EUAD vs. WDEF: Which ETF Is Best for a New Era of European Defense Spending?

Active investors have likely gotten the memo that international stocks are throttling U.S. counterparts in 2025. As of Oct. 6, the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index, which combines developed and emerging markets equities, is higher by 29.2% year-to-date compared to a gain of "just" 15.6% for the S&P 500.European stocks are major reasons for the resurgence of ex-US fare. The three largest US-listed Europe exchange-traded funds by assets are each beating the S&P 500 since the start of the year with one doing so by a margin of better than 2-to1. Alone, that's impressive and for some investors, the end results are all that matters.There's nothing wrong with that, but inquisitive market participants may be pondering "What's up with European stocks this year?" It's a question with multiple answers, one of which is defense. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, defense budgets are increasing across Europe, making the industrial sector – home to aerospace and defense equities – one of the continent's best-performing groups this year.Continue readingWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool