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.
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The provided company operates as an investment fund, primarily focusing on investing in securities that make up a specific index related to publicly traded companies in Western Europe. It adheres to a policy of investing at least 80% of its total assets in the components of this index under normal market conditions. This fund utilizes a sampling strategy, allowing it to select securities from the index without the need to include all securities represented. The targeted index is characterized by a free-float market capitalization weighting, aiming to offer a broad representation of Western European publicly traded companies.
The fund's core service is investing in securities that are part of a specific Western European index. By focusing on this geographical area, it aims to provide investors with an opportunity to gain exposure to the European market's dynamics, leveraging growth and value derived from a diverse range of companies.
Unlike funds that track every component of an index, this fund employs a sampling strategy. This approach provides flexibility in fund management, allowing for the selection of securities that best represent the index's overall characteristics without necessarily mirroring every component. It is designed to manage costs effectively while striving to match the performance of the index.
The focus on a free-float market capitalization weighted index means that the fund invests in companies based on their market value, excluding shares that are not available for public trading. This method ensures that investments are proportional to each company's size and impact on the market, intending to mirror the performance of the broader Western European stock market accurately.