Vanguard ETF: | 7.4%* | ||
Diversified Core: | 8.1%* | ||
Six Core Asset ETFs: | 7.3%* |
Articles on QCOM
- Technology Companies Outshine Among Large Cap Growth Stocks
07/19/2011
Large technology companies such as those in Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) (COMP) have been doing exceptionally well in the past five years. They out performed large cap growth stocks. The following table shows the performance of large growth stock ETFs:
As of 7/15/2011
07/15/2011
Description Symbol 1 Yr 3 Yr 5 Yr Avg. Volume(K) 1 Yr Sharpe PowerShares QQQ QQQ 27.88% 10.04% 10.54% 52,975 177.47% Vanguard Growth ETF VUG 26.77% 5.52% 5.66% 373 200.76% iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index IWF 27.2% 5.95% 5.56% 2,268 204.37% iShares S&P 500 Growth Index IVW 25.99% 5.69% 4.89% 562 205.62% For information on more ETF performance, please refer to here. For various stock styles (such as large growth, mid cap, small value etc.), please refer to MyPlanIQ's stock style table.
Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) was the front runner in last 1, 3 and 5 year periods. These technology companies sidestepped the last financial crisis with pristine balance sheets and conservative growth plans, having learned a lesson from the technology bubble in 2001-2002. What is more interesting is that large U.S. technology companies have dramtically expanded their global reach and are now considered multi-national companies. In the past decade, they outsourced some of their development to emerging markets, gradually learned and developed local markets and now are in the perfect position to reap what they have sowed in these rapidly developing economies.
For example, Apple (AAPL) just released its latest quarter earnings report that stated its Chinese sales reached $3.8 billion, up almost sixfold from a year earlier. The company plans to open 30 stores in the September period, including in Hong Kong, broadening a retail chain that generated $3.5 billion in sales last quarter.
The following are the top holdings of QQQ, as of 7/18/2011
Name Symbol Weights (%) Apple (AAPL) 13.35% Microsoft (MSFT) 8.66% Oracle (ORCL) 6.16% Google (GOOG) 5.82% Intel (INTC) 4.56% Amazon (AMZN) 3.69% Qualcomm (QCOM) 3.57% Cisco (CSCO) 3.28% Amgen (AMGN) 1.96% Comcast (CMCSA) 1.93% In general, U.S. large growth companies are positioned well for the economic recovery. For a retirement portfolio, proper exposure into these high quality multi-national companies can be beneficial.
Symbols: COMP, QQQQ, AAPL, ORCL, MSFT, GOOG, INTC, CSCO, AMZN, QCOM, AMGN, CMSCA, ETFs
- Qualcomm 401(k) Plan Report On 12/07/2010
12/07/2010
Retirement investing is an integral part of American personal finance. With $8.9 trillion parked in over 800 thousand retirement plans such as 401K, millions of Americans will increasingly rely on their 401K accounts to fund their future retirement needs. This article is part of a series of case studies we are conducting for various 401K plans. In this article, we will discuss how participants in Qualcomm 401(k) Plan can achieve reasonable investment results using asset allocation strategies. We will also discuss how those portfolios are positioned in today’s market environment.
Qualcomm 401(k) Plan's 401K plan consists of 13 funds. These funds enable participants to gain exposure to 3 major assets: US Equity , Foreign Equity , Fixed Income . The list of minor asset classes covered:
Foreign Large Blend: EFA , VEU , GWL , PFA
Intermediate Government: IEI , VGIT , ITE
Intermediate-term Bond: AGG , CIU , BIV , BND
Large Blend: IVV , IYY , IWV , VTI , VV , SPY , DLN , RSP , SCHX
Large Growth: IVW , IWZ , JKE , VUG , ELG , QQQQ , RPG , SCHG
Large Value: IVE , IWW , JKF , VTV , ELV , PWV , RPV , SCHV
Mid-cap Blend: IJH , IWR , JKG , VO , MDY , EMM , PJG , DON , EZM , MVV
Retirement Income:
Small Growth: IJT , IWO , JKK , VBK , DSG , PWT , RZG , UKK
Small Value: IJS , IWN , JKL , VBR , DSV , PWY , RZV , UVT
World Stock: IOO , VT
As of Dec 3, 2010, this plan investment choice is rated as above 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:
Diversification -- Rated as average (50%)
Fund Quality -- Rated as above average (85%)
Portfolio Building -- Rated as above average (71%)
Overall Rating: above average (69%)The chart and table below show the historical performance of moderate model portfolios employing strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies ( SAA and TAA , both provided by MyPlanIQ). For comparison purpose, we also include the moderate model portfolios of a typical 3 asset SIB (Simpler Is Better) plan . This SIB plan has the following candidate index funds and their ETFs equivalent:
US Equity :( SPY or VTI )
Foreign Equity :( EFA or VEU )
Fixed Income :( AGG or BND )
Performance chart (as of Dec 3, 2010)Performance table (as of Dec 3, 2010)
Portfolio Name 1Yr AR 1Yr Sharpe 3Yr AR 3Yr Sharpe 5Yr AR 5Yr Sharpe Qualcomm 401(k) Plan Tactical Asset Allocation Moderate 7% 73% 7% 80% 9% 87% Qualcomm 401(k) Plan Strategic Asset Allocation Moderate 10% 116% 3% 20% 6% 42% Three Core Asset ETF Index Funds Tactical Asset Allocation Moderate -3% -26% 1% 11% 4% 28% Three Core Asset ETF Index Funds Strategic Asset Allocation Moderate 10% 68% 0% -2% 4% 13% Currently, asset classes in US Equity ( SPY , VTI ) and Foreign Equity ( EFA , VEU ) are doing relatively well. These asset classes are available to Qualcomm 401(k) Plan participants.
To summarize, Qualcomm 401(k) Plan plan participants can achieve reasonable investment returns by adopting asset allocation strategies that are tailored to their risk profiles. Currently, the tactical asset allocation strategy indicates overweighing on US Equity and Foreign Equity funds.
Disclosure:Symbols: QCOM , SPY , VTI , EFA , VEU , AGG , BND , CIU , BIV , GWL , PFA , IVE , IWW , JKF , VTV , ELV , PWV , RPV , SCHV , IVV , IYY , IWV , VV , DLN , RSP , SCHX , IOO , VT , IVW , IWZ , JKE , VUG , ELG , QQQQ , RPG , SCHG , IJH , IWR , JKG , VO , MDY , EMM , PJG , DON , EZM , MVV , IJS , IWN , JKL , VBR , DSV , PWY , RZV , UVT , IEI , VGIT , ITE , IJT , IWO , JKK , VBK , DSG , PWT , RZG , UKK