NVIDIA

Apple

Microsoft

Amazon

Broadcom

Tesla

Costco

Alphabet

Invesco QQQ

QQQ tracks a modified-market-cap-weighted index of 100 NASDAQ-listed stocks.

Alerian MLP ETF

Algonquin Power & Utilities

VanEck Vectors BDC Income ETF

Energy Transfer LP Unit

JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF

Medical Properties Trust

NextEra Energy

Realty Income Corp

Palantir Technologies

Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund

Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF

AT&T

Vanguard Real Estate ETF

Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund

Picking individual stocks can outperform the market if you enjoy analyzing companies and have the discipline to manage your investments carefully. There are important lessons that investors need to follow if they are going to have success picking stocks. I share three of some of the most important lessons I have learned over the years that I wish I had known at the beginning of my stock-picking career.

What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming A Stock Picker

iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF

Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF

Vanguard Growth ETF

Inflation in the United States increases at the slowest pace in three years in August. Investors seeking to capitalize on this trend could invest in growth ETFs.

5 Growth ETFs to Buy as Inflation Drops to a 3-Year Low

Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF

With Nvidia (NVDA) ranking as the primary culprit, AI stocks have pulled back of late. That retrenchment has sparked jitters among some investors.

It's Easy to Find Leading AI Stocks in These ETFs

Davis Select U.S. Equity ETF

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Value ETF

Warren Buffett remains one of the most famous investors. But his long-term performance isn't keeping up with his reputation.

Warren Buffett Lost His Touch? 26 ETFs School The Famous Investor

Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF

Blackrock Flexible Income ETF

Capital Group Dividend Value ETF

SPDR Gold Trust

SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust

iShares 10+ Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF

iShares Core S&P Small Cap ETF

VanEck Merk Gold Trust

Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF

Global X U.S. Preferred ETF

VanEck Preferred Securities ex Financials ETF

VictoryShares Small Cap Free Cash Flow ETF

Aberdeen Standard Gold ETF Trust

SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF

 SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF

iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF

Vanguard Small-Cap ETF

Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF

Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF

Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund

Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund

Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF

The first cut is the deepest — so they say. As with all complicated relationships, this mantra may certainly ring true for the Federal Reserve and the markets — at least from a psychological standpoint.

Positioning Ahead of the Fed: ETFs for a Lower Rate Era

The Global X Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF (QYLD) aims to generate income by selling call options on Nasdaq 100 stocks. QYLD offers monthly distributions and can provide protection during market downturns, but caps potential gains in strong bull markets. The fund's focus on tech stocks exposes it to sector-specific risks, and its higher expense ratio (0.61%) can impact net returns.

QYLD: Probably Beats QQQ In The Months Ahead

The Invesco QQQ trades at 26.89x forward earnings and 21.29x trailing cash flow. Although these ratios are high, they're still below most other large-cap growth ETFs. QQQ's valuation is at least partially justified, evidenced by its stronger growth, quality, momentum, and sentiment features. This analysis provides supporting fundamental metrics for this conclusion. Risks include downward-trending earnings surprises, which historically have accompanied recessions or value re-ratings, like in 2022. In particular, Nvidia's 5.66% surprise was the lowest since October 2022.

QQQ: My In-Depth Look At The Nasdaq-100 Fundamentals

Investors should be flexible and keep an open mind about the market. Current metrics favor a continued bull market, but savvy investors prepare for either outcome.

Will Stocks Finish 2024 Strong? Bull vs. Bear Case

When previously high-flying mega-cap artificial intelligence equities slumped in late July/early August, many market observers stated that the technology's “show me” moment had arrived. What that means is that analysts and investors are starting to a demand much more from AI enablers and adopters than just long-term hope.

Time for AI Stocks to Show, Not Tell

Vanguard Information Technology ETF

Tech stocks have recently sold off, presenting investors with a good opportunity to buy tech-heavy ETFs. The Invesco QQQ ETF has a strong track record and gives investors exposure to top AI-related stocks.

2 ETFs That Are Screaming Buys in September After the Nvidia Led Technology Stock Selloff

The Invesco QQQ Trust's largest components - Apple, Microsoft, and NVIDIA - trade at such extreme multiples that it's hard to picture them rising in the near term. Invesco itself estimates that the fund's holdings have a 38.88 average P/E ratio. It's extremely uncommon for indexes to hold multiples that steep for long periods of time.

QQQ: Extremely Overpriced (Rating Downgrade)

Patience is a virtue in a variety of pursuits, including investing. However, human nature is such that we often want benefits or rewards immediately.

With AI Investing, Patience Is Required

While the S&P 500 has more than tripled investor capital in the past decade, it comes up well short of this booming ETF. Exposure to powerful tech-driven secular trends is key to this ETF's rise.

History Says This 1 Monster ETF Will Beat the S&P 500 Between Now and 2030

US equities experienced a sharp decline, with the Nasdaq 100 falling over 3%, indicating a volatile market environment that complicates trading. Despite being bullish on US equities long-term, I recommend a sell rating on QQQ, anticipating better buying opportunities later this month.

QQQ: More Weakness Ahead

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF

The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow), and Nasdaq Composite are all stock market indexes used to measure the performance of various aspects of the U.S. stock market.

The S&P 500, Dow & Nasdaq Since Their 2000 Highs as of August 2024

iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF

Tradr 2X Long Triple Q Monthly ETF

Tradr 2X Long Triple Q Weekly ETF

Tradr 2X Long SOXX Monthly ETF

Tradr 2X Long SOXX Weekly ETF

Tradr 2X Long SPY Weekly ETF

Tradr 2X Long SPY Monthly ETF

Tradr 1.75X Long NVDA Weekly ETF

Tradr 1.5X Long TSLA Weekly ETF

On Tuesday, Tradr ETFs hit the ground running by launching an expansive series of new leveraged ETF products.  Traditionally, most leveraged ETF products reset on a daily basis.

New Leveraged ETFs Opt for Monthly & Weekly Resets

QQQ's strong fundamentals and higher margins justify a "Hold" rating, while SPY's rate sensitivity and growth outlook support a "Buy" rating. Election and upcoming Fed meeting are catalysts; SPY and QQQ trade at high valuations with accelerating growth forecasts. A robust labor market supports consumer spending; SPY is likely to benefit more from rate cuts, while regulatory risks affect SPY more than QQQ.

Fed Moves And Election Year Jitters (QQQ Rating Downgrade)

Interest rates have fallen, benefiting leveraged closed-end funds like Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund, which invests in tech stocks and uses an options strategy for downside protection. STK generally tracks the Nasdaq 100 ETF but has underperformed during market corrections and has higher seasonal risks. Despite a solid long-term track record and attractive valuation, STK's mixed relative performance history warrants a hold rating.

STK: A Solid GARP Track Record, Returns About On Par With QQQ

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF

JPMorgan Chase & Co

Netflix

Charles Schwab

Walmart

JPMorgan, Netflix, and Walmart are the top performers YTD among clients' top 12 holdings, while Microsoft, Amazon, and Nasdaq 100 underperform the S&P 500. Any international fund or ETF that doesn't have a US component (ex-US) is seeing single-digit returns, but the last 30 to 60 days, perhaps due to the weaker dollar, the asset class is starting to stir.

Top 10 Holdings And How The S&P 500 Sectors Performed During The 2019 Rate Cuts

Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index

Both the Invesco QQQ Trust and the Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF can give you passive exposure to the tech-heavy Nasdaq. Both ETFs have similar expenses.

Invesco QQQ Trust vs. Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF: Which Is the Best Nasdaq ETF For You?

Despite interest rates remaining high and signs that the labor market is cooling — among other macroeconomic headwinds — it appears the U.S. economy will skirt a recession and the consumer will remain mostly confident.

Consumer Strength Could Spark These ETFs

WisdomTree International Hedged Quality Dividend Growth Fund

Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF

The best growth ETFs offer exposure to higher-risk, higher-reward stocks while lessening the risk of a single stock torpedoing your returns.

6 Best Growth ETFs To Buy Now

The Invesco QQQ Trust provides meaningful exposure to dominant tech firms. Returns in recent years have been spectacular, making the expense ratio more compelling.

Is Invesco QQQ Trust a Millionaire-Maker?

iShares Bitcoin Trust

Bitcoin spot ETFs have made history in just a short amount of time.  Institutional investors are rapidly embracing Bitcoin spot ETFs, which have already amassed over $11 billion in assets under management.

Bitcoin ETFs Are Making History: Wall Street Rushes In, But Opportunities Remain for Smart Investors

The late July/early August slump endured by major equity benchmarks now feels like a distant memory. However, the good news for investors who didn't immediately buy the dip is that gauges such as the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) still have some work to do to reclaim their previously notched 52-week highs.

News for Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ)