U.S. Equity

U.S. equity mutual funds and ETFs own securities listed on the various... U.S. equity mutual funds and ETFs own securities listed on the various U.S. stock exchanges, the largest of which are the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ. The most well-known benchmarks are the Dow Jones, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq 100. The Dow Jones is price-weighted, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are both market-cap weighted (though the Nasdaq ‘caps’ the influence of any one stock). U.S. exchanges have large weightings in technology, financial services, and health care. Some of the biggest companies on the market include Apple, Microsoft, ExxonMobil, Berkshire Hathaway, and Alphabet. U.S. equity mutual funds and ETFs may be passively or actively managed. They may also leave currency exposure unhedged, or choose to protect the portfolio from swings in the value of the U.S. dollar. The U.S. economy, the world’s largest by nominal Gross Domestic Product as of 2022, is characterized by a strong emphasis on free markets, a highly developed financial system, and a large reliance on services and consumption. At 21.2%, investment as a share of the economy is slightly below its long-run average going back to 1947. Agricultural products, fuels, and manufactured goods are key exports. As a developed market economy, U.S. equity mutual funds and ETFs are often purchased by conservative-minded investors. Last Updated: 11/26/2024 View more View less

U.S. equity mutual funds and ETFs own securities listed on the various U.S. stock exchanges, the largest of which are the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ. The most well-known benchmarks... U.S. equity mutual funds and ETFs own securities listed on the various U.S. stock exchanges, the largest of which are the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ. The most well-known benchmarks are the Dow Jones, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq 100. The Dow Jones is price-weighted, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are both market-cap weighted (though the Nasdaq ‘caps’ the influence of any one stock). U.S. exchanges have large weightings in technology, financial services, and health care. Some of the biggest companies on the market include Apple, Microsoft, ExxonMobil, Berkshire Hathaway, and Alphabet. U.S. equity mutual funds and ETFs may be passively or actively managed. They may also leave currency exposure unhedged, or choose to protect the portfolio from swings in the value of the U.S. dollar. The U.S. economy, the world’s largest by nominal Gross Domestic Product as of 2022, is characterized by a strong emphasis on free markets, a highly developed financial system, and a large reliance on services and consumption. At 21.2%, investment as a share of the economy is slightly below its long-run average going back to 1947. Agricultural products, fuels, and manufactured goods are key exports. As a developed market economy, U.S. equity mutual funds and ETFs are often purchased by conservative-minded investors. Last Updated: 11/26/2024 View more View less