5-000-level-jp-morgan-on-where-to-allocate-in-2024">S&amp;P 500 Likely To &#8216;Test The 5,000 Level&#8217;: JP Morgan On Where To Allocate In 2024</a>
&#8220;Valuations likely will increase in 2024 as markets anticipate an earnings recovery into 2025&#8221; said Darrell L. Cronk, president of Well Fargo Investment Institute and the CIO of Wealth &amp; Investment Institute.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Large-Caps Over Mid-Caps</h2>
At times when earnings per share (EPS) is decelerating and the economy is slowing, Wells Fargo favors quality and a more defensive posture within equities. Given their expectations with the earnings challenge in early 2024, Wells Fargo would prefer to allocate into U.S. large-caps over mid-caps and small-caps. 
They have a year-end 2024 target for the MSCI EAFE Index of 2,000-2,200. 
The MSCI EAFE Index follows the performance of large and mid-cap companies in 21 developed market countries globally, representing regions of Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. Notably, it excludes companies from Canada and the U.S. The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) is a popular ETF that tracks the performance of the MSCI EAFE Index.
Analysts at the Well Fargo Investment Institute also prefer developed-market over emerging-market equities. Along with EFA ETF as mentioned above, the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEA#NYSE">VEA</a>) and the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEFA#NYSE">IEFA</a>) are 2 other popular developed-markets equity-tracking ETFs.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 &#8216;Favored Sectors&#8217;</h2>
In terms of sector picks, Cronk calls out Health Care, Industrials, and Materials as Wells Fargo&#8217;s &#8220;favored sectors.&#8221; Some popular exchange-traded funds tracking these sectors respectively are:
<ul>
<li>Healthcare: The Health Care Select Sector&nbsp;SPDR&nbsp;ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) and the Vanguard Health Care&nbsp;ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VHT#NYSE">VHT</a>)</li>
<li>Industrials: The Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) and the iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#NYSE">ITA</a>)</li>
<li>Materials: The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) and the Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>)</li>
</ul>
Consumer Discretionary and Real Estate count among the unfavorable sectors.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36301925/emerging-ai-trends-in-2024-blackrock-sees-shift-beyond-semiconductors-cloud-to-mode">Emerging AI Trends In 2024: BlackRock Sees Shift Beyond Semiconductors, Cloud To Model Infrastructure</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

S&P 500 Stuck In 4,600-4,800 Limbo For 2024? Wells Fargo Pinpoints 3 'Favored Sectors' For Next Year

New research from Goldman Sachs reveals that U.S. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have surpassed the threshold of $8 trillion in assets under management (AUM), setting an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">all-time high this week</a>. 
This milestone is another clear indicator of the robust health of the investment landscape in the United States, as major stock market indices trade at or near their record levels. 
The S&amp;P 500, for instance, has rallied by 25% year to date, trading at a mere 1% distance from its all-time highs. Tech stocks in the Nasdaq 100 have soared 53% year to date, hitting a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/23/12/36305091/nasdaq-100-hits-record-high-set-for-best-annual-performance-since-1999-tech-boom">record high on Tuesday.</a>
But the increase in the ETF market size isn't just about a bullish stock market. Rising assets among U.S. ETFs have also been driven by the influx of fresh capital from investors, as a testament of a broader optimistic sentiment.
Statistics from ETFdb.com shows that the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), the largest ETF globally, saw an impressive $30.8 billion of inflows in December, raising its AUM to $478 billion. Similarly, another ETF tracking the S&amp;P 500, the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>), witnessed $5.5 billion of inflows this month. The Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSP#NYSE">RSP</a>) also saw inflows, amounting to $4 billion.
Investors have shown a keen interest in bond-related ETFs as well. For instance, the iShares 20 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) has witnessed $3.6 billion of inflows so far this month, underlining the diversity of investor interest in both equity and bond markets, as the Federal Reserve&#8217;s stance shifts. 
Here are the top 10 U.S. ETFs with over $100 billion in assets:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>ETF Name</th>
<th>Asset Class</th>
<th>Total Assets ($MM)</th>
<th>YTD Price Change</th>
<th>Avg. Daily Share Volume (3mo)</th>
<th>Previous Closing Price</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust </td>
<td>Equity</td>
<td>$459,320</td>
<td>25.29%</td>
<td>83,028,508</td>
<td>$471.97</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>)</td>
<td>Equity</td>
<td>$396,818</td>
<td>25.41%</td>
<td>5,025,149</td>
<td>$476.15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF</td>
<td>Equity</td>
<td>$370,019</td>
<td>25.44%</td>
<td>4,786,040</td>
<td>$435.54</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTT#NYSE">VTT</a>)</td>
<td>Equity</td>
<td>$344,291</td>
<td>25.04%</td>
<td>3,440,999</td>
<td>$236.33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco QQQ Trust Series I (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)</td>
<td>Equity</td>
<td>$226,720</td>
<td>53.54%</td>
<td>50,701,398</td>
<td>$407.08</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEA#NYSE">VEA</a>)</td>
<td>Equity</td>
<td>$120,812</td>
<td>14.85%</td>
<td>11,897,938</td>
<td>$46.65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Value ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTV#NYSE">VTV</a>)</td>
<td>Equity</td>
<td>$106,321</td>
<td>8.14%</td>
<td>2,694,169</td>
<td>$148.94</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTG#NYSE">VTG</a>)</td>
<td>Equity</td>
<td>$105,540</td>
<td>46.26%</td>
<td>924,069</td>
<td>$310.27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEFA#NYSE">IEFA</a>)</td>
<td>Equity</td>
<td>$104,985</td>
<td>15.03%</td>
<td>8,991,273</td>
<td>$69.57</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BND#NYSE">BND</a>)</td>
<td>Bond</td>
<td>$103,544</td>
<td>4.92%</td>
<td>7,811,976</td>
<td>$73.25</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Now read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/23/12/36300632/nasdaq-s-p-500-futures-bounce-higher-as-santa-claus-rally-awaits-analyst-says-december-typically-se">Nasdaq, S&amp;P 500 Futures Bounce Higher As Santa Claus Rally Awaits: Analyst Says December Typically &#8216;Second-Half Story&#8217;</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

The conflict in Ukraine has evolved from grave tension to war.
On Thursday,&nbsp;President Joe Biden&nbsp;further condemned&nbsp;Russia&rsquo;s actions in Ukraine, saying the White House&nbsp;is imposing new sanctions on four more major Russian banks, &quot;freezing every asset they have in America.&quot;
Latest Developments: Russian troops have reached the outskirts of Kyiv after launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine from three directions. Troops are advancing from the north; from the east through Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Sumy; and from Crimea in the south.
Geopolitical pressure in eastern Europe this week sent waves of volatility throughout global markets, most notably the Russian <a href="https://www.google.com/finance/quote/IMOEX:MCX">MOEX</a>, the main exchange in Moscow. The index is down 35.86% year-to-date.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/02/25795908/why-traders-need-to-watch-palladium-and-platinum-stocks-right-now" title="Why Traders Need To Watch Palladium And Platinum Stocks Right Now">Why Traders Need To Watch Palladium And Platinum Stocks Right Now</a>
The uncertainty isn&rsquo;t just tied to the eastern European states. The list below displays all U.S. listed equity ETFs that maintain significant exposure to stocks listed in Ukraine.
FlexShares Morningstar Emerging Markets Factor Tilt Index (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tlte#NYSE">TLTE</a>) measures the performance of stocks located in emerging countries across the world with increased exposure to small-capitalization and value stocks.&nbsp;
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vss#NYSE">VSS</a>)&nbsp; Seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks of international small-cap companies.
Price action: Down 8.82% year-to-date
Schwab International Small-Cap Equity (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schc#NYSE">SCHC</a>) The fund&rsquo;s goal is to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the total return of the FTSE Developed Small Cap ex US Liquid Index.&nbsp;
Price action: Down 9.29% year-to-date
Vanguard European Stock Index Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vgk#NYSE">VGK</a>) Seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index, which measures the investment return of stocks issued by companies located in the major markets of Europe.
Price action: Down 8.11% year-to-date
Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>) Seeks to track the investment performance of the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index.
Price action: Down 6.45% year-to-date
SPDR Portfolio Europe (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/speu#NYSE">SPEU</a>) Seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of the STOXX Europe Total Market Index.
Price action: Down 8.47% year-to-date

On <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/05/28/final-trades-ewz-vea-sono.html">CNBC&#39;s &quot;Fast Money Final Trades,&quot;</a> Tim Seymour said the Brazil trade has been working. He is a buyer of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ewz#NYSE">EWZ</a>).
Courtney Dominguez also likes the international trade, but she would go with the developed markets and buy Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>).
Steve Grasso knows investors should not own stocks because they are take-out targets, but he continues to hold Sonos Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sono#NASDAQ">SONO</a>).

'Fast Money' Picks For June 1

The past decade has been one of the best in recent memory for investors. But before investors assume the market will cool down in the 2020s, it&rsquo;s important to remember just how bad the 2000s were.
In fact, the trailing 20-year return for the S&amp;P 500 is near its lowest level of the past 90 years, according to DataTrek.
It&rsquo;s extremely difficult to see 10 years into the future. Just ask BlackBerry Ltd (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bb#NYSE">BB</a>) investors back in 2010 where they hoped the company would be in 2020.
Here are a few bold predictions for what investors can expect in the next 10 years.
<h3>1. The U.S. cannabis boom will finally arrive.</h3>
The U.S. political tide related to cannabis finally appears to be turning, with the latest poll from <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/11/14/americans-support-marijuana-legalization/">Pew Research</a> suggesting that even a majority (55%) of Republican voters support federal legalization.
The key for investors will be determining which companies will emerge as the long-term leaders in an industry that will likely consolidate significantly and continue to struggle in the near-term.
<h3>2. The next bear market will come and go, and it will be a mild one.</h3>
The average decline of the S&amp;P 500 during bear markets since 1956 has been roughly 33%, a key technical level for traders. The peak-to-trough S&amp;P 500 decline in the 2008-2009 bear market was around 57%, the worst market drop in more than 60 years.
The last time the S&amp;P 500 dropped more than 45% during a bear market was the late 1970s, and the subsequent bear market was on the <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/a-history-of-bear-markets-4582652">mild side</a> at just a 27.1% decline.
<h3>3. The health care market will be disrupted.</h3>
Forbes Editor-in-Chief <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveforbes/2020/01/02/whatll-happen-in-the-next-decade-here-are-9-predictions-for-the-2020s/#7686fa4f9730">Steve Forbes</a> recently said the health care industry has been insulated from the dynamics of the free market for years due to government intervention and third-party participants such as insurance companies and employers.
The system is so broken that Forbes believes it&#39;s now ripe for disruption the same way the transportation industry was disrupted by Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/uber#NYSE">UBER</a>) and Lyft Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lyft#NASDAQ">LYFT</a>).
&ldquo;Free markets will do what governments have never been able to do with their top-down, regulatory initiatives: provide more and better healthcare at less cost,&rdquo; he wrote.
<h3>4. The &ldquo;silver tsunami&rdquo; will create investment opportunities.</h3>
In 2010, there were 21 million Americans aged 65 to 74. That number is expected to <a href="https://investorplace.com/market-trends/3/">roughly double</a> by 2050 thanks to Baby Boomers. In addition, the population of Americans who are at least 80 years old is expected to increase by 200% over the next 40 years.
Investments focused on accommodating the silver tsunami, such as senior housing REIT Ventas, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vtr#NYSE">VTR</a>), could start to gain steam in the 2020s.
<h3>5. Value stocks will make a comeback.</h3>
Value stocks lagged growth stocks throughout the entire 2010s, but market watchers noticed the trend start <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/11/the-big-rotation-taking-place-in-the-stock-market-explained.html">to reverse</a> a bit during periods in the second half of 2019. One place value investors can look for opportunities is in Europe.
For the most part, European stocks have lagged U.S. and emerging market equities significantly for the past 10 years. Since the beginning of 2010, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spy#NYSE">SPY</a>) is up 189%, while the VANGUARD TAX-MA/FTSE DEVELOPED MKTS (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>) is up just 29% in that time.
<h3>6. Oil prices will steadily rise.</h3>
The energy sector has been a major market laggard since a supply glut collapsed the oil market in late 2014. There&rsquo;s no question the future of energy is in renewable sources, but the world will remain heavily dependent on oil and gas throughout the 2020s, according to the U.S. <a href="https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/pdf/aeo2019.pdf">Energy Information Administration</a>.
The EIA predicts U.S. oil production will not peak until 2039. The EIA is also predicting $90/bbl Brent crude oil prices by 2030 and $100/bbl Brent crude prices by 2050.
Oil will certainly continue to lose market share to renewables over time, but as global energy demand continues to rise, there is still plenty of money to be made in oil and gas.
Do you agree or disagree with these predictions? Email <a href="mailto:feedback@benzinga.com">feedback@benzinga.com</a> with your thoughts.

There are many benefits of the ongoing fee war in the world of exchange traded funds. One of those perks is that investors no longer have to pay higher than average fees for international equity exposure. Just look at the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>).
<h3>What Happened</h3>
VEA has $72.58 billion in assets under management, making the largest international ETF and sixth-largest US-listed of any variety. As a developed markets ETF, VEA competes with MSCI EAFE Index tracking funds, but the Vanguard is significantly larger in terms of components. VEA holds over 3,800 stocks, more than quadruple the number of constituents in the MSCI EAFE benchmark.
&ldquo;Broad diversification mitigates the impact of the worst performers on the fund&#39;s overall performance.&rdquo; said Morningstar <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/articles/937758/an-extensive-developed-markets-fund">in a recent note</a>. &ldquo;The target index covers more than 3,800 stocks, and its 10 largest holdings account for only 9% of assets.&rdquo;
VEA features exposure to 25 countries, including a combined weight of almost 13% to Canada and South Korea, which do not reside in the MSCI EAFE Index.
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
Many investors have a home country bias, meaning they are over-allocated to U.S. stocks while their portfolios lack international exposure. A broad ETF like VEA can reduce investors&#39; dependence on domestic stocks while enhancing portfolio diversity.
&ldquo;Investing in foreign stocks can help diversify a U.S.-centric portfolio,&rdquo; said Morningstar. &ldquo;VEA&#39;s focus on developed-markets stocks means that it captures roughly 80% of the available foreign market cap. While it does not include stocks from developing nations, the portfolio is still well diversified across stocks, sectors, countries, and currencies.&rdquo;
Nearly 54% of VEA&#39;s holdings are from European economies, indicating the fund is more than adequately positioned to take advantage of a rebound in stocks there or if the European Central Bank decides to unleash more monetary stimulus to bolster the region&#39;s slow economies.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
With its annual fee of just 0.05%, or $5 on a $10,000 investment, VEA is often among the top asset-gathering international ETFs, a trend that will likely continue as investors prize inexpensive ETFs.
&ldquo;The fund&#39;s 0.05% expense ratio is a sizable cost advantage over most of its competitors and should provide a long-term durable advantage,&rdquo; according to Morningstar.
The research firm has a Silver rating on VEA.
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Vanguard, the second-largest U.S. issuer of exchange traded funds, is again wielding its low-cost sword.
On April 26, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/vanguard-review/">Vanguard</a> said it&#39;s lowering fees on 21 of its ETFs, including its two largest funds, the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/voo#NYSE">VOO</a>) and the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vti#NYSE">VTI</a>).
<h3>What Happened</h3>
VTI and VOO are the third- and fourth-largest U.S.-listed ETFs, respectively, and are <a href="https://etfdb.com/compare/market-cap/">two of the four</a> ETFs with more than $100 billion in assets under management. The $114.79 billion VTI is now charging 0.03 percent year, or $3 on a $10,000 investment, down from 0.04 percent. The $112.94 billion VOO also saw its annual fee reduced to 0.03 percent from 0.04 percent.
Including VOO and VTI, Vanguard announced lower fees on <a href="https://investornews.vanguard/lower-expense-ratios-on-21-vanguard-etfs-means-more-savings-for-you/">eight domestic ETFs</a>. The following ETFs saw their fees reduced to 0.04 percent from 0.05 percent: The Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vug#NYSE">VUG</a>), the Vanguard Value ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vtv#NYSE">VTV</a>), the Vanguard Large-Cap ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vv#NYSE">VV</a>) and the Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vo#NYSE">VO</a>).
The Vanguard Extended Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vxf#NYSE">VXF</a>) saw its annual fee pared to 0.07 percent from 0.08 percent while the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vym#NYSE">VYM</a>) is charging 0.06 percent, down from 0.08 percent.
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
As issuers have reduced fees across product lineups, international funds have steadily gotten cheaper. Nine international equity ETFs are part of the latest round of Vanguard fee reductions.
The following funds are now charging 0.09 percent, down from 0.10 percent: the Vanguard Total World Stock Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vt#NYSE">VT</a>), the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vgk#NYSE">VGK</a>) and the Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vpl#NYSE">VPL</a>).
The Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vxus#NASDAQ">VXUS</a>) and the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/veu#NYSE">VEU</a>) are now charging 0.09 percent, down from 0.11 percent.
The $72.16 billion Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>), the sixth-largest U.S.-listed ETF, saw its fee reduced to 0.05 percent from 0.07 percent,&nbsp;while the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vss#NYSE">VSS</a>) saw a modest fee reduction of one basis point to 0.12 percent.
The Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vwo#NYSE">VWO</a>) and the Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vnqi#NASDAQ">VNQI</a>) both now charge 0.12 percent annually, down from 0.14 percent. Home to $65.35 billion in assets under management, VWO is the world&#39;s largest emerging markets ETF.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
Vanguard also lowered the fees on four fixed income ETFs. The Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vwob#NASDAQ">VWOB</a>) now charges 0.30 percent, down from 0.32 percent. The Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bndx#NASDAQ">BNDX</a>) also a fee cut of two basis points to 0.09 percent.
The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bnd#NYSE">BND</a>) and the Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vteb#NASDAQ">VTEB</a>), Vanguard&#39;s first municipal bond ETF, both lowered fees by one basis point.
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Vanguard Drops The Hammer In ETF Fee War With 21 Price Cuts

Ex-U.S. developed markets exchange traded funds are tumbling this year, but plenty of investors remain devoted to the asset class.
The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/iefa#NYSE">IEFA</a>), one of the largest and least expensive developed markets ETFs, is down almost 13 percent year-to-date, but that&#39;s not keeping investors away.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
Although ex-U.S. developed markets equities are struggling, low-fee ETFs tracking these names are adding assets at a prolific rate. Two of this year&#39;s top seven asset-gathering ETFs are cheap developed markets funds.
As of Dec. 6, IEFA had year-to-date inflows of $19.94 billion, more than any other U.S.-listed ETF and more than $3 billion ahead of the second-place fund. The rival Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>) had year-to-date inflows of $7.62 billion, a total surpassed by just six other ETFs, including IEFA.
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
&ldquo;What you&#39;ve seen over the past eight to 10 years, coming out of the financial crisis, is foreign stock market indexes, index funds that track these indexes, they haven&#39;t performed as well as the U.S., they haven&#39;t performed as well by historic standards,&rdquo; <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/videos/902109/investors-should-stick-with-foreign-stock-index-fu.html">said Morningstar in a recent note</a>.
While funds such as IEFA and VEA are lagging U.S. equity benchmarks this year, low fees can help investors remain engaged with developed markets. VEA, the largest developed markets ETF in the U.S., charges just 0.07 percent per year, or $7 on a $10,000 investment. IEFA&#39;s annual fee is just one basis point higher at 0.08 percent.
&ldquo;The question is, what is going on here, the low fee thesis should intact--lower fees should lead to better performers over the long run, right?,&rdquo; said Morningstar. &ldquo;It&#39;s been eight to 10 years now and it&#39;s a question mark that a lot of people are looking at.&rdquo;
Data confirm investors love low-fee international ETFs as VEA and IEFA are home to over $119 billion in combined assets under management and the pair are among the 10-largest US-listed ETFs of any variety.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
Buy-and-hold investors typically gravitate toward inexpensive index funds and ETFs like IEFA and VEA. It may take the patience of a buy-and-hold view to see out this rough patch in developed markets.
&ldquo;Fees are one of the biggest drivers of future returns,&rdquo; said Morningstar. &ldquo;The low fee thesis is still very much intact. Investors in these funds just need to sit tight and hold on. Eventually, we will get through it.&rdquo;
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Fees Ease Some Of The Pain Of International ETFs

E*TRADE Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/etfc#NASDAQ">ETFC</a>) said Wednesday it added 46 exchange traded funds to commission-free platform.
With the latest additions, E*TRADE now offers more than 250 ETFs on a commission-free basis. The 46 newly added funds come from six issuers: Direxion, iShares, Janus Henderson, NuShares, Reality Shares and Vanguard.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
With more and more advisers and investors embracing ETFs, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/investing/best-brokers-for-etfs/">brokerage firms</a> are getting on the act, offering significant amounts of ETFs without commissions. E*Trade and rivals such as Fidelity and Charles Schwab Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schw#NASDAQ">SCHW</a>) have been expanding their commission-free ETF plans to attract new clients.
Earlier this year, Firstrade Securities Inc. said it would offer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/18/04/r11488349/firstrade-offers-largest-commission-free-etf-program-with-more-than-70">more than 700 ETFs </a>on a commission-free basis, by far the largest such platform in the domestic brokerage business.
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
&ldquo;These additions can fill a tactical void for a multitude of strategies&mdash;from tracking broad indexes to seeking higher returns to defending against changing market conditions to pursuing factor-based sector exposure&mdash;while providing commission-free access to some of the most active, well-known ETFs available today,&rdquo; said E*TRADE Vice President Rich Messina <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180620005607/en/E*TRADE-Adds-Today's-Popular-ETFs-Commission-Free-ETF">in a statement.</a>
Among the 46 additions to the E*TRADE commission-free suite are 32 Vanguard funds, including the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/voo#NYSE">VOO</a>), the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vig#NYSE">VIG</a>) and 10 of the issuer&#39;s popular sector ETFs.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
Three iShares funds were also added to the E*TRADE platform. iShares and Vanguard are the two largest U.S. ETF sponsors.
Other well-known products now available with no commissions on E*TRADE include the Direxion Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqqe#NYSE">QQQE</a>), Reality Shares Nasdaq NexGen Economy ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/blcn#NASDAQ">BLCN</a>) and the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>).
Disclosure: The author owns shares of VEA.
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E*TRADE Adds Almost 50 ETFs To Commission-Free Plan

Some new exchange-traded funds are well-timed. Others, not so much. To be fair, good timing with new ETFs is often a matter of coincidence, but as the old saying goes, &ldquo;it&#39;s better to be lucky than good.&rdquo;
In fairness to the iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/idev#NYSE">IDEV</a>), the fund has been lucky and good. The luck comes into play when looking at IDEV&#39;s debut date. It launched in March 2017, at a time when investors were flocking to ex-U.S. developed markets ETFs in search of better valuations than <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/18/04/11519459/finding-value-and-dividends-in-emerging-markets">U.S. stocks were offering</a>.
There&#39;s more to the IDEV story than just mere luck.
<h3>
	What To Know</h3>
IDEV can be labeled a &ldquo;good&rdquo; ETF. It has returned 17.18 percent since inception and is flirting with $919 million in assets under management, a tidy sum for an ETF that&#39;s just 13 months old.
IDEV &ldquo;covers the entire market-cap spectrum of stocks listed in foreign developed markets, making it one of the most diversified portfolios in the foreign large-blend category,&rdquo; said Morningstar <a href="http://www.morningstar.com/videos/859409/a-diversified-foreign-largeblend-etf-with-low-fees.html">in a recent note</a>. &ldquo;Stocks listed in foreign developed markets account for roughly 85 percent of the foreign investable market cap, so this fund could easily be used as a core portfolio holding.&rdquo;
The fund holds nearly 1,270 stocks from more than 15 countries, providing investors with broad-based exposure to developed markets outside the U.S.
<h3>
	Why It&#39;s Important </h3>
&ldquo;The combination of extensive coverage and an ultralow expense ratio should make this fund competitive with other comprehensive, foreign developed-market funds like Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>) and the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/efa#NYSE">EFA</a>), which currently both carry Analyst Ratings of Silver,&rdquo; said Vanguard.
IDEV charges just 0.07 percent per year, or $7 on a $10,000 stake, making it one of the least expensive international equity ETFs on the market.
<h3>
	What&#39;s Next </h3>
IDEV is up about 1 percent this year. Investors looking for catalysts for the fund should examine stocks in Japan and the U.K. as those countries combine for over 39 percent of IDEV&#39;s weight. The ETF&#39;s price-to-earnings ratio of 15.30 implies a significant discount to the S&amp;P 500.
Disclosure: The author owns shares of VEA.
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IDEV

A Rapidly Growing Developed Markets ETF

One of the more notable themes in the world of exchange-traded funds last year was investors affinity for international equity funds. When 2017 drew to a close, five of the year&#39;s top 10 asset-gathering ETFs were international equity funds. Three of those five funds were ex-US developed markets funds while the other two were emerging markets plays.
That theme is continuing in 2018. Year-to-date, five of the top 10 asset-gathering ETFs are international funds, including the top two asset gatherers. With few exceptions, most of the international ETFs investors are flocking to are among the most inexpensive funds in their respective categories.
&ldquo;Indeed, developed and diversified international equity funds pulled in $20 billion, while emerging market diversified funds gathered $13 billion, according to Bloomberg data,&rdquo; said <a href="https://newpublic.cfraresearch.com/">CFRA Research</a> Director of ETF &amp; Mutual Fund Research Todd Rosenbluth in a Tuesday note. &ldquo;While the trend toward these styles was favorable, it is important to understand that they are not constructed in the same way.&rdquo;
<h3>
	Where The Cash Is Going</h3>
The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (CBOE:IEFA) remains a fixture atop the asset-gathering leaderboard. As of April 9, investors had added $14.79 billion to IEFA on a year-to-date basis. That&#39;s more than double the sum allocated to the second-best asset-gathering ETF, IEFA&#39;s emerging markets counterpart, the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iemg#NYSE">IEMG</a>).
Jaw-dropping flows to IEFA aren&#39;t new. Last year, the ETF was the second-best adder of new assets among all US-listed ETFs as investors poured $20.87 billion into the fund.
IEFA &ldquo;earns a top rating from CFRA for the risk considerations of its holdings and its modest cost factors, including an 0.08 percent expense ratio and a $0.01 bid/ask spread,&rdquo; said Rosenbluth.
This year, it appears some investors are opting for the less expensive IEFA over its older, pricier stablemate, the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/efa#NYSE">EFA</a>). While EFA has an assets under management lead of more than $21 billion over IEFA, the former has bled $6.65 billion in assets this year. EFA&#39;s annual fee is 0.32 percent, or four times that of IEFA.
<h3>
	Plenty Of Competition</h3>
IEFA isn&#39;t the only low fee developed markets ETF on the block. The Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>) has an annual expense ratio of 0.07 percent, making it cheaper than <a href="https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/snapshot?FundId=0936&amp;FundIntExt=INT&amp;funds_disable_redirect=true">93 percent of rival funds</a>.
Investors have added $3.20 billion to VEA this year after allocating $17.46 billion to the fund last year. As Rosenbluth points out, VEA features exposure to Canadian and South Korean stocks, which aren&#39;t found in the rival IEFA.
CFRA has Overweight ratings on IEFA and VEA.
Disclosure: The author owns shares of VEA.
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IEMG

Demand For International ETFs Remains Strong

There is no denying investors&#39; thirst for international exchange traded funds in 2017. As the U.S. bull market ages,&nbsp;
investors are are flocking to low-fee ex-U.S. ETFs in search of new frontiers for potential upside.
Five of this year&#39;s top 10 asset-gathering ETFs are funds dedicated to international equities, both developed and emerging markets. One of the leaders of that quintet is the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>).
VEA enters Friday, the last trading day of 2017, with a year-to-date gain of 26 percent compared to about 22 percent for the S&amp;P 500. The Vanguard developed markets ETF has been only slightly more volatile than the benchmark U.S. equity gauge this year, implying superior risk-adjusted returns.
<h3>
	Broader Opportunity</h3>
Investors have long-standing biases to equities in their home markets, but international diversification can help bolster long-term returns.
You get a broader opportunity set outside of just U.S. stocks,&rdquo; <a href="http://beta.morningstar.com/videos/841318/globetrotting-3-etfs-for-investing-overseas.html">said Morningstar</a>. &ldquo;You have to remember here, 50 percent of the global market cap is really overseas right now. There&#39;s a much bigger opportunity set that investors can take advantage of, many, many more companies overseas than there are in the U.S. Those are really, kind of, the two big diversification advantages you can get from international stocks.&rdquo;
VEA does provide diversification benefits. The ETF holds over 2,800 stocks from 23 countries. VEA follows the FTSE Developed All Cap ex-U.S. Index. That index provider includes Canada and South Korea in the index, but those countries are excluded from the rival MSCI EAFE Index. Canada and South Korea combine for almost 13 percent of VEA&#39;s geographic exposure.
<h3>
	Plenty Of Fans</h3>
Year-to-date, VEA has added $17.4 billion in new assets, a total exceeded by just two other U.S.-listed ETFs. In every quarter this year, VEA has been among the top 10 asset-gathering ETFs. An annual fee of just 0.07 percent, or $7 on a $10,000 investment, is a big reason why. That makes VEA cheaper than <a href="http://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/snapshot?FundId=0936&amp;FundIntExt=INT&amp;ps_disable_redirect=true#tab=0">93 percent of competing funds</a>.&nbsp;
Home to $68.2 billion in assets under management, VEA garners a four-star rating from Morningstar.
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Todd Shriber owns shares of VEA.

A Cheap International ETF And Its Epic Growth Spurt

The ETF industry has seen explosive growth in terms of both assets under management and launches thanks to unique strategies, novel concepts, transparency, diversification benefits, enhanced tax competence, less turnover and low cost. In fact, the industry has gathered more than <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4130876-global-etfs-etps-gathered-600-billion-us-dollars-net-new-assets-first-11-months-2017">$600 billion</a> in new assets in the first 11 months of 2017. This is up 53.6% from net inflows for the whole of 2016 and almost double the inflows of $326 billion seen during the 11 months of last year (read: <a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/285564/first-artificial-intelligence-etf-soars-in-popularity">First Artificial Intelligence ETF Soars in Popularity</a>).
	With this, assets under management in global ETFs rose to a new record $4.7 trillion at the end of November from $3.6 trillion at the end of last year. About 71% <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4130888-us-etfs-etps-gathered-424b-net-new-assets-first-11-months-2017">($424 billion</a>) of total inflows came from equity ETFs. Coming to issuers, BlackRock and Vanguard are dominating the industry this year, having gathered $239 billion and $137.1 billion in AUM, respectively.
	Inside The Boom
	The growth was mainly driven by an astounding rally in the stock market since Trump&#39;s victory last year that has raised the appeal for plain vanilla and passive investing. Additionally, low cost has been the biggest crowd puller to the ETF world (read: <a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/282235/best-sector-etfs-amp-stocks-from-trumps-firstyear-win">Best Sector ETFs &amp; Stocks from Trump&#39;s First-Year Win</a>).
	This is especially true as the top three asset gatherers of 2017 are plain-vanilla ETFs with lower expense ratios, per<a href="http://www.etf.com/etfanalytics/etf-fund-flows-tool"> etf.com</a>. iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF IVV accumulated nearly $31.7 billion in its assets base, followed by $20.1 billion for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and $16.3 billion for Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF VEA. These have expense ratios of 0.04%, 0.08% and 0.07%, respectively. IVV has gained 21% while IEFA and VEA have returned little higher at around 25% this year.
	Additionally, the rise in &quot;thematic investing&quot; and the craze for &quot;smart beta&quot; are leading to staggering growth. This is because many investors are interested in highly specialized theme or niche investing, focusing on a narrow corner of the market rather than broad sectors. On the other hand, the smart beta strategy helps to capture market inefficiencies in a transparent way by adding extra metrics like dividends, volatility, revenue, earnings, momentum, equal weight and other fundamental factors to the market cap or rules-based indices.
	In fact, the top-performing ETFs &mdash; ARK Innovation ETF ARKK, WisdomTree China ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund CXSE, Emerging Markets Internet &amp; eCommerce ETF EMQQ, VanEck Vectors India Small-Cap Index ETF SCIF, and PureFunds Video Game Tech ETF GAMR &mdash; belong to these categories. These funds have gained at least 60% in the year-to-date time frame (read: <a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/285429/4-smart-beta-etfs-for-long-term-investors">4 Smart Beta ETFs for Long Term Investors</a>).
	Apart from these, an increased number of launches is adding to investor&#39; enthusiasm. After 246 launches in 2016, the industry has seen 256 launches so far this year. Of these, a few ETFs have been able to garner more than $500 million in AUM. iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETF IDEV is the most successful new ETF pulling in $882 million in new assets since its debut on Mar 21. This was followed by inflows of $638.1 for Principal U.S. Mega-Cap Multi-Factor Index ETF USMC and $569.8 million for Principal Active Global Dividend Income ETF GDVD. The former was launched on Oct 11 while the latter debuted on May 9.
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New ETFs

ARKK

CXSE

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

EMQQ

GAMR

SCIF

USMC

Why ETFs Are Thriving In 2017

Two obvious themes from the world of exchange traded funds this year are Vanguard&#39;s jaw-dropping growth and investors&#39; preference for ex-U.S. developed markets funds. Those themes meet in the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>).
Year-to-date, investors have added $16.2 billion in new money to VEA, good for the highest total among all Vanguard ETFs and the third-best total among U.S.-listed ETFs. VEA is delivering for investors. The fund is up 24 percent year-to-date, well ahead of the 20 percent returned by the S&amp;P 500. That&#39;s enough to earn VEA the honor of being <a href="https://newpublic.cfraresearch.com/">CFRA Research&#39;s</a> focus ETF for the month of December.&nbsp;
VEA tracks the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index and holds 3,850 stocks. With that massive lineup, the ETF provides exposure to ex-U.S. large-, mid- and small-cap companies. Speaking of massive, VEA had <a href="https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/snapshot?FundId=0936&amp;FundIntExt=INT&amp;ps_disable_redirect=true#tab=2">$65.7 billion </a>in assets under management at the end of October, making it one of the largest U.S.-listed ETFs of any stripe.&nbsp;
<h3>
	Rebounding In Style</h3>
It has been a while since VEA and rival developed markets ETFs have outperformed U.S. stocks, indicating this move could be in its early stages.
This relative strength comes in the heels of four consecutive years of underperformance,&rdquo; Todd Rosenbluth, director of ETF and mutual fund research at CFRA, said in a Monday note. &ldquo;Meanwhile, five of the 10 strongest ETF inflows in this record-setting year are international equity ETFs.&rdquo;
CFRA is bullish on some of VEA&#39;s marquee holdings, including Nestle AG (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/nsrgy#OTC">NSRGY</a>) and Samsung Electronics.
Nestle, the largest such holding, is a CFRA Buy recommendation,&rdquo; said Rosenbluth. &ldquo;Amid rising investor activism and transformation spearheaded by its new management, CFRA thinks there will be acceleration of M&amp;A activities to optimize capital return and unlock the potential value held within Nestl&eacute;&rsquo;s portfolio. This could reignite its stagnated top-line growth and tilt the company toward the nutrition, health and wellness area.&rdquo;
<h3>
	The Lineup</h3>
VEA differs from rival ETFs that track the MSCI EAFE Index in that the Vanguard fund holds shares of Canadian companies. Additionally, VEA&#39;s index provider classifies South Korea as a developed market, putting Asia&#39;s fourth-largest economy in this fund. MSCI classifies South Korea as an emerging market.
Europe and developed Asia-Pacific markets combine for almost 92 percent of VEA&#39;s weight.
From a fund-specific perspective, CFRA views VEA&rsquo;s costs favorably,&rdquo; said Rosenbluth. &ldquo;The ETF has a modest 0.07 percent expense ratio and has a penny bid/ask spread aided by an average daily volume of 8 million shares. In addition, the ETF is trading well above its 200-day moving average, contributing to its bullish technical trend rating input.
CFRA has an Overweight rating on VEA.

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Todd Shriber owns shares of VEA.

Nestle Sponsored representing Registered Shares Series B

NSRGY

Investors Love This Vanguard ETF

Japan is the world&#39;s third-largest economy and home to some impressive equity market performances this year. For example, the MSCI Japan Index is up nearly 20 percent year to date after hitting a 52-week high Tuesday.
As one of the largest developed market economies, Japan is widely represented in the universe of single-country exchange-traded funds, but many investors often prefer a diverse approach to international markets. That sentiment underscores the popularity of ETFs and index funds following the MSCI EAFE Index and competing benchmarks.
Several of this year&#39;s top asset-gathering ETFs feature diverse approaches to ex-US developed markets, including large weights to Japanese stocks. Moreover, these funds feature low fees, which can help long-term investors minimize costs.
<h3>After The Election ...</h3>
&ldquo;Last week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe&#39;s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partners scored a convincing win that will maintain a large majority in both houses of parliament,&rdquo; said <a href="https://newpublic.cfraresearch.com/">CFRA Research</a> director of ETF &amp; mutual fund research Todd Rosenbluth in a note out Tuesday. &ldquo;This should extend the lifespan of &lsquo;Abenomics,&rsquo; including the Bank of Japan&#39;s mega stimulus and help Japan&#39;s economic prospects, according to US iShares Investment Strategist Tushar Yadava. While Japan is the largest of the developed international markets, exposure in popular ETFs can differ.&rdquo;
Home to $81.6 billion in assets under management, the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/efa#NYSE">EFA</a>) is the largest ex-U.S. ETF and one of the largest ETFs tracking any asset class. EFA allocates 23.8 percent of its weight to Japan, 640 basis points more than its second-largest country weight, the U.K.
While EFA is not particularly expensive with an annual fee of 0.33 percent, the ETF faces competition, some from within its own family. The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (BATS: IEFA) is adding new assets at a rapid clip and only a few ETFs have seen larger 2017 inflows. IEFA, which charges just 0.08 percent per year, features a Japan weight of 24.8 percent, or 720 basis points above its U.K. exposure.
<h3>Vanguard, Too</h3>

The Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>) is another one of this year&#39;s prolific asset gatherers among low-cost, ex-U.S. funds. 
&ldquo;Developed and diversified international equity ETFs have been very popular in 2017, with iShares Core MSCI EAFE and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets gathering the second ($19 billion net inflows) and third ($16 billion) most new money year to date through October 27, according to etf.com data,&rdquo; said Rosenbluth. &ldquo;An additional $9.5 billion and $3.6 billion flowed into iShares MSCI EAFE and Schwab International Equity ETF this year. The performance success of these ETFs has been aided by a rebound in Japanese equities.&rdquo;
VEA, which charges just 0.07 percent annually, had a 21.1 percent weight to Japan at the end of the third quarter. CFRA has Market-Weight ratings on EFA, IEFA and VEA.
Related Links:
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Todd Shriber owns shares of VEA.

Taking A Broad Approach To Japan Exposure

Low fees on exchange-traded funds are not a concept reserved exclusively for domestically-focused funds. With so many issuers consistently lowering expenses in bids to attract more assets, low fees are easy to find on international equity funds.
Of course, that theme is bound to include some Vanguard funds, such as the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vea#NYSE">VEA</a>). At the end of third quarter, VEA had $62.9 billion in assets under management, making it the second-largest ex-U.S. equity ETF and the sixth-largest ETF overall.
VEA keeps with the Vanguard tradition of presenting investors with affordable access to an array of asset classes. This Vanguard ETF charges just 0.07 percent per year, or $7 on a $10,000 investment, making it not only one of the least expensive international ETFs trading in the U.S., but cheaper than 93 percent of competing strategies,<a href="https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/snapshot?FundId=0936&amp;FundIntExt=INT#tab=0"> according to issuer data</a>.&nbsp;
<h3>A Deep Bench </h3>
Another familiar theme with Vanguard&#39;s broad market ETFs is that these funds really are broad. In the case of VEA, the ETF holds 3,870 stocks and its top 10 holdings combine for less than 10 percent of the fund&#39;s weight.
&ldquo;A well-diversified portfolio and sizable cost advantage should give this fund an edge over the long term,&rdquo; said Morningstar <a href="http://beta.morningstar.com/articles/831294/cheap-exposure-to-foreign-stocks-in-developed-markets.html">in a note out Wednesday</a>. &ldquo;This advantage helped the fund outperform the category average by 31 basis points annualized from its inception in July 2007 through September 2017. The fund&#39;s performance was particularly strong from May 2012 through May 2014, outpacing the category average by 2.40%, partially because of more-favorable stock exposure in the financial-services sector.&rdquo;&nbsp;
VEA differs from funds that track the MSCI EAFE Index because the Vanguard fund&#39;s underlying index allows for the inclusion of Canadian stocks, which the MSCI EAFE benchmark does not do. VEA devotes over 8 percent of its weight to Canada.
<h3>Impressive Performance</h3>
VEA is up 20.2 percent year to date, a performance that investors are certainly acknowledging. The ETF saw inflows of $10 billion in the first half of this year, a trend that is continuing. For the week ended Oct. 24, investors added nearly $308 million to VEA. Year to date, VEA has added $15.6 billion in new assets, a total exceeded by just two other ETFs.
&ldquo;While economic risk should already be reflected in market prices, investors should be aware of their currency exposure if these economic events lead to changes in monetary policy,&rdquo; said Morningstar. &ldquo;Central banks in the U.K., eurozone, and Japan are all using aggressive monetary policies to keep interest rates low in an effort to simulate demand. If rates in those markets stay low, while rates rise in the United States, the U.S. dollar could strengthen, which would hurt the fund&#39;s performance because it does not hedge its currency exposure.&rdquo;
Related Links:
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Todd Shriber owns shares of VEA.

International Exposure For Thrifty Investors

SCHF And IDHQ: Consider These ETFs For An Ex-US Tilt

A Look At The Bright Side

Global markets suffered a broad-based downturn in October. For the first time since April, a majority of the major asset classes posted monthly losses, based on a set of ETF proxies.


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