SPDR Portfolio Europe ETF offers unhedged exposure to European equities, tracking the STOXX Europe Total Market Index with a 0.07% expense ratio. SPEU has delivered its strongest decade performance in 2024, up 33% YTD, benefiting from a weaker dollar and low portfolio P/E of 16x. The ETF is well-diversified across sectors and geographies, with high weighting in large caps and a 10-year annualized return of 8.5%.
The SPDR Portfolio Europe ETF presents a low-cost way to gain exposure to a diversified stock portfolio focused on Western Europe. I believe recent outperformance relative to the SPY has been driven by a mix of lower valuations and a weak U.S. dollar. Looking ahead, SPEU holdings remain attractively valued, with long-term returns potentially reaching 7.8% as long as GDP grows largely in line with the potential growth rate.
Heavy exposure to Japan in the Schwab International Equity ETF poses potential risks due to emerging issues in the Japanese market, prompting a reassessment of my earlier outlook. The SPDR® Portfolio Europe ETF offers broad European diversification, low fees (0.07%), and a solid dividend yield, making it an attractive international alternative. SPEU's sector and country allocations reduce concentration risk, with strong representation in the UK, France, and Germany.
European equities, represented by the SPEU ETF, have outperformed U.S. equities (SPY) year-to-date, offering better value with a lower forward P/E and higher distribution yield. The top five holdings in SPEU, including SAP, ASML, Nestle, Roche, and AstraZeneca, have meaningfully impacted its recent performance. SPEU's sector exposure differs from SPY, focusing on Financials, Industrials, and Healthcare, providing a diversified alternative to the tech-heavy SPY.
The SPDR Portfolio Europe ETF provides a highly diversified exposure to European large and small capitalization stocks. Relative to the S&P 500, SPEU is overweight Financials and Industrials. Key underweight sectors include Information Technology and Communication Services. SPEU's forward P/E multiple is attractive compared to the S&P 500 but less so relative to the Russell 2000.