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Is Hartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF (RODM) a Strong ETF Right Now?
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Making its debut on 02/25/2015, smart beta exchange traded fund Hartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF (RODM - Free Report) provides investors broad exposure to the Foreign Large Value ETF category of the market.
What Are Smart Beta ETFs?
The ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by products based on market capitalization weighted indexes that are designed to represent the market or a particular segment of the market.
Market cap weighted indexes work great for investors who believe in market efficiency. They provide a low-cost, convenient and transparent way of replicating market returns.
However, some investors believe in the possibility of beating the market through exceptional stock selection, and choose a different type of fund that tracks non-cap weighted strategies: smart beta.
By attempting to pick stocks that have a better chance of risk-return performance, non-cap weighted indexes are based on certain fundamental characteristics, or a combination of such.
The smart beta space gives investors many different choices, from equal-weighting, one of the simplest strategies, to more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting. However, not all of these methodologies have been able to deliver remarkable returns.
Fund Sponsor & Index
Managed by Hartfordfunds, RODM has amassed assets over $1.47 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs in the Foreign Large Value ETF. Before fees and expenses, RODM seeks to match the performance of the Hartford Risk-Optimized Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) Index.
The Hartford Risk-Optimized Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) Index seeks to de-concentrate country, currency, and individual company risks in developed market economies (ex US).
Cost & Other Expenses
When considering an ETF's total return, expense ratios are an important factor. And, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive cousins in the long term if all other factors remain equal.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.29%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.83%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
It is important to delve into an ETF's holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
When you look at individual holdings, Equinor Asa Common Stock Nok2.5 (EQNR) accounts for about 1.32% of the fund's total assets, followed by Orange Common Stock Eur4.0 (ORA) and Ericsson Lm B Shs Common Stock Sek5.0 (ERICB).
RODM's top 10 holdings account for about 10.07% of its total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
The ETF has added roughly 9.75% and is up roughly 27.73% so far this year and in the past one year (as of 05/05/2026), respectively. RODM has traded between $32.48 and $41.27 during this last 52-week period.
The fund has a beta of 0.65 and standard deviation of 11.85% for the trailing three-year period, which makes RODM a medium risk choice in this particular space. With about 355 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .
Alternatives
Hartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Large Value ETF segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.
Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares (VYMI) tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index and the Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF) tracks Russell RAFI Developed ex US Large Co. Index (Net). Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares has $18.62 billion in assets, Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF has $22.94 billion. VYMI has an expense ratio of 0.07% and FNDF changes 0.25%.
Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Foreign Large Value ETF
Bottom Line
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.
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Is Hartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF (RODM) a Strong ETF Right Now?
Making its debut on 02/25/2015, smart beta exchange traded fund Hartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF (RODM - Free Report) provides investors broad exposure to the Foreign Large Value ETF category of the market.
What Are Smart Beta ETFs?
The ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by products based on market capitalization weighted indexes that are designed to represent the market or a particular segment of the market.
Market cap weighted indexes work great for investors who believe in market efficiency. They provide a low-cost, convenient and transparent way of replicating market returns.
However, some investors believe in the possibility of beating the market through exceptional stock selection, and choose a different type of fund that tracks non-cap weighted strategies: smart beta.
By attempting to pick stocks that have a better chance of risk-return performance, non-cap weighted indexes are based on certain fundamental characteristics, or a combination of such.
The smart beta space gives investors many different choices, from equal-weighting, one of the simplest strategies, to more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting. However, not all of these methodologies have been able to deliver remarkable returns.
Fund Sponsor & Index
Managed by Hartfordfunds, RODM has amassed assets over $1.47 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs in the Foreign Large Value ETF. Before fees and expenses, RODM seeks to match the performance of the Hartford Risk-Optimized Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) Index.
The Hartford Risk-Optimized Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) Index seeks to de-concentrate country, currency, and individual company risks in developed market economies (ex US).
Cost & Other Expenses
When considering an ETF's total return, expense ratios are an important factor. And, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive cousins in the long term if all other factors remain equal.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.29%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.83%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
It is important to delve into an ETF's holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
When you look at individual holdings, Equinor Asa Common Stock Nok2.5 (EQNR) accounts for about 1.32% of the fund's total assets, followed by Orange Common Stock Eur4.0 (ORA) and Ericsson Lm B Shs Common Stock Sek5.0 (ERICB).
RODM's top 10 holdings account for about 10.07% of its total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
The ETF has added roughly 9.75% and is up roughly 27.73% so far this year and in the past one year (as of 05/05/2026), respectively. RODM has traded between $32.48 and $41.27 during this last 52-week period.
The fund has a beta of 0.65 and standard deviation of 11.85% for the trailing three-year period, which makes RODM a medium risk choice in this particular space. With about 355 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .
Alternatives
Hartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Large Value ETF segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.
Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares (VYMI) tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index and the Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF) tracks Russell RAFI Developed ex US Large Co. Index (Net). Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares has $18.62 billion in assets, Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF has $22.94 billion. VYMI has an expense ratio of 0.07% and FNDF changes 0.25%.
Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Foreign Large Value ETF
Bottom Line
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.