ETFs See ‘Yuge’ Inflows in Q1

Investors are feeling pretty good these days.

How do I know this? Well, over the past few months there have been multiple sentiment indicators that have come in very strong.

The latest was a recent Pew Research poll that showed nearly six in 10 people in the United States (58%) think the economic situation is good. That’s a big leap from last year, when only 44% described the U.S. economy as good. It’s also the most positive assessment of economic conditions since 2007.

Other recent sentiment indicators have bested expectations, including the February and March Consumer Confidence, the March Philly Fed Survey,  the March NFIB Small Business Survey and the February ISM Manufacturing PMI.

Then there’s the actual price performance of equities.

Year to date, the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) is up 5.5%, while the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is up 6.1%. The PowerShares QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ) has spiked some 12.6%.

So, what’s driving the price of these benchmark ETFs?

Simple: Record-breaking ETF inflows.

Check that. Let’s call them “yuge” ETF inflows, as in Trump-sized inflows.

According to the website ETF.com, during the first three months of this year, inflows into ETFs were $134.7 billion. Compare that figure to the relatively puny $29.6 billion in inflows in Q1 2016, and you see why “yuge” is an accurate description.

Moreover, if inflows continue at their current pace, then 2017 will see nearly $540 billion flood into the market. That would crush last year’s record inflow total of $287.5 billion.

It is the record pace of fund inflows that really tells us that investors are feeling good about the economy and the markets.

Yes, we should worry about policy failures in Washington, the lack of hard economic data supporting this rally and the upcoming corporate earnings season.

Yet investors stay on the sidelines at their own peril, as the record levels of capital coming in to exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are going to provide a significant bid higher for equities.

You might even say they will ensure a “yuge” gain in markets going forward.

If you’d like to find out how subscribers to my Successful ETF Investing advisory service are riding this yuge market wave right now, I invite you to subscribe today!

ETF Talk: Largest Single-Country European Fund Targets German Equities

By Eagle Staff

Just as there are multiple ways to play domestic markets, there also are many funds focused on international equities. Today’s featured exchange-traded fund (ETF), the iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG), is the largest one in Europe devoted to a particular country.

For investors who are interested in the German stock market, this fund is one of the most liquid options available. It invests primarily in large-cap German companies, but also includes some mid-cap stocks.

Even though EWG is the largest ETF available that targets a specific European country, that fact does not mean that its country of focus, Germany, has the highest total capitalization among European stock markets. In fact, that honor belongs to the United Kingdom. This fund simply has the most assets among similar single-country funds. A key reason is that there are multiple ETF options for most developed countries’ markets.

EWG has performed quite well during the last 12 months, which makes sense as the euro zone has, in general, been experiencing a liberal monetary policy and a reduction in headwinds. EWG’s performance has been especially strong since December 2016, along with that of other global markets. But this does not mean that the road higher is devoid of bumps. The fund is up 20.7% during the last 12 months, has an expense ratio of 0.48% and pays out roughly a 2.25% dividend.

EWG currently holds 60 stocks, a number that makes the fund somewhat diverse as a single-country investment vehicle. In terms of sector allocations, the ones most strongly represented are Consumer Discretionary, 18.63%; Materials, 14.53%; and Financials, 14.17%.

The top 10 largest holdings of this fund make up about 57% of its assets, meaning that price movements in the top holdings can substantially impact returns. Among these are Siemens AG, 8.45%; SAR SE, 7.77%; Bayer AG, 7.72%; Basf SE, 7.26%; and Allianz SE, 6.75%.

If you are looking for a simple, no-frills way to gain exposure to the German market, the iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG) is worth including in your search to decide if it is a good investment for you.

As always, we are happy to answer any of your questions about ETFs, so do not hesitate to send us an email. You just may see your question answered in a future ETF Talk.

Brexit Trigger Means Opportunity in This ETF

Last week was historic “across the pond,” as Britain made “Brexit” official by invoking a provision in European law known as Article 50.

Britain’s European Union (EU) ambassador formally triggered what is likely to be a two-year process of the United Kingdom extricating itself from membership in the EU. And the Brits did it in characteristically subtle fashion by simply handing a letter to EU Council President Donald Tusk.

In comments following the official Article 50 trigger, Prime Minister Theresa May said that this was “an historic moment from which there can be no turning back.”

For investors here at home, the official Brexit trigger does have implications for specific exchange-traded funds (ETFs) pegged to Europe.

Over the past several weeks, our ETF Talk segment has features several European ETFs, and one reason why is because I am bullish on this market segment. However, the Brexit situation does pose a few things to think about when assessing which European ETFs might be best.

To get a better sense of the pros and cons of European ETFs, I turned to my friend and colleague Tom Essaye of The Sevens Report. Tom is pretty much an expert at all things markets, but he has a particularly interesting read on Europe. Like me, he’s bullish on the segment and for the same basic reasons.

First, there is compelling relative valuation in European equities vs. U.S. stocks. Second, there continues to be central bank support from the ECB, which is using “easy” monetary policy vs. the Fed. Finally, the political risks of investing in Europe, in my view, have been far too overstated.

Valuation wise, Tom explained to me that the S&P 500 now trades at the top end of historical valuations. The S&P 500 is trading at 18.25 times 2017 earnings per share (EPS) and 17.75 times 2018 EPS. Conversely, the MSCI Europe Index is trading at 15.1 times 2017 earnings and 13.8 times 2018 earnings. That’s a 17% and 22% discount to the U.S. valuations.

As for central bank support, the ECB is still doing quantitative easing (QE), and it still plans to buy some 60 billion euros worth of bonds through December of this year. That will continue to support the EU economy, and help earnings and inflation move higher, which is European-equity positive.

On the political risk front, people have overreacted to Brexit and the potential pitfalls that could befall European equities due to political instability. I am not saying there isn’t reason for caution. However, there seems to be too much trepidation on the part of some investors when it comes to putting money to work in Europe.

So, what is the best way for investors to get long in European equities?

Although there are many great funds to choose from, Tom and I are partial to the ETF that we featured in a recent ETF Talk, and that is the Wisdom Tree Europe Hedged Equity Fund (HEDJ).

There are a couple of primary reasons for the HEDJ preference. First, if you believe, as I do, that the U.S. dollar is going to appreciate over time vs. the euro, then you want the currency hedge that HEDJ offers.

Second, HEDJ is by far the most-liquid European currency hedged ETF out there. And, for those who are concerned about any possible Brexit exposure and its negative influence on British stocks, you’re in luck, as HEDJ has virtually no British exposure (just 0.37% of holdings).

Apparently, the smart money agrees with Tom and me, as HEDJ was up nearly 9% in just the first three months of the year.

If you’d like to find out more about how to profit not only in Europe, but in U.S. stocks, bonds, commodities and countries around the world with a proven plan that’s been working for investors for 40 years, then I invite you to check out my Successful ETF Investing advisory service, today!

Dangerous Following

“The man who lets a leader prescribe his course is a wreck being towed to the scrap heap.”

— Ayn Rand

When it comes to novelists, there is no one I like better than Ayn Rand. And, when it comes to philosophers, well, Miss Rand also is atop my list. In this quote, the “Atlas Shrugged” author warns of the dangers of following others, and how that can lead to personal and societal disaster. It is the same way for your money. While it’s great to get sound, proven advice from smart people about the markets, it’s also incumbent upon us all to think for ourselves. So, accept responsibility for your life, do your homework and never let your course be prescribed by a leader… unless that leader is you.

Wisdom about money, investing and life can be found anywhere. If you have a good quote you’d like me to share with your fellow readers, send it to me, along with any comments, questions and suggestions you have about my  newsletters, seminars or anything else. Click here to ask Jim.