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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For investors, companies that pay regular and growing dividends have performed very well over time when compared to the broad market indices.
A simple dividend strategy (as represented by the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats) like selecting stocks with a long history of uninterrupted dividend growth has added 11.7% per year over the past 30 years; this compares to the 10.3% annualized returns for the S&P 500 Index....
Meanwhile, while we’re optimistic about the long-term market outlook, it’s interesting to consider how stock markets have historically reacted to recessions brought on by very high interest rates.
Recessions shrink corporate profits
During economic recessions, corporate profits shrink, which in turn can lead to lower stock prices....
Growth stocks, especially those with only remote prospects of near-term profits, came under considerable pressure....
NINEPOINT ENERGY INCOME FUND ETF $19.79 (NEO exchange symbol NRGI) invests in dividend-paying companies involved in the energy industry....
Still, Germany’s strong, ongoing government response to the pandemic sets its diversified, high value-added and export-oriented economy up for strong gains as global economies normalize.
Here is one ETF that provides exposure to the top public companies in Germany.
ISHARES MSCI GERMANY ETF $25.24 (New York symbol EWG; TSINetwork ETF Rating: Aggressive; Market cap: $1.7 billion) invests in publicly listed German companies.
Financial companies account for 20% of the fund’s assets, while Consumer Cyclicals (18%), Industrials (14%), Technology (14%), Healthcare (13%), and Basic Materials (10%), are other key segments.
The ETF holds a portfolio of 61 stocks; the top 10 make up 52% of its assets....
Meanwhile, dividend-focused ETFs can—but not always—follow strategies that we feel set investors up for maximum long-term gains with the least risk....
Still, holding a stake in this sector is an important part of a well-balanced portfolio....
Here’s a look at four international funds that we believe are suitable for your new buying....