This recent outperformance was the catalyst for sizable inflows into the two largest low
vol ETFs: the PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF ($ SPLV) and the iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index ETF ($ USMV).
The bottom line is that we would not be seeing this coverage were it not for the existence of these low
vol ETFs.
Thus, low
vol ETFs are over-weighted in large - cap stocks and under - weighted in small - cap stocks.
Since their 2011 inception, these four iShares min
vol ETFs have delivered between 15 % to 20 % less risk than their broader market indexes on an annualized basis.
Whereas the BMO and PowerShares low -
vol ETFs are heavy on consumer retailers and utilities, these sectors play a small role in XMV.
If you're comfortable trading in US dollars, all of the iShares US and international low -
vol ETFs are also listed in New York, and these versions have lower management fees.
As the leveraged
vol ETFs get larger, their rebalancing impact becomes more magnified and could lead to instability.
Not exact matches
The leader of the low
vol / dividend
ETF pack is the PowerShares S&P 500 High Dividend Low...
The iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol Emerging Markets
ETF seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of emerging market equities that, in the aggregate, have lower volatility characteristics relative to the broader emerging equity markets.
SPMV is based on the S&P 500 Minimum Volatility Index, but offers some important differences relative to rivals such as the iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol USA
ETF (NYSE: USMV) and the PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility Portfolio (NYSE: SPLV).
The iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol USA
ETF (USMV), the iShares Edge MSCI USA Momentum Factor
ETF (MTUM) and the iShares Edge MSCI USA Quality Factor
ETF (QUAL) had outflows ranging from $ 400 million to $ 800 million.
For minimum volatility and quality, take a look at the iShares EDGE MSCI Min
Vol USA
ETF (USMV) or the iShares Edge MSCI USA Quality Factor
ETF (QUAL).
Some
ETFs feature stocks that are specifically selected to be low in volatility, such as iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol USA (USMV)
ETF, whereas other
ETFs use a hedging strategy to minimize volatility, holding stocks that perform well in up - and - down markets.
Consider: iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol USA
ETF (USMV), iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol EAFE
ETF (EFAV) and iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol Emerging Markets
ETF (EEMV).
The iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol USA
ETF tries to mitigate that by following an index that can limit how big sectors get in the portfolio.
Consider: iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol Canada Index
ETF (XMV), iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol USA Index
ETF (XMU), iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol EAFE Index
ETF (XMI) and iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol Global Index
ETF (XMW).
Funds such as iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets
ETF (IEMG) and iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol Emerging Markets
ETF (EEMV) can play an important role in a core portfolio, providing long - term growth potential and diversification.
I know things work until they don't, but the «smart beta» S&P 500
ETF that chooses stocks within the index seem doing better than S&P 500 on backtesting (equalweight, low
vol, dividend aristocrat).
Second you would have to think that a few billion of inflows into some
ETFs would somehow offset the behavioral and structural effects underlying the low
vol anomaly.
The new funds, iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol USA Index
ETF (CAD - Hedged)(XMS), iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol EAFE Index
ETF (CAD - Hedged)(XML) and iShares Edge MSCI Min
Vol Global Index
ETF (CAD - Hedged)(XMY), will be listed on the TSX when the market opens today.