ETFs in brief


Exchange-traded funds are set up to mirror the performance of a stock-market index or sub-index....

Companies that pay regular and growing dividends have performed very well over the long run when compared to the broad market indices.


For example, a simple strategy such as selecting stocks with an extended history of uninterrupted dividend growth, such as represented by the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, has added 11.5% per year over the past 30 years....

Global military spending reached a multi-decade high in 2022 as the Russian-Ukrainian war and other regional conflicts prompted governments to beef up their military capabilities.


The U.S. remains by far the largest global military power—and although the country’s spending declined over the past decade, it has started growing again....

Evolve is a mid-sized Canadian ETF provider with about $3 billion of assets under management spread mostly across themed ETFs. This month we look at a new technology fund recently launched by that manager. We also highlight a global stock fund launched by one of the largest asset managers in the world, JP Morgan.


EVOLVE NASDAQ TECHNOLOGY ETF $20.78 (Toronto symbol QQQT) invests in technology companies listed on the Nasdaq market....

Canada ranked 15th among 64 countries in the IMD’s most recent World Competitiveness ratings. Denmark ranked first, Ireland, second, and Switzerland, third. The U.S. ranked in the 9th position.


Canada scored relatively well in the main categories of economic performance (9th), and Infrastructure (11th)....

The Canadian economy ranks among the top 10 globally. It’s also considered to be in the top 25% of the most competitive economies in the world; it is highly rated for its ability to train and attract skilled workers.


However, after solid growth in 2021 to 2022, higher interest rates have slowed the domestic economy down—although elevated oil and gas prices are providing a measure of support.


We still recommend that most Canadians hold the bulk of their portfolios in dividend-paying Canadian stocks, or ETFs that hold those stocks....

When investing in dividend-paying companies through an ETF, here are key factors to consider:


Dividend yield: Dividend yield is the dividend paid during the previous 12-month period divided by the current unit price of the ETF. But, this yield can change quickly if the ETF lowers its dividend—which happens more frequently if it invests in cyclical companies.


Dividend consistency and growth: Most ETFs that invest in dividend-paying companies pass the dividends received from the underlying companies on to investors (after deducting fees)....

Higher interest rates mean dividend-paying stocks must increasingly compete with fixed-income investments for investor interest. However, sustainable dividends still offer an attractive and growing income stream for investors.


Meanwhile, dividend-focused ETFs often follow strategies that can set investors up for maximum long-term gains with the least amount of risk....

DIREXION DAILY AEROSPACE & DEFENSE BULL 3X SHARES ETF $16.61 (New York symbol DFEN) is set up to generate returns of 3 times the daily performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace and Defense Index. The top holdings are RTX and Boeing, which together make up over 35% of the index....

Global military spending reached a multi-year high in 2022 as the Russian-Ukrainian war and other regional conflicts prompted governments to beef up their defence capabilities. That spending might slow in the coming years as governments are forced to re-examine their military budgets in the wake of massive stimulus spending to deal with COVID-19....