PepsiCo Earnings: Why Diversified ETFs Are the Way Forward
On Thursday, July 9, PepsiCo released its Q2 2026 earnings. Given how many remain worried how inflation and gas prices would affect consumer spending, this earnings call was closely watched.
ETFs
BlackRock Looks to Challenge QQQ With New Nasdaq-100 ETF
On Thursday, July 9, BlackRock debuted the iShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (IQQ). IQQ marks a significant inflection point in the ETF market, as BlackRock looks to challenge the tried-and-true Invesco QQQ Trust Series I (QQQ).
Harnessing Consensus & Momentum: Defiance Debuts RANK ETF
On June 30, Defiance debuted the new Defiance KSM TipRanks Analyst ETF (RANK). With an expense ratio of 60 basis points, this fund aims to leverage Wall Street’s highest-rated analyst consensus data to capitalize on U.S…
Irish consumer price inflation eases to 3.4% in June
As anticipated in our last global economic outlook, elections around the world have driven notable policy changes that altered the trajectories of inflation, borrowing costs, currency values, and trade and capital flows…
Finding High-Conviction Growth in Baron SMID cap ETF, BCSM
As megacap valuations remain stretched, more investors are looking to small- and mid- cap companies for growth exposure. At a recent TMX VettaFi product due diligence session, “Where Small-Cap Upside Meets Midcap Stabil…
This Critical Mineral Will Fuel the Next-Gen Energy Grid
The global economic landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation highlighted by a heavier reliance on energy. The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) usage is only going to accelerate this trend, which…
Advisors Say Time, Not Demand, Is Biggest Constraint
Advisors say the biggest limit on their practice growth isn’t client demand or market conditions. It’s time, according to new research from T. Rowe Price.
Romania’s first quarter GDP contracts 1.2% year-on-year
Romania's economy slid 1.2% in the first three months of this year on a gross series basis compared with the same period in 2025, and 1.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to provisional data (1) the National I…
Electrification Surge Fuels Case for Clean Energy ETF ACES
Artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, a fractured energy security picture, and a wave of electrification are converging into a supercycle for clean energy infrastructure. That’s according to executives from SS&C AL…
China factory-gate inflation hits 4-yr high in June; CPI misses forecasts
Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 4.1% year-on-year in June, matching market expectations in a Reuters poll and marking the fourth consecutive month…
China’s producer inflation hits near 4-year high in June
The producer price index rose 4.1% year on year, the highest rate since July 2022
New Zealand’s manufacturing index hits five-year high in June on renewed confidence
[WELLINGTON] New Zealand house prices fell for the third straight month in June, nearing a three-year low and adding to signs of an economic slowdown as the global oil shock hits household incomes and consumer confidenc…
The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq: Real Returns Since the 2000 Peak (June 2026)
The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow), and Nasdaq Composite are all stock market indexes used to measure the performance of various aspects of the U.S. stock market. The indexes generally rise and fall togethe…
Rate-Agnostic Income: Why Fed Moves Matter Less for CLOs
A common notion in the fixed income market surrounds rate decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve as the primary pivot point for portfolio shifts. However, in the collateralized loan obligation (CLO) space, the rate conve…
Model Portfolios Gain Momentum in 2026: How ETFs Fit In
How are advisors and investors looking at opportunities within model portfolios these days? Well, recent research seems to suggest that model portfolios in the U.S. are certainly picking up steam.
Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin Back Above $60K
This weekly update tracks some of the largest cryptocurrencies by market share: Bitcoin and Ether. While both are considered high-risk assets, they possess foundational differences that investors should understand. We h…
ETF Prime: Meb Faber’s Case for Long-Term Investing in America
Long-term investing in America and the lessons history offers modern investors were the focus of this week’s ETF Prime. Host Nate Geraci welcomed Mebane Faber, founder and chief investment officer at Cambria Investment …
Broadening Trade Returns as Conflict Eases. Can It Outlast a Hawkish Fed and Fading Liquidity?
First Half of 2026 Sees a Shift in Leadership Despite conflict in the Middle East, sharp oil price swings, and resurging inflation concerns, equity markets posted positive returns in the first half of 2026 amid de-escal…
From IPO to Core Holding: Why SpaceX Remains a RONB Cornerstone
Prior to the debut of SpaceX on the Nasdaq, one of the few ways to get exposure to this highly anticipated IPO was through Baron First Principles ETF (RONB) via publicly traded, transparent, liquid ETF shares. Just beca…
‘Mega-Rotation’ Could Lift This Income ETF
While some of the hottest artificial intelligence (AI)-adjacent trades have hit a rough patch recently, broader large-cap equity benchmarks remain near all-time highs — despite a brief pullback on July 7. That’s a sign …
Strong LLY News Boosts Active Healthcare ETF GDOC
Healthcare and technology provide an intriguing contrast. Many healthcare stocks are traditionally known for their more defensive uses in portfolios. At the same time, biotech and healthcare technology stocks stand to g…
The Hour-Long Project We Never Would’ve Started
We may often come off as skeptical about AI in this newsletter. Our skepticism is primarily centered on the AI capital spend and AI company valuations rather than the AI tools themselves, which we have found both useful…
AI & “Ex-China” Rewriting the Emerging Markets ETF Playbook
The action in Emerging Markets ETFs this year has been really interesting to watch. From record-breaking asset flows to impressive results, albeit massively dispersed, this category of funds has had quite a ride so far …
State Street’s Triple Play: Capturing the U.S. Broad Market Benchmarks
At first glance, broad-market funds seemingly offer similar exposure to the exact same underlying stocks. Various asset managers offer several heavyweight funds that claim to capture the broader market. However, subtle …