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
VANECK VIETNAM ETF, $17.31, is a buy for aggressive investors. This emerging-markets ETF (New York symbol VNM) taps the country’s leading firms as well as foreign firms that get a significant share of their revenue from this Southeast Asian nation. The fund started up in August 2009. Its MER is 0.68%.
Your top holdings include Vinhomes (real estate), 8.8%; Vingroup (conglomerate), 7.2%; Masan Group (food), 6.6%; Hoa Phat Group (iron and steel), 5.9%; Vietnam Dairy, 4.8%; and SSI Securities, 4.7%. Other holdings include the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam at 4.4%.
Your top holdings include Vinhomes (real estate), 8.8%; Vingroup (conglomerate), 7.2%; Masan Group (food), 6.6%; Hoa Phat Group (iron and steel), 5.9%; Vietnam Dairy, 4.8%; and SSI Securities, 4.7%. Other holdings include the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam at 4.4%.
ISHARES MSCI TAIWAN INDEX FUND, $70.92, is a buy for aggressive investors. The ETF (New York symbol EWT; buy or sell through brokers) gives you direct exposure to some of the top public companies of this East Asian powerhouse economy.
The fund’s largest holding is Taiwan Semiconductor at 21.2% of assets. That’s high for one stock, but the firm continues to be the world’s top maker of the most complex computer chips, with customers such as Apple. Other top stocks include Delta Electronics (industrial automation) at 5.0%; and Hon Hai (contract electronics maker) at 4.0%.
The fund’s largest holding is Taiwan Semiconductor at 21.2% of assets. That’s high for one stock, but the firm continues to be the world’s top maker of the most complex computer chips, with customers such as Apple. Other top stocks include Delta Electronics (industrial automation) at 5.0%; and Hon Hai (contract electronics maker) at 4.0%.
Major Canadian and U.S. stock markets remain volatile, but they still continue to offer attractive prospects for investors, especially if you buy the top stocks. All in all, we think that if you can afford to stay in the market for several years or longer, now is a good time for new buying. We see ETFs as one way for you to profit from the long-term stock market rise while at the same time cutting your risk.
The best of these funds offer a diversified group of stocks and charge you low management fees. Here are five ETFs we like, and one we think you should pass on buying for now.
The best of these funds offer a diversified group of stocks and charge you low management fees. Here are five ETFs we like, and one we think you should pass on buying for now.
You Can See Our Exchange-Traded Funds Portfolio For April 2026 Here.
ETFs in brief
Exchange-traded funds are set up to mirror the performance of a stock-market index or sub-index. They hold a more or less fixed selection of securities that represent the holdings of that index or sub-index and will allow the fund to “track” its performance.
ETFs in brief
Exchange-traded funds are set up to mirror the performance of a stock-market index or sub-index. They hold a more or less fixed selection of securities that represent the holdings of that index or sub-index and will allow the fund to “track” its performance.
Companies involved in the production of energy have performed well in recent years, beating the global equity market index, although that performance came with a higher level of volatility (see table below).
The characteristics of the oil and gas producers are well known. Periods of high commodity prices historically lead to large-scale production expansion and invariably to oversupply, lower prices, and poor profitability. This, combined with variations in macro-economic conditions, geopolitical turmoil and other unexpected events, exacerbates price fluctuations. This is evident in the higher volatility of the prices of the listed energy companies and occasional significant price declines or drawdowns.
The medium to long-term prospects for the energy industry were detailed in an in-depth report from the International Energy Agency (“IEA”) published in late 2025. In summary, energy demand will likely continue to grow for the next few decades, but most of the growth will be satisfied by renewable energy, nuclear energy and natural gas.
The characteristics of the oil and gas producers are well known. Periods of high commodity prices historically lead to large-scale production expansion and invariably to oversupply, lower prices, and poor profitability. This, combined with variations in macro-economic conditions, geopolitical turmoil and other unexpected events, exacerbates price fluctuations. This is evident in the higher volatility of the prices of the listed energy companies and occasional significant price declines or drawdowns.
The medium to long-term prospects for the energy industry were detailed in an in-depth report from the International Energy Agency (“IEA”) published in late 2025. In summary, energy demand will likely continue to grow for the next few decades, but most of the growth will be satisfied by renewable energy, nuclear energy and natural gas.
Consumer defensive companies such as Walmart, Mondelez, Procter & Gamble, and Nestle provide basic goods that consumers need—even during a recession. It is therefore not surprising that these companies have relatively stable revenue and profit profiles and are able to maintain their dividends during tough economic times.
In addition, the consumer defensive group also consistently performs relatively well during bear markets—a feat that is only matched by a few other segments such as healthcare and utilities.
In addition, the consumer defensive group also consistently performs relatively well during bear markets—a feat that is only matched by a few other segments such as healthcare and utilities.
This month, we highlight a new actively managed global equity fund from AGF—albeit part of a larger mutual fund. The second is an actively managed ETF from Fidelity that takes long and short positions in stocks.
Vale SA is a major Brazilian company and one of the largest mining outfits in the world, with a market value of $76 billion.
The company has transitioned from a state-owned entity into a global mining powerhouse, focusing its core operations on iron ore, nickel and copper.
Vale reported revenue of $38.2 billion U.S. and net income of $2.1 billion U.S. for all of 2025. Earnings are dominated by its iron ore business and a much smaller base metals division consisting of nickel mines and smelters, along with copper mines producing copper in concentrate.
The company has transitioned from a state-owned entity into a global mining powerhouse, focusing its core operations on iron ore, nickel and copper.
Vale reported revenue of $38.2 billion U.S. and net income of $2.1 billion U.S. for all of 2025. Earnings are dominated by its iron ore business and a much smaller base metals division consisting of nickel mines and smelters, along with copper mines producing copper in concentrate.
Brazil is one of the top 10 global economies, and it is richly endowed with a range of basic commodities.
The country has great long-term growth potential, although in the near term, the country needs to get its economy back on track. Here is one ETF that provides exposure to the top Brazilian publicly listed companies for investors who want to tap the country’s long-term prospects.
The country has great long-term growth potential, although in the near term, the country needs to get its economy back on track. Here is one ETF that provides exposure to the top Brazilian publicly listed companies for investors who want to tap the country’s long-term prospects.
Canadian ETF industry assets under management reached $616 billion at the end of January 2026—up by 5.4% from the end of December 2025 and setting a new record high level. Net inflows in the month were $19.5 billion—also a new monthly record.
Investors were allocating new money into consumer staples ETFs so far this year, with the iShares S&P/TSX Consumer Staples ETF (symbol XST), the BMO Global Consumer Staples ETF (STPL), and the BMO SPDR U.S. Consumer Staples ETF (ZXLP) receiving strong new inflows, measuring almost 10% of the new assets. Utilities, materials and financials also received strong positive net inflows. The energy sector had outflows in the first few weeks of the year, but inflows turned strongly positive in February.
Investors were allocating new money into consumer staples ETFs so far this year, with the iShares S&P/TSX Consumer Staples ETF (symbol XST), the BMO Global Consumer Staples ETF (STPL), and the BMO SPDR U.S. Consumer Staples ETF (ZXLP) receiving strong new inflows, measuring almost 10% of the new assets. Utilities, materials and financials also received strong positive net inflows. The energy sector had outflows in the first few weeks of the year, but inflows turned strongly positive in February.