URTH: Further Dollar Weakness Provides A Narrow Path To Outperformance
The iShares MSCI World ETF has trailed the S&P 500 over the past decade, notwithstanding a marginal outperformance in 2025. The ETF is principally overweight in U.S. megacap tech stocks, resulting in a high trailing P/E ratio. URTH also has a sizable position in cyclical sectors. As such, returns in 2026 will depend on how AI-related stocks perform, as well as the overall economic momentum of the global economy.
URTH: Redundant, Falls Short In Global Diversification
URTH is overly concentrated in US equities, offering little true international diversification and closely mirroring S&P 500 performance at lower volatility. A simple 70% SPY + 30% cash or risk-free assets portfolio outperforms iShares MSCI World ETF on both returns and drawdown protection. For genuine global diversification, combining SPY with targeted ex-U.S. developed (IEFA) and emerging markets (VWO/IEMG) ETFs is a superior approach.
URTH: How Will Tariffs (Truly) Impact Global Stock Markets
URTH's price is closely tied to GDP projections, EPS estimates, and stock market performance, with a 2025 global GDP growth estimate of 3.3% and U.S. GDP at 2.7%. Trump's tariffs could increase global inflation by 0.5% and reduce global GDP growth by 0.8%, impacting URTH's key sectors: technology, consumer discretionary, and real estate. Despite tariffs, the S&P 500's EPS growth rate could remain positive, potentially benefiting URTH, which holds 75% of U.S. stocks.
URTH: Improving Macroeconomic Environment Will Act As Tailwind
iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) tracks the MSCI World Index, owning about 1,400 developed market equities with a 0.24% expense ratio. URTH benefits from high exposure to U.S. and technology stocks, which have strong competitive advantages and growth potential. Improving global economic outlook and rising PMI indicate better earnings growth for URTH in 2025 and 2026.
URTH: There Are More Affordable Ways To Achieve International Diversification
iShares MSCI World ETF captures a strong mix of U.S. and developed market holdings, but the fund has a relatively high expense ratio. There are multiple reasons to believe that international equities may outperform the U.S. market over the next decade, including current valuations, earnings, and macro-level risk factors. Investors can achieve similar international diversification to URTH with lower fees by combining U.S. total market and developed market funds from Vanguard or Schwab.
National Bank of Canada FI Reduces Stock Position in iShares MSCI World ETF (NYSEARCA:URTH)
National Bank of Canada FI decreased its holdings in iShares MSCI World ETF (NYSEARCA:URTH – Free Report) by 44.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 409 shares of the company’s stock after selling 325 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI’s holdings in iShares MSCI World ETF were worth $54,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Main Street Research LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI World ETF by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Main Street Research LLC now owns 14,429 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,919,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Arlington Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI World ETF by 2.5% during the third quarter. Arlington Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,038 shares of the company’s stock valued at $485,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI World ETF by 128.3% during the third quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 210 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 118 shares during the period. Meitav Investment House Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI World ETF by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Meitav Investment House Ltd. now owns 8,700 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,159,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in iShares MSCI World ETF by 3.0% in the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 5,727 shares of the company’s stock worth $686,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the period. iShares MSCI World ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA URTH opened at $146.73 on Monday. iShares MSCI World ETF has a one year low of $114.70 and a one year high of $147.04. The company has a market capitalization of $3.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.13 and a beta of 0.96. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $142.49 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $135.85. iShares MSCI World ETF Company Profile (Free Report) The iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI World index, a market-cap-weighted index of stocks that cover 85% of the developed world’s market capitalization. URTH was launched on Jan 10, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. Read More Five stocks we like better than iShares MSCI World ETF The 3 Best Fintech Stocks to Buy Now MarketBeat Week in Review – 5/13 – 5/17 Breakout Stocks: What They Are and How to Identify Them Take-Two Interactive Software Offers 2nd Chance for Investors Using the MarketBeat Dividend Yield Calculator Deere & Company’s Q2 Report: Strong Revenue, Cautious Outlook
