Make the Most of the Halloween Effect With These ETF Plays

The Halloween Effect lasts from November to April. Explore healthcare, semiconductor, small-cap and cloud computing ETFs that could benefit from seasonal strength.

Zacks Investment Research • 12 hours ago

AI Reality Check, Inflation Stress Test

U.S. equities stumbled as AI-bubble concerns overwhelmed otherwise resilient fundamentals, while September inflation ran hot but remained heavily energy-driven, complicating the Fed's path without clearly forcing an October hike. Treasuries rallied sharply despite hotter CPI and PPI, with the 2-Year reversing from 4.95% to 4.71% as dovish Fed signals and risk-off flows pushed October hike odds. Oil reemerged as the key macro pressure point, with WTI surging above $100 as Saudi and Hormuz risks intensified, threatening to reverse recent relief in gasoline and diesel prices.

Seeking Alpha • Oct 18, 2026

Should Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund ETF Shares (VIOO) Be on Your Investing Radar?

The Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund ETF Shares (VIOO) was launched on September 9, 2010, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.

Zacks Investment Research • Sep 29, 2026

The Rate Shock That Didn't Break REITs

REITs are refusing to break despite another rate shock: the 10-Year Treasury reached 5%, yet REITs remain higher by roughly 7% in 2026 as the once-dominant rate correlation weakens further. Solid fundamentals are increasingly doing the heavy lifting, with healthy property-level cash flows, improving earnings visibility, strong dividend coverage, and better balance sheets helping REITs absorb the rate shock. Cooling supply increasingly reinforces fundamentals: excluding Data Centers, REIT development pipelines are roughly 40% below their 2022 peak and 2019 levels; Data Centers remain the exception at seven times 2019 levels.

Seeking Alpha • Sep 23, 2026

Rates Retake The Spotlight

U.S. equity markets pulled back from record highs this week as long-term Treasury yields remained elevated, with renewed fiscal concerns after federal debt crossed $40T. Oil prices extended their rebound as stalled Iran negotiations and severely depressed Strait of Hormuz tanker traffic kept geopolitical risk elevated, pushing WTI crude another 5% higher to nearly $87/barrel. Housing data remained soft as starts, pending sales, and builder sentiment stayed depressed amid mortgage rates near 6.7%, but weak construction continued to reinforce the underlying housing shortage.

Seeking Alpha • Aug 23, 2026

The REIT Recovery Broadens Beyond Rates

As REIT earnings season kicks into gear this week, we preview results and major sector trends based on recent operating indicators, company commentary, and real estate market data. REITs enter earnings season with solid momentum, outperforming the market despite elevated Treasury yields and geopolitical volatility, as investors refocus on earnings growth, property fundamentals, dividends, M&A, and capital allocation. Encouraging green shoots have become more plentiful, including resilient hotel demand, robust senior housing growth, improving apartment and industrial fundamentals, and a rebound in retail leasing following a softer Q1.

Seeking Alpha • Jul 22, 2026

REITs: Cheap, Unloved, And Finally Showing Life

REITs have refused to break in 2026 despite oil-driven inflation pressure, rising Treasury yields, and a Fed narrative that flipped from multiple rate cuts to potential hikes. The “Rates Up, REITs Down” regime has weakened, with REIT-rate correlations falling sharply as fundamentals, strategy, capital allocation, and valuation catalysts increasingly drive performance. M&A has helped break the rate-driven narrative, validating public-market discounts to NAV and proving that REITs can unlock value through consolidation, privatizations, and strategic alternatives.

Seeking Alpha • Jun 18, 2026

IVOO Vs. VIOO: In My Opinion, There's A Clear Winner

Small and mid-cap indices (S&P 400, S&P 600) remain undervalued relative to the S&P 500, trading at 15.7x and 15.2x forward PE versus 20.7x. Historically, the S&P 400 and S&P 600 delivered higher EPS growth (10.0%, 10.5%) than the S&P 500 (6.8%), yet suffered multiple contractions. Index composition shifts and rising market cap thresholds mean fewer high-growth, early-stage companies are included in the S&P 400/600.

Seeking Alpha • May 21, 2026

REITs Excel, Earnings Swell, Fed Rebels

U.S. equity markets advanced for a fifth straight week - their longest winning streak since 2024 - as strong earnings, resilient data, and hopes for lasting Iran peace fueled optimism. Investors looked through another oil-price surge and inflationary pressure, focusing instead on corporate resilience and economic strength despite a complex macro backdrop shaped by geopolitical and policy uncertainty. The Fed held rates steady in an unusually fractured 8-4 vote, while Powell's plan to remain on the Board broke precedent and raised politically charged succession questions.

Seeking Alpha • May 3, 2026

Buy 2 Vanguard Index Funds to Beat the S&P 500 in the Next 5 Years, According to Wall Street Analysts

State Street strategists expect the S&P 500 to underperform the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and the S&P Small-Cap 600 over the next five years. The Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 ETF returned 365% during the past 15 years, and it has an expense ratio of 0.07%.

The Motley Fool • Mar 1, 2026