Category: Exchange Traded Funds

Returns by Time Horizon

Content provided by Sierra Morris – Jr. Investment Research Analyst The recent sell-off has been alarming for investors. However, is this move over a short period of time warranted in causing so much concern? We consistently tell investors to focus on the long term when looking at their investment portfolios, so let’s take a look… Continue reading Returns by Time Horizon

CLS’s Top 10 ETF Holdings

Content provided by Sierra Morris, Jr. Investment Research Analyst Below are our top 10 holdings as of September 30, 2014   1. VIG: Vanguard Dividend Appreciation (5.8%) This fund identifies domestic firms that have increased their dividends for at least 10 years and uses screens to avoid companies that are likely to cut dividends in… Continue reading CLS’s Top 10 ETF Holdings

Hedge the Euro? Not So Fast!

Content provided by Paula Wieck, CLS Manager of Investment Research While CLS still thinks Europe looks attractive, what about the euro? Clearly by increasing our European exposure, we are increasing our exposure to the euro as well. Despite the fact that the dollar has been on a tear lately, the euro has fallen considerably since… Continue reading Hedge the Euro? Not So Fast!

The Kinder Morgan Deal & its Impact on Income Investors

Content provided by Josh Jenkins, CLS Investment Research Analyst Early last month Kinder Morgan shook the energy industry when it announced that it would be consolidating its four affiliated energy businesses into a single company. This transaction comes in light of recent underperformance of Kinder Morgan and its affiliated businesses, relative to the rest of… Continue reading The Kinder Morgan Deal & its Impact on Income Investors

Global Growth Status Update

Content provided by Kostya Etus- Research/Portfolio Analyst In order to evaluate global growth, CLS will be looking at PMI* figures. Overall, the global manufacturing PMI was relatively unchanged in July at a level of 52.5 (ticking down 0.1 but still in expansionary territory). Growth expanded in three-fourths of the world and 61% of PMIs rose… Continue reading Global Growth Status Update

Why Use Fundamentally-Weighted Indexes?

Content provided by Rusty Vanneman, CLS Chief Investment Officer What is the difference between a “capitalization-weighted” market index and a “fundamentally-weighted” index? Okay, maybe this question isn’t the top question on most ETF investors’ minds, but I believe in the years ahead, more and more ETF investors will ask this very question. First things first,… Continue reading Why Use Fundamentally-Weighted Indexes?

I Did It! What Do I Do Now?

Content provided by J.J. Schenkelberg, CLS Senior Portfolio Manager Have you ever set a goal? Something you strived for that required time, patience and hard work to achieve. Maybe it was completing an educational degree, passing a test, running a race, losing weight, or something as simple as waking up a little earlier. Easier said… Continue reading I Did It! What Do I Do Now?

The Long and Short of It

Content provided by Grant Engelbart, CLS Portfolio Manager The world of alternative investments is vast, and often times a little blurry.  A good place to start when thinking about alternatives is a fairly simple idea – buy stocks you like, sell stocks you don’t.  This is the general premise for a long/short strategy.  Since, in… Continue reading The Long and Short of It

Market Return Indicators

Content provided by J.J. Schenkelberg, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager How to predict market returns. That is the magic formula that investors have been seeking since the beginning of investment time. While there are dozens of factors that could be used, the three predominant factors that are widely accepted throughout the investment world include: 1. Earnings… Continue reading Market Return Indicators