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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?
Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.
Market cap weighted indexes offer a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns, and are a good option for investors who believe in market efficiency.
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.
These indexes attempt to select stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance, based on certain fundamental characteristics or a combination of such characteristics.
Even though this space provides many choices to investors--think one of the simplest methodologies like equal-weighting and more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting--not all have been able to deliver first-rate results.
Fund Sponsor & Index
The fund is managed by Hartfordfunds, and has been able to amass over $1.68 billion, which makes it one of the larger ETFs in the Foreign Large Value ETF. RODM seeks to match the performance of the Hartford Risk-Optimized Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) Index before fees and expenses.
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
Investors should also pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain the same.
Operating expenses on an annual basis are 0.29% for this ETF, which makes it one of the cheaper products in the space.
RODM's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 2.76%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
ETFs offer diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk, but it is still important to delve into a fund's holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
When you look at individual holdings, Aib Group Plc Common Stock Eur.625 (A5G) accounts for about 1.03% of the fund's total assets, followed by Totalenergies Se Common Stock Eur2.5 (TTE) and Gsk Plc Spon Adr Adr (GSK).
RODM's top 10 holdings account for about 9.22% of its total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
The ETF has added about 15.45% so far this year and it's up approximately 19.02% in the last one year (as of 11/12/2026). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $35.14 and $42.65
The fund has a beta of 0.65 and standard deviation of 11.66% for the trailing three-year period, which makes RODM a medium risk choice in this particular space. With about 342 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .
Alternatives
Hartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF is not a suitable option for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Large Value ETF segment of the market. Instead, there are other ETFs in the space which investors should 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 $21.99 billion in assets, Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF has $25.82 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?
Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.
Market cap weighted indexes offer a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns, and are a good option for investors who believe in market efficiency.
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.
These indexes attempt to select stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance, based on certain fundamental characteristics or a combination of such characteristics.
Even though this space provides many choices to investors--think one of the simplest methodologies like equal-weighting and more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting--not all have been able to deliver first-rate results.
Fund Sponsor & Index
The fund is managed by Hartfordfunds, and has been able to amass over $1.68 billion, which makes it one of the larger ETFs in the Foreign Large Value ETF. RODM seeks to match the performance of the Hartford Risk-Optimized Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) Index before fees and expenses.
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
Investors should also pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain the same.
Operating expenses on an annual basis are 0.29% for this ETF, which makes it one of the cheaper products in the space.
RODM's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 2.76%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
ETFs offer diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk, but it is still important to delve into a fund's holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
When you look at individual holdings, Aib Group Plc Common Stock Eur.625 (A5G) accounts for about 1.03% of the fund's total assets, followed by Totalenergies Se Common Stock Eur2.5 (TTE) and Gsk Plc Spon Adr Adr (GSK).
RODM's top 10 holdings account for about 9.22% of its total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
The ETF has added about 15.45% so far this year and it's up approximately 19.02% in the last one year (as of 11/12/2026). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $35.14 and $42.65
The fund has a beta of 0.65 and standard deviation of 11.66% for the trailing three-year period, which makes RODM a medium risk choice in this particular space. With about 342 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .
Alternatives
Hartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF is not a suitable option for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Large Value ETF segment of the market. Instead, there are other ETFs in the space which investors should 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 $21.99 billion in assets, Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF has $25.82 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.