Momentum & low volatility stock indices can improve your investing outcomes.
Most robo-advisors cheaply and easily invest their clients in a passive diversified basket of index ETFs. Huygens offers you the same ease, but with a better way to invest - both passive and active - using smart beta ETFs.
Smart beta ETFs give you exposure to a broad portfolio of stocks, with each stock’s weighting in the portfolio driven by quantitatively defined indices to enhance aspects of investment performance. Other robo-advisors will typically invest you in capitalization weighted ETFs, which offer attractive fees but can have significant drawbacks.
We use two types of smart beta indices in our ETF portfolios - Momentum and Low Volatility - that for decades have been persistent drivers of better risk-adjusted performance. And we let you choose whether to include only U.S. market exposure, or U.S. plus international.
Low volatility
Similarly, research has also shown that in volatile markets, stocks whose prices have been more stable recently tend to sell off less than the broader market.
We use the following low-volatility index ETFs in our clients’ portfolios to reduce the potential for volatility of returns:
SPLV: Invesco S&P 500 low volatility stock ETF
IDLV: Invesco S&P International developed market low volatility stock ETF
EEMV: iShares MSCI emerging markets minimum volatility stock ETF
Momentum
Substantial research has shown that over many decades, stocks with recent strong price performance have tended to continue that momentum.
We use the following momentum index ETFs in our clients’ passive and active portfolios to enhance potential for higher returns:
MTUM: iShares MSCI USA momentum factor ETF
IMTM: iShares MSCI International momentum factor ETF
See MTUM & SPLV past 10-year price performance relative to the S&P 500 US large cap index →
Equities
Government bonds
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International
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International
MTUM: iShares MSCI USA momentum factor ETF
SPLV: Invesco S&P 500 low volatility stock ETF
IMTM: iShares MSCI International momentum factor ETF
IDLV: Invesco S&P International developed market low volatility stock ETF
EEMV: iShares MSCI emerging markets minimum volatility stock ETF
MUB: iShares National municipal bond ETF
VTIP: Vanguard Inflation-protected treasuries ETF
SHY: iShares 1 to 3 year treasuries ETF
BNDX: Vanguard Total International investment grade government bond ETF
EMB: iShares JP Morgan emerging market bond ETF
Optional cap-weighted passive portfolio components
We understand that some of our customers may instead seek the cheapest possible diversified passive ETF portfolio, even if it means giving up the potential for better risk-adjusted performance. For that reason we also offer cap-weighted passive portfolios:
Equities
Government bonds
U.S.
International
U.S.
International
VTI - Vanguard total U.S. stock market ETF
VEA - Vanguard non-U.S. developed markets stocks ETF
VWO - Vanguard emerging markets stocks ETF
MUB: iShares National municipal bond ETF
VTIP: Vanguard Inflation-protected treasuries ETF
SHY: iShares 1 to 3 year treasuries ETF
BNDX: Vanguard Total International investment grade government bond ETF
EMB: iShare JP Morgan emerging market bond ETF