Top Plans for Brokerages
Vanguard ETF: 7.4%*
Diversified Core: 8.1%*
Six Core Asset ETFs: 7.3%*
*:5 Yr Annualized Return of TAA Moderate Portfolio

...More Plans...

Articles on IWM

  • US Equities Fall as Economic Instability Continues

    05/10/2011

    As investors continue to seek diversification in their portfolios, US Equity ETFs remain a popular choice. Equity ETFs allow for diversification across sectors and in regards to size of the company. The style of an ETF is determined by the market segment it occupied, generally falling into small, mid, or large-cap. Additionally, the potential for growth is taken into account which index style a stock should fit into. The Russell indices provide a strong benchmark for each style.

    With the market continually evolving and investors becoming more sophisticated, it is more necessary than ever to make sure each index properly tracks the markets it is intended to. The Russell indices have proven to be a favorite among investment managers, as almost half of all US equity investment products use the Russell Style Indices as their benchmarks.

    The table below shows the weekly returns of US equity ETFs that track a Russell Index:

    US Equity Style Trend

    05/06/2011

    We track asset class movement which are updated weekly.

    Performance data are based on closing prices on last Friday.

    Description Symbol 1 Week 4 Weeks 13 Weeks 26 Weeks 52 Weeks Trend Score
    Russell Largecap Growth IWF -1.68% 1.42% 2.73% 10.84% 26.86% 8.03%
    Russell Largecap Index IWB -1.72% 1.0% 2.96% 11.02% 24.11% 7.48%
    Russell Largecap Value IWD -1.69% 0.57% 3.15% 12.18% 22.55% 7.35%
    Russell Midcap Growth IWP -1.63% 1.82% 4.84% 16.38% 35.25% 11.33%
    Russell Midcap Indedx IWR -1.82% 1.1% 4.33% 14.23% 30.96% 9.76%
    Russell Midcap Value IWS -1.87% 0.56% 3.78% 13.38% 28.55% 8.88%
    Russell Smallcap Growth IWO -3.91% -0.37% 6.1% 16.76% 36.75% 11.07%
    Russell Smallcap Index IWM -3.61% -0.85% 4.47% 13.63% 28.99% 8.53%
    Russell Smallcap Value IWN -3.36% -1.48% 2.74% 11.48% 22.66% 6.41%

    In the past week, the US market suffered as slight retraction as many corporate earnings reports failed to meet Wall Street expectations. Additionally, general economic uncertainty reared its head in the market, driving investors out of US equities for the week Because of this, all ETFs in the US Equity Style Trend table were down for the week.

    Small cap ETFs were hit the hardest, as the iShares Russell 2000 Growth Index (IWO), the iShares Russell 2000 Index (IWM), and the iShares Russell 200 Value Index (IWN) all dropped over 3% in the past week. This follows traditional market behavior as small cap equties tend to react more harshly to swings in the market.

    The iShares Russell Midcap Growth Index (IWP), down 1.63%, and the iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index (IWF), down 1.68%, were least effected by the downturn in the market. In the near future, mid to large cap equity ETFs will likely provide more stability and better gains than smaller ETFs as the market remains in flux and succesptible to turn on a variety of daily economic news.


    Assets Class Symbols 05/04
    Trend
    Score
    04/27
    Trend
    Score
    Direction
    Russell Midcap Growth IWP 10.11% 12.57% v
    Russell Smallcap Growth IWO 9.75% 14.01% v
    Russell Midcap Indedx IWR 8.92% 10.9% v
    Russell Midcap Value IWS 8.24% 9.84% v
    Russell Largecap Growth IWF 7.69% 9.25% v
    Russell Smallcap Index IWM 7.41% 11.05% v
    Russell Largecap Value IWD 7.39% 8.15% v
    Russell Largecap Index IWB 7.29% 8.52% v
    Russell Smallcap Value IWN 5.7% 8.56% v
      Trend score is the average of 1,4,13,26 and 52 week total returns (including dividend reinvested).
    You can get a no cost widget for any of these tables which will automatically update weekly.


    Despite the weak performance in recent periods, every style in the table has exhibited strong growth over the past 52 weeks, mirroring a rise in the US equity market. Investing in ETFs that use Russell Indices as a benchmark provides an investor with a the assurance that his or her investment will maintain the risk and return possibilities that he or she signed up for. As with any investment, it is important to ensure that the goals of the ETF match your personal investment goals.

     

    Symbols: IWF, IWB, IWD, IWP, IWR, IWS, IWO, IWM, IWN

     

    Tickers: (NYSE: IWF), (NYSE: IWB), (NYSE: IWD), (NYSE: IWP), (NYSE: IWR), (NYSE: IWS), (NYSE: IWO), (NYSE: IWM), (NYSE: IWN)



    Disclosure:

    MyPlanIQ does not have any business relationship with the company or companies mentioned in this article. It does not set up their retirement plans. The performance data of portfolios mentioned above are obtained through historical simulation and are hypothetical.

    comments(0)  Share/Bookmark

  • US Small Cap Growth ETFs Continue Strong Gains

    05/05/2011

     

    Small cap ETFs are generally made up of investments in companies with less than $1 billion in market capitalization. Small Cap Growth ETFs offer investors diversification throughout a wide range of industries and the potential for very high returns. At the same time, these ETFs tend to move up and down with the market and are subject to high levels of volatility.

    US Small Cap Growth ETFs, represented by the iShares Russell 2000 Small Cap Growth Index ETF (IWO), continued to outperform other styles of US Equity Assets with a one week return of 2.66% and a trend score of 13.93%. The small cap growth sector has also outperformed other US Equity Assets over a 52 week period, returning 24.31% in the past year. (See Russell Table)

    US Equity Style Return

    4/29/2011

     

    Assets Class Symbols 04/27
    Trend
    Score
    04/20
    Trend
    Score
    Direction
    Russell Smallcap Growth IWO 14.01% 13.06% ^
    Russell Midcap Growth IWP 12.57% 11.91% ^
    Russell Smallcap Index IWM 11.05% 9.92% ^
    Russell Midcap Indedx IWR 10.9% 10.15% ^
    Russell Midcap Value IWS 9.84% 9.03% ^
    Russell Largecap Growth IWF 9.25% 8.24% ^
    Russell Smallcap Value IWN 8.56% 7.26% ^
    Russell Largecap Index IWB 8.52% 7.38% ^
    Russell Largecap Value IWD 8.15% 6.96% ^

    The trend score is defined as the average of 1,4,13,26 and 52 week total returns (including dividend reinvested).

     

    U.S. Small Cap Growth

    04/29/2011
    Description Symbol 1 Yr 3 Yr 5 Yr Avg. Volume(K) 1 Yr Sharpe
    Vanguard Small Cap Growth ETF VBK 27.33% 10.31% 6.52% 248 121.29%
    iShares Russell 2000 Growth In IWO 26.68% 9.57% 4.89% 1,679 119.24%
    iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Growth IJT 24.47% 8.6% 5.17% 187 121.82%

    Among US Small Cap Growth ETFs, the Vanguard Small Cap Growth ETF (VBK) has shown the most strength, returning 27.33% in the past year. Others, including the iShares Russell 2000 Growth Index ETF (IWO) and the iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Growth ETF (UT) have also provided investors with returns higher than 24%.

    In recent periods, equities have experienced high levels of growth, leading many to speculate that a retraction is inevitable. If equity markets begin to lose value, US Small Cap Growth ETFs will certainly be impacted, as the performance of these ETFs correlate with general market conditions. Still, investors should expect strong returns from ETFs in this sector for the foreseeable future.


    Symbols: VBK, IWO, IJT, IWO, IWM, IWR, IWS, IWF, IWN, IWB, IWD

     

    Tickers: (NYSE: VBK) (NYSE: IWO) (NYSE: IJT) (NYSE: IWO) (NYSE: IWP) (NYSE: IWM) (NYSE: IWR) (NYSE: IWS) (NYSE: IWF) (NYSE: IWN) (NYSE: IWB) (NYSE: IWD)

     

    Disclosure: MyPlanIQ does not have any business relationship with the company or companies mentioned in this article. It does not set up their retirement plans. The performance data of portfolios mentioned above are obtained through historical simulation and are hypothetical.

    comments(0)  Share/Bookmark

  • US Large Cap Blend ETFs Return Can Be Beaten As Equity Markets Continue Ascent

    05/05/2011

    Large Cap Blend ETFs provide access to both growth and value stocks, looking for high returns while hedging that risk with more stable securities. Large Cap ETFs invest across the entire spectrum of the US market. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the US equity market are defined as large cap.

    Despite strong returns, US Large Cap Blend ETFs, including the Russell Large Cap Index (IWB), have underperformed mid cap and small cap ETFs. With a one-year trend score of 8.52%, the Russell Large Cap Index falls towards the bottom of the US Style Return Table as seen below.

    US Equity Style Return

    4/29/2011

     

    Assets Class Symbols 04/27
    Trend
    Score
    04/20
    Trend
    Score
    Direction
    Russell Smallcap Growth IWO 14.01% 13.06% ^
    Russell Midcap Growth IWP 12.57% 11.91% ^
    Russell Smallcap Index IWM 11.05% 9.92% ^
    Russell Midcap Indedx IWR 10.9% 10.15% ^
    Russell Midcap Value IWS 9.84% 9.03% ^
    Russell Largecap Growth IWF 9.25% 8.24% ^
    Russell Smallcap Value IWN 8.56% 7.26% ^
    Russell Largecap Index IWB 8.52% 7.38% ^
    Russell Largecap Value IWD 8.15% 6.96% ^

    The trend score is defined as the average of 1,4,13,26 and 52 week total returns (including dividend reinvested).

    US Large Cap Blend

    4/29/2011

    Description Symbol 1 Yr 3 Yr 5 Yr Avg. Volume(K) 1 Yr Sharpe
    SPDR S&P 500 SPY 15.13% 1.42% 2.64% 169,849 83.79%
    iShares S&P 500 Index IVV 14.66% 2.18% 2.45% 2,992 79.99%
    Vanguard Total Stock Market VTI 17.54% 3.35% 3.48% 1,833 92.09%
    iShares Russell 1000 IWB 15.83% 2.66% 2.84% 886 86.04%
    Rydex S&P Equal Weight RSP 18.18% 5.79% 4.44% 1,115 94.46%
    iShares S&P 100 OEF 12.47% 0.94% 2.15% 883 67.2%
    Vanguard Large Cap VV 15.8% 2.78% 3.54% 223 85.55%
    Schwab U.S. Large Cap SCHX 15.95% NA NA 297 87.97%
    Vanguard S&P 500 VOO NA NA NA 311 NA

     

    Among US Large Cap Blend ETFs the Ryder S&P Equal Weight ETF (RSP) and the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) have performed the strongest, offering one-year returns of 18.18% and 17.54% respectively. The ETF in the sector with the highest level of average volume, the SPDR S&P 500 Index, returned 15.13% in the past year, near the middle of the pack.

    While US Large Cap Blend ETFs have provided investors with strong returns in recent periods, many in the market believe that the sector is due for a retraction based on overheated valuations. For the time being, investors will likely find better returns elsewhere.

    Symbols: SPY, IVV, VTI, IWB, RSP, OEF, VV, SCHX, VOO, IWO, IWP, IWM, IWR, IWS, IWF, IWN, IWB, IWD


    Tickers: (NYSE: SPY) (NYSE: IVV) (NYSE: VTI) (NYSE: IWB)(NYSE: RSP)(NYSE: OEF)(NYSE: VV)(NYSE: SCHX)(NYSE: VOO) (NYSE: IWO) (NYSE: IWP) (NYSE: IWM) (NYSE: IWR) (NYSE: IWS) (NYSE: IWF) (NYSE: IWN) (NYSE: IWB) (NYSE: IWD)

     

    Disclosure: MyPlanIQ does not have any business relationship with the company or companies mentioned in this article. It does not set up their retirement plans. The performance data of portfolios mentioned above are obtained through historical simulation and are hypothetical.

    comments(0)  Share/Bookmark

  • UPS, Fedex Square off in Retirement Plans

    04/19/2011

    The combination of a robust U.S. equity market and the proliferation of company-sponsored retirement plans helped push total assets in 401(k) pans over the $3 trillion threshold at close of last year, up 13% from 2009. The incidents in Japan, the Middle East and even as far back as New Orleans teach us the danger of living on borrowed time, the reactors, the governments the levees keeping things going -- just one more year. The temptation to delay until next time is very seductive until disaster strikes and the cost to repair, dwarfs the cost to prevent. Many working people put off their retirement investing -- just one more year until it becomes a "hair on fire" problem -- which it now is for baby boomers for whom retirement is a near and present danger.

    The starting point for any retirement investing is the company provided retirement plan. Not all plans are created equal. Not all plans have the same number of choices, asset classes, quality of funds and, most importantly, risk adjusted returns.

    The list of minor asset classes covered by UPS Savings Plan The list of minor asset classes covered by Federal Express (FedEx) 401K Plan for Pilots
    Emerging Markets Bond: BAEDX
    Foreign Large Blend: EFA
    Inflation-protected Bond: BPRAX
    Intermediate-term Bond: SSINX, SBMRX
    Large Blend: SVSPX
    Mid-cap Blend: MDY
    Real Estate: VGSIX
    Retirement Income: VTINX
    Small Blend: IWM
    Target Date 2000-2010: VTENX
    Target Date 2011-2015: VTXVX
    Target Date 2016-2020: VTWNX
    Target Date 2021-2025: VTTVX
    Target Date 2026-2030: VTHRX
    Target Date 2031-2035: VTTHX
    Target Date 2036-2040: VFORX
    Target Date 2041-2045: VTIVX
    Target Date 2050+: VFIFX
    Conservative Allocation: VSCGX
    Foreign Large Blend: VGTSX
    Foreign Large Value: VTRIX
    Inflation-protected Bond: VIPSX
    Intermediate-term Bond: VBTIX
    Large Blend: VIFSX
    Large Value: VWNDX
    Mid-cap Blend: VEMSX, VMISX
    Moderate Allocation: VWELX, VSMGX
    Retirement Income: VTINX
    Small Blend: VSISX
    Target Date 2000-2010: VTENX, VTOVX
    Target Date 2011-2015: VTXVX
    Target Date 2016-2020: VTWNX
    Target Date 2021-2025: VTTVX
    Target Date 2026-2030: VTHRX
    Target Date 2031-2035: VTTHX
    Target Date 2036-2040: VFORX
    Target Date 2041-2045: VTIVX
    Target Date 2050+: VFIFX

     

    Asset Class UPS Savings Plan Federal Express (FedEx) 401K Plan for Pilots
    REITs 1 0
    Balanced Fund 10 14
    Fixed Income 4 2
    Sector Fund 0 0
    Foreign Equity 1 2
    US Equity 3 5
    Other 0
    0
    Total 19 23

     

    Fedex has more funds but have one less asset class -- UPS has REITs and Fedex does not. Neither company provides Emerging Markets or Commodity funds.

    Both companies have a wide choice of Target Date funds which may appeal to some but are expensive and have mixed reviews as to their value for money.

    It is interesting that UPS has emerging market bonds but no emerging ma
    There are easy ways to improve these plans with emerging market and commodity exposure.

    As of Apr 18, 2011, UPS Savings Plan investment choice is rated as average and Federal Express (FedEx) 401K Plan for Pilots investment choice is rated as below average based on MyPlanIQ Plan Rating methodology that was designed to measure how effective a plan's available investment funds are . It has the following detailed ratings:

    Attribute UPS Savings Plan Federal Express (FedEx) 401K Plan for Pilots
    Diversification above average (85%) below average (13%)
    Fund Quality below average (21%) average (47%)
    Portfolio Building above average (66%) below average (31%)
    Overall Rating average (58%) below average (31%)

     


    Performance chart (as of Apr 18, 2011)

    Performance table (as of Apr 18, 2011)

    Portfolio Name 1Yr AR 1Yr Sharpe 3Yr AR 3Yr Sharpe 5Yr AR 5Yr Sharpe
    UPS Savings Plan Tactical Asset Allocation Moderate 10% 77% 10% 102% 10% 98%
    UPS Savings Plan Strategic Asset Allocation Moderate 7% 55% 1% 9% 3% 11%
    Federal Express 401K Plan Tactical Asset Allocation Moderate 4% 39% 7% 73% 7% 69%
    Federal Express 401K Plan Strategic Asset Allocation Moderate 8% 87% 4% 36% 6% 41%
    Six Core Asset ETF Benchmark Tactical Asset Allocation Moderate 10% 71% 9% 73% 13% 91%
    Six Core Asset ETF Benchmark Strategic Asset Allocation Moderate 13% 103% 3% 20% 7% 35%


    Currently Commodities, Real Estate and US Equity are doing well. US Equity and Real Estate available to UPS Savings Plan participants Only US Equities are available to FedEx participants.

    When we add the six asset class SIB benchmark to the table, it is possible to see how the two compare against a reference.

    Takeaways

    • The UPS plan with its extra asset class has a three point lead over the FedEx plan when comparing tactical asset allocation
    • The Six asset class benchmark has a three point lead over the UPS plan when comparing tactical asset allocation
    • The FedEx plan without the recent burden of the Real Estate crash beats UPS when comparing strategic asset allocation
    • The Six asset class benchmark beats the FedEx plan over five years where emerging markets and commodities offset the drag of real estatewhen comparing strategic asset allocation


    With either plan, augmenting a retirement portfolio with emerging market equities and commodities will provide better diversification and likely higher risk adjusted returns. As inflation seems like a near certainty, commodity exposure becomes increasingly important.


    Disclosure:

    MyPlanIQ does not have any business relationship with the company or companies mentioned in this article. It does not set up their retirement plans. The performance data of portfolios mentioned above are obtained through historical simulation and are hypothetical.

    Symbols: UPS, FDX, BAEDX, EFA, BPRAX, SSINX, SBMRX, SVSPX, MDY, VGSIX, VTINX, IWM, VGTSX, VTRIX, VIPSX, VBTIX, VIFSX, VWNDX, VEMSX, VMISX, VWELX, VSMGX, VTINX, VSISX, AGG, BND, VTI, VNQ, IYR, DBC, VWO, EEM, EFA


    Exchange Tickers: (UPS), (FDX), (BAEDX), (EFA), (BPRAX ), (SSINX), (SBMRX), (SVSPX), (MDY), (VGSIX), (VTINX), (IWM), (VGTSX), (VTRIX), (VIPSX), (VBTIX), (VIFSX), (VWNDX), (VEMSX), (VMISX), (VWELX), (VSMGX), (VTINX), (VSISX), (AGG), (BND), (VTI), (VNQ), (IYR), (DBC), (VWO), (EEM), (EFA)

    comments(0)  Share/Bookmark

  • Leuthold Fund Uses Gold, Silver and Real Estate for Inflation Hedging

    04/13/2011

    Leuthold Core Investment [LCORX] [LCRIX] is a flexible or go anywhere tactical asset allocation fund. It is adept to use various non-traditional assets in different economic cycles.

    Steven Leuthold is the chief investment officer and veteran for the fund, having managed the fund for 15 years. The fund mainly invests in stock market, including U.S and emerging country, and fixed income securities. However, in the past, the fund has used alternative investments for its advantage. This is reflected by its long term performance: as of 3/31/2011, the fund achieved 7.91% annualized return in the past 10 years, ranked number 1 in Morningstar’s large blend category.

    Based on its Feb. 1, 2011 report, the fund invested 49% of portfolio assets in U.S. traded stocks (SPY), with an additional 16% of assets invested in Emerging Country Equities (EEM). These two holdings account for 65% of total assets. There is a 2% equity hedge focused on shorting small cap stocks (IWM) which reduces net equity exposure to 63%. The short hedge is a common strategy employed by Leuthold in the past.

    In addition to the above holdings, the funds has exposure in Real Estate Investment Trusts (7% holding) (IYR) (ICF), Gold and Silver (5% holding) (GLD), (SLV). It further has 4% Brazilian Bonds, indicating the manager's optiministic outlook on Brazilian currency Real.

    For the latest Leuthold fund (LCORX) asset allocation analysis, we use MyPlanIQ's SmartMoneyIQ tool. The following table illustrates the analysis as of 4/8/2011

    LCORX Asset Correlation Analysis

    Date IntlBond CASH USBond EmergStk USReits IntlStk USStk
    2011-03-18 0.68 5.48 20.46 27.83 -0 -0 45.55
    2011-03-25 0.88 7.04 17.31 30.39 0 0 44.39
    2011-04-01 0 21.57 6.18 28.66 0 0 43.59
    2011-04-08 -0 4.2 23.46 22.13 0 0 50.21

    The above table is derived by MyPlanIQ SmartMoneyIQ tool. The percentage on each column reflects the portfolio’s correlation coefficient with the asset class benchmark for that column. (assuming all correlation coefficients are summed to 1). They do not necessarily reflect the actual asset allocation of the fund.

    It is interesting to note that the fund's correlation with U.S. bonds (AGG) has increased in the last week. Given the manager's outlook  in Q4/2010 " We continue to believe that the bond market is vulnerable to a significant correction, with interest rates poised to move much higher.”, this might be just due to its short term tactical move or purely because of its holdings were more correlated with U.S. bonds recently.

    Symbols: LCORX, SPY, EEM, IYR, IWM, GLD, SLV, GDX, ICF, AGG, BWX

    comments(0)  Share/Bookmark

  • Schwab Mutual Funds Beat out ETFs

    04/06/2011

  • Schwab Select ETF Plan Has Bright Prospects

    04/06/2011

  • National Semiconductor Provides Good Funds in Their Retirement Plan

    04/04/2011

  • MidAmerican Energy Company's 401K Plan: More Diversification Needed

    03/31/2011

  • Caterpillar's 401K Retirement Plan: Reasonable Investment Choices But Could Be More Systematic

    03/28/2011

  • Accenture 401K Retirement Plan: High Quality and Low Cost Funds with Proper Diversification

    03/25/2011

  • Fund Advice Gives Sound Advice

    03/22/2011

  • Employees in Sprint Nextel Dial up An Average 401K Retirement Plan

    03/22/2011

  • Commodities Withstood the Recent Market Selloff

    03/21/2011

  • Earthquakes and Wars Call for Diversification and Tactical Asset Allocation in Investing

    03/20/2011

  • 'Safe' Assets' Trends Back to Positive: Risk Aversion Began?

    03/14/2011

  • Starbucks Should Expand Its 401K Retirement Plan, Just As What It Did in Their Business

    03/11/2011

  • NetApp's 401K: More Diversification and Better Quality Can Help

    03/10/2011

  • Major Assets: Risk Assets Strong While Safe Assets Have Negative Trends

    03/07/2011

  • US Equities ignore World Tension -- Go Marching On

    03/04/2011

First   1   2   3   4   5   6   Last  

Members enjoy Free features

  • Customize and follow a diversified strategic allocation portfolio for your 401k, IRA and brokerage investments within minutes
  • Receive monthly or quarterly re-balance emails
  • Enter funds and percentages in your portfolio, see its historical performance and receive ongoing rebalance emails
  • Real time fund ranking and selection for your plans
  • Quality retirement investing newsletter emails
  • Fund ranking and selection for your plans

Tens of thousands of users have signed up!

Join Now (Free)
No Credit Card Required

User names can only consist of alphabetic and
numeric characters.(eg: 0-9a-zA-Z)
I agree to the Terms of use

Login With Facebook:

Get Started Now. It's Free!

Get portfolio suggestions for your
401k plan or brokerage accounts

Powered by MyPlanIQ
You have created an account on MyPlanIQ.com by using this email "", please login MyPlanIQ account or reset your password.