The Core Role: Diversification Beyond U.S. Borders VXUS complements U.S.-focused portfolios by offering exposure to developed and emerging markets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The fund's scale matters: with $606.2 billion in net assets, it offers deep liquidity for investors entering and exiting positions. Its 0.05% expense ratio means costs won't erode returns over decades of compounding, making it practical for long-term buy-and-hold strategies.
There are plenty of dividend stocks out there for equity investors looking to maximize their overall total portfolio returns. Dividends can play a significant role in generating long-term returns, with around one-third of the cumulative returns of the stock market coming from dividends over the long-term. Now, this current market is dominated by high-growth stocks, many of which don't provide meaningful yields (if there are dividends paid out, many top tech companies have a yield well less than 1%).
If you haven't thought about diversifying your equity portfolio internationally, perhaps the performance of non-U.S. financial markets might have you looking beyond the S&P 500 for your next big investment. Undoubtedly, the S&P has done just fine, now up over 15%, with a potential move to the 7,000 level in sight if investors can shrug off recent concerns that have made for a rather rocky ride in this fourth and final quarter of 2025.
If you've chosen a target asset allocation-the mix of stocks, bonds, and cash in your portfolio- you're probably ahead of many investors. But unless you're investing in a set-and-forget investment option like a target-date fund, your portfolio's asset mix will shift as the market fluctuates. In a bull market you might get more equity exposure than you planned, or the reverse if the market declines. Rebalancing involves selling assets that have appreciated the most and using the proceeds to shore up assets that have lagged.
Exchange-traded funds are the go-to for conservative investors who have a long timeframe. The yield you get today is very generous compared to just five years ago. Yet, it may not be the wisest idea to have your portfolio concentrated entirely in ETFs that yield in the low single digits. Having some higher-yielding ETFs can give you extra income with negligible added risk if you hold them for the long run.
