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In this episode of ETF Spotlight, I speak with Matthew Bartolini, Head of SPDR Americas Research at State Street Global Advisors. We discuss the market outlook and the best investment strategies for the second half of 2025.
We're now approaching the midpoint of a year that began with great optimism for U.S. stocks. Economic fundamentals looked strong, the AI trade was booming, and the incoming U.S. administration was viewed as pro-growth and investor-friendly.
According to State Street’s mid-year outlook, there’s still reason for optimism despite ongoing policy-related uncertainty. Progress on the Trump administration’s pro-growth agenda, looser monetary policy, continued strong earnings growth, more attractive valuations, and a lower likelihood of recession all contribute to a favorable environment for risk assets in the second half of the year. However, risks remain elevated.
Matt recommends building equity portfolios that can withstand macroeconomic uncertainty by focusing on high-quality companies, increasing global diversification, and positioning for long-term structural trends such as expanding AI adoption and rising defense spending.
The SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS - Free Report) follows a multi-factor strategy that blends quality, value, and low volatility.
The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL - Free Report) targets profitable U.S. companies with low leverage and consistent earnings growth over time.
As the economic benefits of AI spread beyond the “Magnificent 7,” ETFs such as the SPDR NYSE Technology ETF (XNTK - Free Report) and the Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares (QQQE - Free Report) are worth considering.
With bonds no longer providing the same diversification benefits they once did, adding alternatives like gold can be a prudent move.
The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD - Free Report) remains the most popular gold ETF, while lower-cost options such as the SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM - Free Report) and the iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM - Free Report) may be more appealing for long-term investors.
Tune in to the podcast to learn more.
Make sure to be on the lookout for the next edition of the ETF Spotlight and remember to subscribe! If you have any comments or questions, please email podcast@zacks.com.
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Investing Playbook for H2 2025: Quality, AI, and Gold
In this episode of ETF Spotlight, I speak with Matthew Bartolini, Head of SPDR Americas Research at State Street Global Advisors. We discuss the market outlook and the best investment strategies for the second half of 2025.
We're now approaching the midpoint of a year that began with great optimism for U.S. stocks. Economic fundamentals looked strong, the AI trade was booming, and the incoming U.S. administration was viewed as pro-growth and investor-friendly.
According to State Street’s mid-year outlook, there’s still reason for optimism despite ongoing policy-related uncertainty. Progress on the Trump administration’s pro-growth agenda, looser monetary policy, continued strong earnings growth, more attractive valuations, and a lower likelihood of recession all contribute to a favorable environment for risk assets in the second half of the year. However, risks remain elevated.
Matt recommends building equity portfolios that can withstand macroeconomic uncertainty by focusing on high-quality companies, increasing global diversification, and positioning for long-term structural trends such as expanding AI adoption and rising defense spending.
The SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS - Free Report) follows a multi-factor strategy that blends quality, value, and low volatility.
The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL - Free Report) targets profitable U.S. companies with low leverage and consistent earnings growth over time.
Apple (AAPL - Free Report) , Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) , and NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) are among the top holdings in both ETFs.
As the economic benefits of AI spread beyond the “Magnificent 7,” ETFs such as the SPDR NYSE Technology ETF (XNTK - Free Report) and the Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares (QQQE - Free Report) are worth considering.
With bonds no longer providing the same diversification benefits they once did, adding alternatives like gold can be a prudent move.
The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD - Free Report) remains the most popular gold ETF, while lower-cost options such as the SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM - Free Report) and the iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM - Free Report) may be more appealing for long-term investors.
Tune in to the podcast to learn more.
Make sure to be on the lookout for the next edition of the ETF Spotlight and remember to subscribe! If you have any comments or questions, please email podcast@zacks.com.