ETFs
Exchange traded funds trade on stock exchanges, just like stocks. Investors can buy them on margin, or sell them short. The best exchange-traded funds offer well-diversified, tax-efficient portfolios with exceptionally low management ETF fees. They are also very liquid.
Investors use ETFs in a variety of ways, and some investors work only with ETFs and no other type of investment in portfolio creation.
An amazing aspect of ETFs is their diversity. Some investors may create an entire portfolio solely from a few well-diversified ETFs.
ETFs trade on stock exchanges, just like stocks. That’s different from mutual funds, which you can only buy at the end of the day at a price that reflects the fund’s value at the close of trading.
Prices of ETFs are quoted in newspaper stock tables and online. You pay brokerage commissions to buy and sell them, but their low management fees give them a cost advantage over most mutual funds.
As well, shares are only added or removed when the underlying index changes. As a result of this low turnover, you won’t incur the regular capital gains taxes generated by the yearly distributions most conventional mutual funds pay out to unitholders.
ETFs have a place in every investor’s portfolio, at TSI Network we also recommend using our three-part Successful Investor strategy:
- Invest mainly in well-established companies;
- Spread your money out across most if not all of the five main economic sectors (Manufacturing & Industry; Resources & Commodities; the Consumer sector; Finance; Utilities);
- Downplay or avoid stocks in the broker/media limelight.
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ETFs Library Archives
The long-term push to sharply cut oil and gas use—including through renewable power generation and electric vehicles (EVs)—will continue. But at the same time, it’s clear that there will be a continuingly prominent role for oil and gas for some time. That means top oil and gas firms will keep profiting—and paying high dividends.
Here are three ETFs that focus on the traditional sources of energy....
Here are three ETFs that focus on the traditional sources of energy....
Tesla Yield Shares Purpose ETF $17.40 (CBOE symbol YTSL) invests in Tesla shares, sells call options against the investment, and employs debt to further boost returns. Foreign currency exposure is hedged back to the Canadian dollar.
The ETF launched in December 2022, holds $152.4 million of assets, and charges a very high MER of 1.81%.
The ETF combines a covered call strategy (covering around 50% of its Tesla holdings) with leverage (debt) to generate monthly income, while aiming to preserve some of the growth potential of the underlying stocks.
Since its inception, the ETF’s unit price has declined by 1.6%; however, as the fund paid large dividends derived from its covered call income, the total return was 58.2%....
The ETF launched in December 2022, holds $152.4 million of assets, and charges a very high MER of 1.81%.
The ETF combines a covered call strategy (covering around 50% of its Tesla holdings) with leverage (debt) to generate monthly income, while aiming to preserve some of the growth potential of the underlying stocks.
Since its inception, the ETF’s unit price has declined by 1.6%; however, as the fund paid large dividends derived from its covered call income, the total return was 58.2%....
Over the past decade, European companies have lagged well behind the top U.S. companies. Stagnating economies and a heavy regulatory burden on companies contributed to the weak stock market returns. But, Europe remains home to a number of global leaders in their respective fields—with many trading at discounted valuations compared to their U.S....
We think foreign stocks can safely make up 10% of a conservative investor’s portfolio. One way is through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with an overseas focus. The best of those ETFs charge you very low management fees yet offer you well-diversified, tax-efficient portfolios of high-quality stocks.
Here’s a look at four international ETFs we see as suitable for new buying and two others we feel you should continue to hold.
ISHARES MSCI EMERGING MARKETS ETF, $43.76, is a buy for aggressive investors. The fund (New York symbol EEM; buy or sell through brokers) is designed to track the MSCI Emerging Markets Index; it gives you access to some of the world’s fastest growing markets.
The ETF’s geographic breakdown is as follows: China, 29.9%; India, 19.0%; Taiwan, 16.7%; South Korea, 9.3%; Brazil, 4.6%; Saudi Arabia, 4.0%; South Africa, 3.2%; Mexico, 2.1%; the UAE, 1.4%; Malaysia, 1.4%; Indonesia, 1.2%; and Thailand, 1.2%.
Your biggest stock exposure through the fund is Taiwan Semiconductor (computer chips) at 8.6% of assets; Tencent Holdings (China: Internet), 5.1%; Alibaba Group (China: e-commerce), 3.1%; Samsung Electronics (South Korea), 2.4%; HDFC Bank (India: finance), 1.6%; Xioami Corporation (China: technology), 1.3%; Reliance Industries (India: conglomerate), 1.2%; and ICICI Bank (India: finance), 1.1%.
iShares launched the ETF on April 7, 2003....
Here’s a look at four international ETFs we see as suitable for new buying and two others we feel you should continue to hold.
ISHARES MSCI EMERGING MARKETS ETF, $43.76, is a buy for aggressive investors. The fund (New York symbol EEM; buy or sell through brokers) is designed to track the MSCI Emerging Markets Index; it gives you access to some of the world’s fastest growing markets.
The ETF’s geographic breakdown is as follows: China, 29.9%; India, 19.0%; Taiwan, 16.7%; South Korea, 9.3%; Brazil, 4.6%; Saudi Arabia, 4.0%; South Africa, 3.2%; Mexico, 2.1%; the UAE, 1.4%; Malaysia, 1.4%; Indonesia, 1.2%; and Thailand, 1.2%.
Your biggest stock exposure through the fund is Taiwan Semiconductor (computer chips) at 8.6% of assets; Tencent Holdings (China: Internet), 5.1%; Alibaba Group (China: e-commerce), 3.1%; Samsung Electronics (South Korea), 2.4%; HDFC Bank (India: finance), 1.6%; Xioami Corporation (China: technology), 1.3%; Reliance Industries (India: conglomerate), 1.2%; and ICICI Bank (India: finance), 1.1%.
iShares launched the ETF on April 7, 2003....
ISHARES MSCI JAPAN INDEX FUND, $71.43, is a buy. The ETF (New York symbol EWJ; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) aims to mirror the return of the Morgan Stanley Capital International Japan Index.
Top holdings are Toyota, 4.8%; Sony Corp., 3.9%; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, 3.7%; Hitachi (conglomerate), 3.1%; Nintendo (video games), 2.3%; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, 2.3%; Keyence (sensors), 2.1%; and Recruit Holdings (human resources), 1.9%....
Top holdings are Toyota, 4.8%; Sony Corp., 3.9%; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, 3.7%; Hitachi (conglomerate), 3.1%; Nintendo (video games), 2.3%; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, 2.3%; Keyence (sensors), 2.1%; and Recruit Holdings (human resources), 1.9%....
You Can See Our Exchange-Traded Funds Portfolio For May 2025 Here.
ETFs in brief
Exchange-traded funds are set up to mirror the performance of a stock-market index or sub-index....
The key point about profiting from the five sectors is that investors should spread their investments out across most if not all of them.
Note that there are a number of difficulties with recommending a model portfolio for all investors. The main one is that each individual has different objectives, acceptable risk levels and so on....
Note that there are a number of difficulties with recommending a model portfolio for all investors. The main one is that each individual has different objectives, acceptable risk levels and so on....
This month we highlight a diversified ETF launched by the Toronto-based alternative asset manager, Arrow Capital Management—and managed by WaveFront Global Asset Management.
The second fund is a short-dated U.S. dollar money market ETF launched by TD Asset Management.
WaveFront All-Weather Alternative Fund $20.39 (Toronto symbol WAAV) invests in a range of investment assets with the aim of delivering consistent returns across diverse market conditions.
The ETF launched in January 2025, charges an MER of 0.95%....
For decades Germany was considered to be the economic growth engine of Europe generating growth between 2% to 4% per year. But growth has slowed sharply since 2000, averaging about 1% per year. In the 2024 IMD World Competitiveness Report, Germany continued to slide and is now ranked 24th out of 67 countries.
The relative stagnation of the German economy is due to various factors:
• Bureaucratic obstacles—complex regulatory frameworks and lengthy approval processes are stifling entrepreneurial initiatives, making it difficult for businesses to adapt swiftly to changing market conditions.
• An aging population—this poses significant challenges for its workforce and productivity....
The relative stagnation of the German economy is due to various factors:
• Bureaucratic obstacles—complex regulatory frameworks and lengthy approval processes are stifling entrepreneurial initiatives, making it difficult for businesses to adapt swiftly to changing market conditions.
• An aging population—this poses significant challenges for its workforce and productivity....
Germany was the only country in the Group of Seven (G7) wealthy nations to suffer an economic contraction in both 2023 and 2024. One reason was the country’s “debt brake.” In place since 2009, it sharply limits the government’s ability to borrow and run economy-stimulating deficits.
However, newly elect German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has now secured backing to remove the debt brake and pave the way for a massive increase in state borrowing.
This will spur a boom in defence and security spending as well as 500 million euros ($545 billion U.S.) in infrastructure investment....
However, newly elect German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has now secured backing to remove the debt brake and pave the way for a massive increase in state borrowing.
This will spur a boom in defence and security spending as well as 500 million euros ($545 billion U.S.) in infrastructure investment....