Altruist Financial Advisors LLC
Fee-Only Investment Management

Emerging Markets Value Funds

 

Home
About Altruist
Our Code of Ethics
How We Save You $
Our Services & Fees
Fee Comparison
Investing Strategies
Investments
DFA vs. Vanguard
Nationwide Service
Our Guarantee
Reading Room
Contact Information
Search
Site Map

There are at least two good reasons why most investors should consider investing a portion of their portfolios in emerging market stocks:

bulletEmerging Market stocks have higher expected returns than similar non-emerging market stocks (albeit with higher risk).
 
bulletEmerging Market stocks tend to have relatively low correlations with other asset classes, so including them in a portfolio should improve the portfolio's risk/return characteristics.

For more information on Emerging Markets, see here.

Further, there is good reason to believe that value stocks will, in the long run and on average, tend to have higher risk-adjusted returns than growth stocks.

There are a few similar-seeming investment options available.  Which is best?

The funds are listed in rough order of our overall preference.

Preferences are listed separately for use in retirement accounts and for taxable accounts.

For a listing of our preferences in other asset classes, see here.

Retirement Accounts (i.e., tax-deferred or tax-exempt accounts)

bulletDFA Emerging Markets Value Portfolio (DFEVX).  E/R: 0.44%.  This fund invests in stocks of established companies in thirteen emerging markets. Only stocks in the top three deciles of book-to-market ratios in each country are eligible for investment. Target country allocations are approximately capitalization weighted in accordance with free float market capitalizations. Within countries, company weighting is roughly proportional to its market capitalization.  Rebalancing is only done with new money to minimize transaction fees.

bulletDFA Emerging Markets Value ETF (DFEV).  E/R: 0.43%.  This ETF invests in stocks of established companies in thirteen emerging markets. Only stocks in the top three deciles of book-to-market ratios in each country are eligible for investment. Target country allocations are approximately capitalization weighted in accordance with free float market capitalizations. Within countries, company weighting is roughly proportional to its market capitalization.  Rebalancing is only done with new money to minimize transaction fees.    For more information on ETFs, see here.

bulletVictoryShares Emerging Markets Value Momentum ETF (UEVM).  E/R: 0.45%.  This Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) tracks the Nasdaq Victory Emerging Market Value Momentum Index. This index starts with the stocks in the Nasdaq Emerging Large Mid Cap Index and scores them on both momentum and value measures. It weights value and momentum scores equally and ranks all stocks by their combined measure. It then takes the 25% of stocks with the highest combined score and weights them by inverse volatility. This results in a portfolio with strong exposures to the momentum, value, and low volatility factors.  This fund effectively invests in 50% emerging mkts value stocks and 50% emerging mkts momentum stocks.  Even though it isn't really "style pure," we think that, as impure as it may be, it may be one of the best large cap emerging mkts funds.

bulletAvantis Emerging Markets Value ETF (AVES).  E/R: 0.36%.  This ETF invests in stocks of all market capitalizations in emerging mkts countries, focusing on stocks trading at lower valuations with higher profitability ratios.

bulletSchwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index ETF (FNDE).  E/R: 0.39%.  This ETF tracks the Russell Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index, designed to track the largest emerging markets stocks, as measured by three fundamental measures of firm size: cash flow, sales and dividends.

bulletInvesco FTSE RAFI Emerging Markets Portfolio (PXH).  E/R: 0.49%.  This ETF tracks the FTSE RAFI Emerging Index, designed to track the largest emerging markets stocks, as measured by four fundamental measures of firm size: book value, cash flow, sales and dividends.  This fund is not as well diversified nor as valuey as DFEVX.

bulletSA Emerging Markets Value Fund (SAEMX).  E/R: 1.04%.  This fund, subadvised by DFA, invests in stocks of established companies in thirteen emerging markets. Only stocks in the top three deciles of book-to-market ratios in each country are eligible for investment. Target country allocations are approximately capitalization weighted in accordance with free float market capitalizations, subject to a buying ceiling. Within countries, company weighting is roughly proportional to its market capitalization.  Rebalancing is only done with new money to minimize transaction fees.

Taxable Accounts

bulletDFA Emerging Markets Value ETF (DFEV).  E/R: 0.43%.  This ETF invests in stocks of established companies in thirteen emerging markets. Only stocks in the top three deciles of book-to-market ratios in each country are eligible for investment. Target country allocations are approximately capitalization weighted in accordance with free float market capitalizations. Within countries, company weighting is roughly proportional to its market capitalization.  Rebalancing is only done with new money to minimize transaction fees.

bulletVictoryShares Emerging Markets Value Momentum ETF (UEVM).  E/R: 0.45%.  This Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) tracks the Nasdaq Victory Emerging Market Value Momentum Index. This index starts with the stocks in the Nasdaq Emerging Large Mid Cap Index and scores them on both momentum and value measures. It weights value and momentum scores equally and ranks all stocks by their combined measure. It then takes the 25% of stocks with the highest combined score and weights them by inverse volatility. This results in a portfolio with strong exposures to the momentum, value, and low volatility factors.  This fund effectively invests in 50% emerging mkts value stocks and 50% emerging mkts momentum stocks.  Even though it isn't really "style pure," we think that, as impure as it may be, it may be one of the best large cap emerging mkts funds.

bulletAvantis Emerging Markets Value ETF (AVES).  E/R: 0.36%.  This ETF invests in stocks of all market capitalizations in emerging mkts countries, focusing on stocks trading at lower valuations with higher profitability ratios.

bulletSchwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index ETF (FNDE).  E/R: 0.39%.  This ETF tracks the Russell Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index, designed to track the largest emerging markets stocks, as measured by three fundamental measures of firm size: cash flow, sales and dividends.

bulletInvesco FTSE RAFI Emerging Markets Portfolio (PXH).  E/R: 0.49%.  This ETF tracks the FTSE RAFI Emerging Index, designed to track the largest emerging markets stocks, as measured by four fundamental measures of firm size: book value, cash flow, sales and dividends.  This fund is not as well diversified nor as valuey as DFEVX.

horizontal rule

This web page contains the current opinions of Eric E. Haas at the time it is writtenand such opinions are subject to change without notice.  This web page is intended to serve two purposes:

bulletTo educate the public; and
bulletTo provide disclosure of Mr. Haas' opinions to prospective clients.  We believe that prospective clients are well-served by being made aware of what they are buyingand what they are buying is advice that is based on these opinions.

We believe the information provided here to be useful and accurate at the time it is written.  Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed. 

No investor should invest solely on the basis of information listed here.  Before investing, it is important to consult each prospective investment's prospectus and consider both its risk/return characteristics and its effect on your overall portfolio.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal, or investment planning advice.  Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, Altruist recommends consultation with a qualified tax adviser, CPA, financial planner, or investment adviser.  If you would like to discuss the rationale or support for any particular idea expressed on this web page, feel free to contact us.

 

Home ] About Altruist ] Our Code of Ethics ] How We Save You $ ] Our Services & Fees ] Fee Comparison ] Investing Strategies ] Investments ] DFA vs. Vanguard ] Nationwide Service ] Our Guarantee ] Reading Room ] Contact Information ] Search ] Site Map ]

Send mail to altruistfa@gmail.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2002 - present Altruist Financial Advisors LLC.
Click here to view our current Customer Relationship Summary document.
Click here to examine our Privacy Policy.
In compliance with securities regulations, Altruist Financial Advisors LLC will not transact business in any state unless first registered there or qualified for an exemption or exclusion from registration there. Further, the advisor will not communicate any follow-up, individualized responses which render investment advisory services for compensation, unless first registered or qualified for an exemption or exclusion in the given state.