最新ニュース Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (ARCA:VOO)

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

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The fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index, a widely recognized benchmark of U.S. stock market performance that is dominated by the stocks of large U.S. companies. The advisor attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the index.

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Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF

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Retail investors are raising concerns over U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's recent remarks on tariffs and the ongoing trade tensions with China, delivered at a closed-door investor summit hosted by JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>). 
Bessent&#8217;s comments, which sparked a $2.2 trillion surge in the markets, have been criticized by retail traders who say they were shut out of potentially market-moving information.
What Happened: On Wednesday, popular financial newsletter The Kobeissi Letter voiced concerns about fairness in a post on X, referring to Bessent's recent appearance at a private, closed-door investor summit.
The post highlights that the event wasn&#8217;t &#8220;open to the public or media,&#8221; and it was where Bessent first said that he expects a &#8220;de-escalation with China,&#8221; before describing the current trade environment as &#8220;unsustainable for both sides.&#8221; 
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44970168/elizabeth-warren-slams-tim-cook-over-alleged-backdoor-deal-with-trump-to-shield-apple-from-crushing-china-tariffs-creates-the-appearance-of-impropriety">Elizabeth Warren Slams Tim Cook Over Alleged Backdoor Deal With Trump To Shield Apple From Crushing China Tariffs: &#8216;Creates The Appearance Of Impropriety&#8217;</a>
These remarks were made at 12:00 PM EST, according to the post, following which the markets witnessed a surge in volumes, with the S&amp;P 500 Futures rallying +5%, resulting in a total gain of $2.2 trillion in market cap, while retail traders and investors were still kept in the dark.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Retail investors were just cheated: Yesterday at 12:00 PM ET, US Treasury Secretary Bessent said he sees &quot;de-escalation with China&quot; and the current situation is &quot;unsustainable.&quot; These comments were provided at a CLOSED-DOOR investor summit hosted by JP Morgan. This summit was… <a href="https://t.co/gQGKVBYhi4">pic.twitter.com/gQGKVBYhi4</a>
&mdash; The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) <a href="https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1915007666604175549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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It was only at 5:18 PM EST that President Donald Trump said tariffs on China &#8220;will not be as high as 145%,&#8221; which finally brought retail into the loop.
&#8220;Investors at the JP Morgan event were able to front-run these headlines,&#8221; it says, before asking, &#8220;How is this fair for retail investors?&#8221;
Other X users have raised similar concerns, with Cheddar Pool, a service that tracks options order flows, sharing insights on an S&amp;P 500 &#8220;Whale&#8221; who added $2.2 million in 1DTE (one day to expiry options) at 3:21 PM EST on Tuesday, while asking &#8220;Bessent, was that you?&#8221;
According to the post, that whale is now up 460%, with gains of over $10 million, within just a day.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Bessent, was that you? &#x1f914; This <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SPY&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$SPY</a> whale is now up +460% in ONE DAY +$10,000,000!!! <a href="https://t.co/l603kEVQhK">https://t.co/l603kEVQhK</a>
&mdash; Cheddar Flow (@CheddarFlow) <a href="https://twitter.com/CheddarFlow/status/1914715157210497425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> Scott Bessent and the Treasury did not immediately respond to Benzinga&#8217;s request for comments. Why It Matters: There have been growing concerns regarding leaks and insider trading within the current administration, with Scott Galloway calling the April 9th tariff pause the &#8220;greatest day of insider trading in history,&#8221; citing the suspicious timing of <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44891038/clearly-word-got-out-scott-galloway-says-april-9-will-go-down-as-the-greatest-day-of-insider-trading-in-history">large options trades</a>.</figcaption></figure>
Others, such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), part of Trump&#8217;s inner circle, have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44806734/marjorie-taylor-greene-made-large-stock-purchases-ahead-of-trumps-90-day-tariff-pause-hakeem-jeffries-calls-it-problematic">come under scrutiny</a> for making large stock purchases ahead of the 90-day pause on tariffs. 
Rep.&nbsp;Adam Schiff&nbsp;(D-Calif.) and Sen.&nbsp;Elizabeth Warren&nbsp;(D-Mass.) have outright accused Trump of <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44728524/adam-schiff-and-elizabeth-warren-call-for-investigation-into-possible-insider-trading-by-trump-allies-as-markets-surge-after-90-day-tariff-pause-it-sure-looks-like-corruption">manipulating the markets</a> to &#8220;benefit his Wall Street donors.&#8221;
Price Action: The Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) is up 1.6% on Wednesday, followed by the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which tracks the Nasdaq, up by 2.27%. The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) is up 1.03%.
Photo courtesy: Maxim Elramsisy / Shutterstock.com
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44969920/its-not-going-to-end-well-former-sec-chair-gensler-says-chinese-are-tough-negotiators-who-believe-they-can-outwait-us-policy-volatility">&#8216;It&#8217;s Not Going To End Well&#8217;—Former SEC Chair Gensler Says Chinese Are &#8216;Tough Negotiators&#8217; Who Believe They Can Outwait US Policy Volatility</a>

Equities

News

Markets

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

Scott Bessent's China 'De-Escalation' Scoop Delivered To Wall Street Early At Closed-Door Event — $2.2 Trillion In Gains Later Questions Arise If Retail Investors Were 'Cheated'

Winning a large sum of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44066359/someone-asked-for-small-money-saving-habits-that-made-a-big-difference-and-the-responses-poured-">money</a> is a dream come true, but for many, it quickly turns into a financial puzzle. With terms like index funds, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/43217229/couple-with-1-1-million-seeks-passive-income-to-retire-by-40-reddit-explodes-over-portfolio-choices">dividend stocks</a>, high-yield savings accounts, real estate investing, and <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43871141/reddit-erupts-investor-with-1-million-locked-for-12-years-asks-whats-the-safest-way-to-get-passive-i">passive income</a> strategies swirling around, it's easy to feel lost when you&#8217;re new to this world of investing.
The stock market, in particular, attracts investors because of its historical returns and the ability to generate long-term wealth without active management.
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One Reddit user, a 30-year-old with a $30,000 salary and his wife earning $40,000, recently found themselves in this exact situation after winning $2.5 million and remaining with $1.5 million after taxes. They currently own two homes: one with a $100,000 mortgage and another generating $1,000 per month in rental income, but are unsure how to make their windfall last.
Their concerns are whether they can retire early and live off $70,000 a year without running out of money and whether they should invest in the S&amp;P 500, keep funds in high-yield savings account accounts, or buy more rental properties. They&#8217;ve also never invested before and need guidance on safe, long-term strategies.
&#8220;We live simple lives and don't plan on changing that. We won't be telling anyone about the winnings. Long story short, the three options we are considering so far are to invest in the S&amp;P 500 about $1 million of it and live off that if possible, live off the high-yield savings accounts if that's possible, or buy properties and be landlords. Even though that's still a working job we would be doing it together,&#8221; the poster wrote.
Trending: BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">One firm from NYC has quietly built a group of 60,000+ investors who have all joined in on an alt asset class previously exclusive to billionaires like Bezos and Gates.</a>
The r/FinancialPlanning Reddit community has jumped to the comment section with plenty of advice and recommendations for the couple, so let&#8217;s dive into those.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to Invest $1.5 Million and Live Off Passive Income? Reddit Suggests Strategies</h2>
Invest in Low-Cost Index Funds&nbsp;
Many commenters urged the couple to avoid putting all their money into real estate and instead diversify in stock market index funds, which historically outperform real estate with less hassle.
&#8220;The best way to invest is total market index funds. I have preferred an 80% U.S./20% international for those 35 years. With $1.5 million, that means $1.2 million (I would use [Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vti#NYSE">VTI</a>)]) and $300,000 international (I would use [Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vxus#NASDAQ">VXUS</a>)]),&#8221; a Redditor advised.
Citing the 4% withdrawal rule, this commenter calculated the potential return on investment the poster would have if he invested in an index fund: &#8220;I would probably say stick it in a solid index fund. On average, your money will double every 7 to 10 years. After a few years, you could technically live off of $100,000 or so without ever touching the balance. If you take out now, you could safely withdraw $60,000 a year. Example: it grows 7%-10% a year. You pull out 4%. It will grow to $5-$10 million when you're 60. If you pulled out nothing, it could grow to $26 million.&#8221;
&#8220;A mutual index fund like [Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/voo#NYSE">VOO</a>)] will grow faster than real estate and you won&#8217;t have the job of being a landlord,&#8221; a Redditor suggested.
This commenter mentioned dividend income and how there are many ETFs and closed-end funds that can generate the amount the couple aims for with their investment.
&#8220;There are plenty of ETFs and closed-end funds that pay monthly dividends and offer a very wide range of risk/reward. It wouldn&#8217;t be too difficult to assemble a portfolio of those to generate a pretty steady monthly income that would meet your goal,&#8221; he wrote.
See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now</a>.
Avoid Lifestyle Inflation, Pay Off Debt, and Consult a Fiduciary
Several users warned against quitting jobs immediately and instead suggested paying off debt, keeping the windfall secret, and seeking professional advice.
&#8220;If you're into living simply, I'm paying off all my debt first. It gives you freedom and allows you to do whatever you want from there. Also, I'm going to keep working, maybe not as many hours, or the same jobs, but something to keep myself busy and not raise a lot of eyebrows about where I got the money for the life I'm living. Maybe you switch to doing something you've always wanted to do,&#8221; a Redditor said.
Touching on the fact that the poster should consult with a fee-only financial advisor, this commenter also suggested being aware of insurance sales.
&#8220;Talk to a financial advisor ([certified financial planner]) all [certified financial planners] are fiduciaries and will have some understanding of investing, insurance, tax, etc. Do not fall for the insurance sales. Some insurances are beneficial, but most are a huge waste,&#8221; he wrote.
&#8220;Rule 1: Don't tell a soul. (Kinda already broke that rule). Rule 2: Don't do anything different for one year,&#8221; a Reddit user suggested.
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$1.5M Rich But Clueless – Couple With $82K Combined Income Says 'Need Help' After Winning Big, Reddit Explodes Over What They Should Do Next

Many investors start their journey by buying <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44565770/30-year-old-with-65k-in-stocks-sparks-debate-focusing-mostly-on-etfs-but-now-betting-on-bonds-small-caps-and-international-plays">stocks</a> they like, chasing dividends, or diversifying across various assets, only to later realize their portfolio needs a serious overhaul.
Whether it's portfolio allocation, dividend investing, or <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/03/44553948/investor-with-640k-portfolio-aims-for-early-retirement-hoping-to-retire-in-5-years-or-less-but-faces-tough-choices-reddit-weights-in">early retirement</a> planning, the right strategy depends on clear financial goals. There are investors who hunt for high-yield <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44551261/early-retiree-making-17000-a-year-in-dividends-shares-top-7-stock-picks-says-ive-zero-regrets">dividends</a> while others prioritize growth, only to find that their holdings are too scattered or underperforming.
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<li>Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a></li>
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One such investor, a 36-year-old with a $253,542 stock portfolio has recently turned to Reddit for advice. Despite his substantial holdings, he earns just $4,200 in annual dividends and admits his investments are &#8220;all over the place.&#8221;
&#8220;I feel like my portfolio is all over the place. I certainly don't feel I'm getting $4,000 annual dividends either. How would you restructure all this? Have no clear goals, but I'd like to retire early from work burnout,&#8221; he wrote.
His portfolio leans heavily into S&amp;P 500 ETFs like Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) and SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and tech stocks like Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), and Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), but commenters noted overlap, inefficiency, and low yield as major issues. His post sparked intense discussion, with many Redditors pointing out overlapping ETFs and a lack of focus in his strategy.
Trending: It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a>
Investor With $253,000 In Stocks And Only $4.200 In Dividend Income Asks For Redirection–Reddit Delivers
Consolidate Overlapping ETFs and Ditch Underperformers
Many commenters pointed out that VOO and SPY track the same index, making one redundant, while others noted that individual stocks like Apple and Microsoft are already heavily weighted in his ETFs, creating unnecessary duplication.
&#8220;VOO and SPY are exactly the same thing, S&amp;P 500 index funds. You don&#8217;t need both. Your SPY is smaller than VOO, so sell SPY and put the money into VOO. You don&#8217;t need VOO/SPY and [Fidelity ZERO Total Market Index Fund (FZROX)] too. Since VOO has slightly outperformed FZROX, I would sell FZROX and put the money into VOO,&#8221; a Redditor advised.
Suggesting the poster trim speculative holdings, this commenter recommended a focus on long-term sustainable businesses or broad-market ETFs: &#8220;First of all, simplify by selling stocks from companies you don't know much about. If you're interested in a company and want to invest in them, just make sure they can last another 20 years in business. Second, if you're aiming now for a more long-term hold, try to even out the ETFs and dividends a little more.&#8221;
Also touching on the overlap, a Reddit user also mentioned the taxes the investor will need to pay if the dividend income is in a taxable account.
&#8220;Well, do you want to be in ETFs or individual stocks? You have overlap everywhere. Dividends are a waste since it is just your money being returned to you, and making a taxable event if these are in a taxable account. A lot of dead money in the Mikey market account,&#8221; he wrote.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t like this market, but I&#8217;d dump [Walt Disney (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dis#NYSE">DIS</a>)]. Swap out [Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amd#NASDAQ">AMD</a>)] for [Broadcom (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/avgo#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>)]. Buy some [Cintas Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ctas#NASDAQ">CTAS</a>)],&#8221; a comment reads.
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Don't Mix Dividends With Growth Blindly
Several Redditors argued that the poster is stuck between growth and income strategies, which is hurting his overall returns. Since he's only 36 years old, many suggested prioritizing growth now and shifting to dividends later.
&#8220;Read the Simple Path to Wealth and Bogle. Then stop chasing yield. You&#8217;re giving up valuable years of deep equity growth,&#8221; one Redditor advised.
Suggesting a focused approach on either pure growth or a dividend mix, a commenter mentioned two different ETFs and possible allocations.
&#8220;In my opinion, your 3 options are: 100% VOO, 100% [Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schd#NYSE">SCHD</a>)], or 50/50 VOO/SCHD. Keep it simple. Pick one strategy and stick with it,&#8221; he said.
A Redditor touched on bonds, saying he doesn't think these assets are a good choice for a 36-year-old&#8217;s portfolio: &#8220;[Fidelity U.S. Bond Index Fund (FXNAX)] is a US bond fund. That&#8217;s the Boglehead influence. You don&#8217;t need bonds at 36 years old. Bonds aren&#8217;t going to grow your portfolio.&#8221;
&#8220;You&#8217;re young enough that you could simply buy VOO and nothing else for maximum returns and buy more dividends later, but if seeing a dividend amount returned every year motivates you, you could do SCHD as well,&#8221; a Reddit user recommended.&nbsp;
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Image: Shutterstock

AAPL

AVGO

CTAS

MSFT

NVDA

SCHD

36-Year-Old With $253K In Stocks Says 'Need Some Direction' – Only Gets $4.2K Dividends And Reddit Is Losing It Over His Holdings

Warren Buffett,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/warren-buffett"> the Oracle of Omaha</a>, used sixty years to demonstrate that a steady, rational strategy to investing outperforms wild swings. Yet when it comes to counseling the average investor, his counsel has been stunningly straightforward: Don&#8217;t try to beat the market, just buy it. 
&#8220;Basically any attempts to pick the times to buy or sell, I think, are a mistake for 99% of the population. And I think that even attempts to pick individual securities is a mistake for people," Buffet said in an interview with Yahoo! Finance in 2017.
With the advent of smart, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">low-cost ETFs</a> in 2025, even passive investors will face a decision that&#8217;s anything but passive. 
At the heart of this conundrum? Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTI#NYSE">VTI</a>) vs. Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>)—two excellent Vanguard ETFs that go very different ways to (mostly) the same place: long-term growth.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44934617/the-magnificent-meltdown-qqq-tanks-as-big-techs-shine-wears-off-but-theres-a-silver-lining">Magnificent Meltdown: QQQ Tanks As Big Tech&#8217;s Shine Wears Off, But There&#8217;s A Silver Lining</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Index Investing Dilemma: All-In Or All-Stars?</h2>
VOO and VTI are similar trains on parallel tracks. Both are powered by passive strategy, both have low fees (0.03% expense ratio), and both are designed by Vanguard—a brand name that is virtually synonymous with low-cost, high-integrity investing. But they&#8217;re going to slightly different destinations.
VOO follows the S&amp;P 500 Index, a tried-and-true index of America&#8217;s biggest 500 companies, including blue-chip royalty Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), the most popular choices for long-term investors.
VTI takes it bigger and wider. It follows the CRSP U.S. Total Market Index, with more than 3,600 holdings, from Wall Street giants to upstart micro-caps. It&#8217;s not merely large-cap exposure—it&#8217;s market democracy in ETF wrapper.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why VOO Sounds Like The Safe Bet (Particularly Now)</h2>
2025 has experienced more mood swings than a deprived caffeine trader. In such a volatile world, VOO is reassuring in its concentration. Its concentration on well-known companies means investors are wagering on companies with balance sheets as impenetrable as fortresses and dominance in their markets. These behemoths don&#8217;t merely weather economic storms; they tend to come out stronger.
VOO&#8217;s diversification by sector is a double insulation. If tech gets hit or healthcare hiccups, the spread of the ETF across industries reduces the sting. And with huge liquidity and low fees, VOO is as simple to own as it is to trust.
In brief, VOO is a solid ship when the market gets rough.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why VTI Could Be The Smarter Long-Term Gamble</h2>
But for those with a longer horizon and a bit more willingness to take risk, VTI has a strong argument. By investing in the entire investable universe of U.S. stocks, it gets the full sweep of American ingenuity—from behemoths like Google to feisty small-caps with explosive growth potential.
VTI's not-so-secret weapon is small—and mid-cap exposure. These companies can be volatile in the short term, but they often drive outsized returns over time. VTI also neutralizes sector or size biases that might weigh down narrower ETFs.
Even with recent market drawdowns, VTI has returned approximately 3.4% in price appreciation over the last year, and a 1.3% dividend yield on top of that. 
So while VTI may zig when big caps zag, those zigs usually accumulate serious wealth over decades.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Buffett Litmus Test</h2>
So which of these ETFs is most like Buffett&#8217;s mantra? Both ironically, as noted by 24/7 Wall Street.
Buffett extols simplicity and staying power—traits found in VOO&#8217;s rigid dedication to America&#8217;s best-known brands. But he also adores the compounding that comes with broad diversification, which VTI provides in abundance.
Verdict: VOO&#8217;s big-cap roster will be your best friend if you prefer a peaceful sail over market tempests. It&#8217;s the comfort food of ETFs: tried and true, filling, and less likely to leave you with heartburn when things turn sour.
If you wish to invest in America&#8217;s economic future, VTI is your pass. It is more comprehensive, more ambitious, and possibly better positioned to ride the next wave of market champions.
In the end, both ETFs are winners. But only one will feel right depending on whether you're looking to preserve capital or power growth.
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Image: Shutterstock

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

ETFs

AMZN

VOO Vs. VTI: Buffett Approves This Battle For Your Portfolio

It was the summer of 1971. The United States was embroiled in the Vietnam War, inflationary pressures were building, and global confidence in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">U.S. dollar was faltering. </a>
On August 15, President Richard Nixon addressed the nation and made a historic announcement: the U.S. would suspend the convertibility of dollars into gold, effectively ending the Bretton Woods system.
The move—now known as the "Nixon Shock"—broke the last tie between paper money and the precious metal, inaugurating the era of floating fiat currencies and sparking one of the most consequential monetary transitions in modern history.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Gold vs. Stocks Performance Since Nixon Killed The Gold Standard</h3>
Imagine waking up on August 16, 1971, with $5,000 to invest. 
The S&amp;P 500 index was trading at 100 points, while an ounce of gold cost just $43.50. 
Had you bought gold, you would have taken home around 115 ounces of bullion. Had you put your money into the S&amp;P 500, you&#8217;d have secured a diversified slice of the 500 largest publicly traded U.S. companies.
At first glance, gold appears to have been the winning bet. 
Fast forward to April 2025, and those 115 ounces of gold would now be worth roughly $379,500, based on a spot price of $3,330 per ounce. 
That&#8217;s a total return of about 7,500%—not bad for something you can stash in a vault.
By contrast, the S&amp;P 500 has grown from 100 to 5,282 points over the same period, delivering a price appreciation of approximately 5,182%. Your $5,000 would have grown to just $264,100. 
Gold wins. Yet, only on paper.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="528" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18092549/image-27-1024x528.png" alt="" class="wp-image-878256" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18092549/image-27-1024x528.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18092549/image-27-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18092549/image-27-768x396.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18092549/image-27-1536x792.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18092549/image-27.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Dividend Illusion</h3>
Here&#8217;s what most investors miss: the S&amp;P 500 index, as quoted daily, reflects only price movements. 
It doesn't account for the powerful stream of dividends that companies pay out to shareholders—cash payments that, when reinvested, have a compounding effect on long-term returns.
If you had collected those dividends every year and simply pocketed them in cash without reinvesting, your total would have been modestly higher than the price-only return. 
Over 53 years, with an average dividend yield of around 2.81%, you would have accumulated about $7,452 in cash. 
Combined with the $264,100 value of your original stock investment, you'd have ended up with roughly $271,552. Better than the price-only figure, but still well behind gold.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Power Of Reinvestment</h3>
Now let's consider the full picture. If you had reinvested every dividend back into the S&amp;P 500 over those 54 years, your $5,000 would have ballooned into an astonishing $1,185,516.
That's not a typo. It's a total return of 23,610%, or 47x your original investment. 
The power of compounding, of reinvesting the cash paid out by companies rather than spending it or letting it sit idle, is what transforms long-term equity investing into a wealth-generating engine.
So while gold may have shone brightly during the inflationary storms and monetary turmoil that followed Nixon's speech, it ultimately lagged behind the compounding machine that is the S&amp;P 500, with one important condition: you had to reinvest those dividends.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Investment Type</th>
<th>Strategy</th>
<th>Final Value (Apr 2025)</th>
<th>Total Return</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Gold</td>
<td>Hold physical gold</td>
<td>$379,950</td>
<td>+7,500%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500 (Price Only)</td>
<td>No dividends</td>
<td>$264,100</td>
<td>+5,182%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500 (Dividends Taken in Cash)</td>
<td>Dividends collected, not reinvested</td>
<td>$271,552</td>
<td>+5,331%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500 (Total Return)</td>
<td>Dividends reinvested</td>
<td>$1,185,516</td>
<td>+23,610%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Are S&amp;P 500 ETFs Reinvesting Dividends?</h3>
Today's investment vehicles tracking the S&amp;P 500—such as the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) and the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)—do provide investors with exposure to dividends, but they are distributing funds. This means that dividends are paid out in cash and are not automatically reinvested within the ETF. 
To replicate the compounding effect seen in historical total return scenarios, investors must manually reinvest those dividends or activate a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) through their brokerage account.
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</ul>
Image: Shutterstock/FOTOGRIN

If You Had Bet On Gold After The 1971 Nixon Shock, You'd Have Beaten The S&P 500 — Unless You Did This One Thing

Tariffs will have ZERO long-term impact on the stock market.
There…I said it.
Don't believe me? Basic math says I'm correct.
If you're scared of tariffs, you won't be after reading this
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="937" height="625" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16200326/image-1-1.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-10856" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16200326/image-1-1.jpeg 937w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16200326/image-1-1-300x200.jpeg 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16200326/image-1-1-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 937px) 100vw, 937px" /></figure>
In a healthy economy, tariffs should have a long-term impact on the stock market.
But we don't live in a healthy economy.
Regardless of what any politician does to the stock market…
The Federal Reserve can add digits on a computer screen, and your stocks will skyrocket.
And that's exactly what they'll be doing soon.
Not necessarily because they want to…because they have to.
Here's the situation.
The U.S. is $36.6 trillion in debt.
$9.2 of that $36 trillion needs to either be refinanced or paid this year.
Let's examine both options and see how all roads lead to higher stock prices.
Option 1:
The $9.2 trillion is paid off.
There are only a handful of ways to make this happen.
<ul>
<li>Tax citizens to pay it off</li>
<li>Cut government spending and reallocate funds</li>
<li>Print money (Quantitative Easing)</li>
</ul>
Here's why printing money is the only logical choice of the 3.
The government collected ~$5 trillion in taxes last year.
Which means we're still $4 trillion short.
Plus, Trump is preaching zero income taxes.
So, raising taxes to collect $4 trillion more? Political suicide.
Paying off the $9.2 trillion with taxes is off the table.
Next, the government can cut spending elsewhere and reallocate funds.
Such as the military, federal programs, etc.
But that wouldn't work either.
Military = $900B
Social Security = 1.4T
Medicaid and other health insurance programs = $1.6T
Even if I tally up all government expenditures, it still doesn't pay off the debt.
And finally…the only possible choice.
The Federal Reserve will perform quantitative easing.
Which is a fancy way of saying they'll print money out of thin air.
This money will be used to purchase bonds from the US Treasury.
This directly injects cash into the financial system.
If the Fed creates $9.2 trillion, it's practically impossible for stocks not to rise.
Alright, so that's what'll happen if the Fed performs quantitative easing.
The other option is refinancing the debt at new interest rates.
Basically…kicking the can down the road.
The problem with refinancing at new rates is that interest rates are relatively high right now.
And the US is already paying ~$1.2T in yearly interest.
If we refinance $9.2T at current rates, that $1.2T in yearly interest would soar.
Not good.
So what's the solution?
Cutting rates, of course.
Afterwards, the debt will be rolled over.
So the Fed's options are the following:
Print $9.2 trillion (stocks would go parabolic)
Or cut rates, which means more lending will occur.
Lending with interest is how smaller banks effectively create money.
So no matter what happens, more money will be printed.
Which means your assets will rise.
There you have it.
Stocks will rise – regardless of Trump's tariffs.
All roads lead to the money printer.
If you're wondering when a genuine bear market could take place…
The most likely answer is 2026.
We live in a global economy with 4-year debt cycles.
The year of quantitative tightening and rate hikes worldwide is most likely 2026.
Until then, enjoy this monumental buying opportunity.
&#x2A;&#x2A;
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Government

Politics

Opinion

Federal Reserve

Why Tariffs Will Have Zero Long-term Impact On The Stock Market

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="608" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/14191955/image-4-5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-10607" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/14191955/image-4-5.png 1024w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/14191955/image-4-5-300x178.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/14191955/image-4-5-768x456.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
The forward price-earnings (P/E) multiple&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/78cd1c8e-7a7f-463b-9706-be924c3eba10?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">has limited value</a>&nbsp;during normal times.
And the metric arguably has even less value during periods of elevated uncertainty.
That's because the E is based on analysts' estimates for the near future. And when the outlook for business is increasingly uncertain and rapidly changing, it&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/c87cda18-f109-461b-a81b-7a452e85bca1?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">can take time for many analysts to adjust that E</a>.
This is especially the case right now as many companies&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/d96ef969-ff73-4121-8748-7a21656e3776?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">have not yet factored the impact of tariffs into their guidance</a>, which&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/4294b042-8707-48de-ac31-b3aa112fea7e?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysts lean on</a>&nbsp;when they establish their earnings forecasts.
"We&#8217;ve been reading earnings call and conference transcripts closely since November across market capitalizations, sectors, and industries and feel fairly confident in saying that U.S. public companies have been very reluctant to discuss tariff impacts (outside of China) until specific details have been provided by the administration, and even then, many still have not given sell-side analysts a lot of specifics to start factoring into their models," RBC's Lori Calvasina&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/fea7c782-7f6f-4f6d-ba2d-ba8b050fb5b6?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wrote</a>&nbsp;earlier this month.
Assuming tariffs are negative for earnings — which is&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/1fe3cd83-2f30-4138-9127-453f00b15379?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">what everyone assumes</a>&nbsp;— this means the E is being distorted higher by stale estimates.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="549" height="316" src="blob:https://contributor.benzinga.com/58585138-daa7-4763-8c56-ef4a0bef50af" /><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/74810673-83e8-44f8-9a0e-5424bffef84d?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Forward earnings estimate haven't really moved amid the market sell-off. (Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/040a7c7e-33cb-4dd8-9fe3-c9ad1a6caf63?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FactSet</a>)
With stock prices falling the way that they have been in recent weeks, the P/E ratio could be&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/c87cda18-f109-461b-a81b-7a452e85bca1?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creating the illusion</a>&nbsp;that stocks have gotten cheaper than they are in reality.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="550" height="317" src="blob:https://contributor.benzinga.com/a2d7f383-241e-4374-b1b1-801f7ecf791f" /><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/b1f3c191-cc18-452d-a48a-53bd0421f604?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Forward P/E ratios have come down. But is the E accurate? (Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/717a08b8-eb90-434b-b588-66dd2d56699e?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FactSet</a>)
Generally speaking, it's&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/79a2ee52-041b-4132-9c76-75ecc805b236?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">not a great idea</a>&nbsp;to be trading in and out of the stock market,&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/f7566c7b-af97-4c3b-9bbc-7e610bde424f?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">especially during periods of stress</a>. It's especially treacherous to be trading based on P/E ratios, more so when the Es are unreliable.
Unfortunately, we&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/4294b042-8707-48de-ac31-b3aa112fea7e?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">might not get</a>&nbsp;a clean E any time soon.
"There is a reasonable probability that absent some resolution/clarity, transparency could be compromised," BofA's Savita Subramanian wrote on Thursday. "Companies tend to shut down guidance amid uncertainty."
This sentiment is in line with Goldman Sachs' David Kostin, who&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/4294b042-8707-48de-ac31-b3aa112fea7e?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expects</a>&nbsp;"during upcoming quarterly earnings calls fewer companies than usual will provide forward guidance." This is because recently announced tariffs have made it&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/redirect/0579e271-c909-4957-91ca-67c6efc7a519?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">very difficult to project</a>&nbsp;where business is headed.
If you're going to trade, be careful about trading based on expectations for the near future. The <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/0579e271-c909-4957-91ca-67c6efc7a519?j=eyJ1Ijoid252OGYifQ.jVQb6opeiKhMTzCAB2x0eMpa3LqEuHgwpXD1DeTk7x0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">savviest minds in the market caution</a> this is a guessing game.

Earnings

Long Ideas

Market Summary

Trading Ideas

Sam Ro: Put The P/E Ratio In Timeout For Now

Investing might look easy for some, but that isn&#8217;t always the case. For a young <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44658629/23-year-old-investor-with-75k-portfolio-1-8k-dividend-income-reveals-top-assets-asks-what-i-should-look-at-or-add-to-reddit-debates">investor</a> with a long time horizon, the decision to hold onto individual stocks or shift into broad-market <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44255172/marjorie-taylor-greene-buys-more-bitcoin-etf-shares-ahead-of-trumps-strategic-reserve-executive-order">ETFs</a> can be pivotal.
While concentrated bets on high-growth companies can yield amazing returns, they also come with heightened volatility and sector risk. On the other hand, index funds provide stability and market-matching returns but may lack the explosive upside of single-stock picks.
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The debate becomes even more pressing when an investor is sitting on unrealized losses. Should they cut their losses and reallocate, or hold firm, trusting their long-term goal will come to be? The answer often depends on risk tolerance, time horizon, and the strength of their investment motivation.
One Reddit user, a 23-year-old investment banker, has shared his concerns regarding his portfolio on the online discussion board. The poster has a $58,000 portfolio but is currently down around $4,000 on his holdings.
His portfolio is heavily concentrated in tech giants, including Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>, GOOG)), Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)​, Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), and Meta (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), alongside Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) and Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>, BRK.B)).
The poster shared that he can save $6,000 per month from his salary, allowing consistent investments, and he&#8217;s in for the long run. He&#8217;s also acknowledged that his portfolio is tech-heavy but says he plans to dilute exposure by dollar cost averaging into VOO monthly. Although he&#8217;s down on his Magnificent 7 stocks, he is unfazed, saying it is a great discount opportunity.
&#8220;I see this as a perfect opportunity to pick up more shares of great companies at discounted prices. I'm down close to $4,000 so far from my Mag7 holdings. Do you suggest I sell at a loss and reallocate into VOO or hold on to it and ride it out?&#8221; he asked.
Trending: It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a>
The comment section exploded with mixed opinions, so let&#8217;s dive into those.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reallocate Mag7 Stocks Into VOO Or Hold On It And Ride It Out?</h2>
Sell Individual Stocks and Go All-In on VOO or Diversified ETFs
Many commenters argued that the investor's portfolio lacks diversification and overlaps with VOO's top holdings, making it redundant.
&#8220;Buy VOO and you'll have all of those under one position,&#8221; a comment reads.
&#8220;Terribly un-diversified. Just buy an index fund. It has all those,&#8221; another Redditor suggested.
This user recommended selling individual stocks and adding global diversification to the portfolio.
&#8220;I will suggest more ETFs. VOO is already overweight in the individual stocks you have, for the most part, so your diversity is lacking. Personally, I would sell all except for VOO and BRK.B and get some international in there,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;I would recommend diversifying with some sort of index fund or ETF. I wouldn&#8217;t sell at a loss unless you are cashing anything out and tax loss harvesting later in the year,&#8221; a comment reads.
See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.55 per share now</a>.
Hold High-Conviction Stocks but Increase VOO Allocation Over Time
Other Redditors argued that the poster&#8217;s long time horizon and high conviction justify keeping his Mag7 stocks while gradually increasing VOO exposure.
&#8220;I&#8217;d heavily caution against selling anything here. If you sell anything, immediately reinvest back into your VOO ETF or your high-conviction Mag7 stocks. The Mag7 will likely outperform the broad market for a long time. Study past &#8220;monopolies&#8221; and how long they outperformed before being disrupted (the answer is decades),&#8221; a Redditor suggested.
A commenter recommended keeping a middle-ground approach, namely keeping tech exposure but adding diversification.
&#8220;Good job, young rich homie. I&#8217;d suggest a Mag7 ETF and a diversified ETF investing in international markets, too. Diversification is the only free lunch in investing. Good luck!&#8221;
While supporting holding strong companies, this Redditor suggested making VOO the portfolio&#8217;s foundation: &#8220;A little concentration on tech. However, you own great companies and you are 23, so keep them and buy more at a discount! VOO is great as a core holding and should be the biggest slice of the pie as your portfolio grows.&#8221;
As a compromise between stock picking and diversification, a Redditor suggested a tech-heavy ETF.
&#8220;Instead of investing in the Mag7 by themselves, why not add [Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqqm#NASDAQ">QQQM</a>)]? It has a lower expense ratio than [Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqq#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)] and it holds large tech companies, which seems to fit your philosophy at the moment. If you want growth, it's also best to diversify. How about some international exposure? [Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vxus#NASDAQ">VXUS</a>)] is a great ETF, and [Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vt#NYSE">VT</a>)] also has some international exposure,&#8221; he said.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">Are you rich?</a> Here&#8217;s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.</li>
<li>Inspired by Uber and Airbnb &#8211; Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets &#8211; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">with $1,000 you can invest at just $0.26/share!</a></li>
</ul>

GOOGL

QQQM

Young Banker Holding $58K Portfolio Sees Red – 'Reallocate Into VOO Or Hold On To It And Ride It Out?' – Reddit Explodes

The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">90-day tariff pause</a> announced by President Donald Trump&#8216;s administration may offer temporary relief, but JPMorgan analyst Fabio Bassi warns that the macro backdrop remains fragile.
While countries that have not retaliated are spared for now, a 10% blanket tariff stays in place and tariffs on Chinese imports are jumping to 145%. That lifts the average U.S. tariff rate to around 30% &#8211; a significant economic headwind.
Bassi sees the recent move as a tactical timeout rather than a meaningful shift. Even under the unlikely scenario of China being removed entirely from the U.S. import equation, the average tariff rate would only fall back to the 10% level.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pause, Not A Pivot As Recession Risk Looms</h2>
The size of the tariff-induced tax hike &#8211; estimated at over 3% of GDP &#8211; keeps recession fears alive. Bassi maintains a 60% probability of a U.S. and global recession. His 40% non-recession case hinges on a reversal of the China tariff escalation and a halt to further trade tensions elsewhere.
With sentiment weak and data mixed, macro headlines are set to dominate again. The so-called "Trump put," Bassi notes, was triggered by both a sharp equity selloff and a dysfunctional Treasury market, pushing the administration to ease up.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/04/44774273/jpmorgan-ceo-jamie-dimon-expects-sp-500-growth-forecast-to-be-cut">JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Expects S&amp;P 500 Growth Forecast To Be Cut</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500 Faces Binary Path</h2>
JPMorgan has trimmed its S&amp;P 500 year-end target to 5,200, but Bassi lays out a nearly binary risk-reward path. A drawn-out trade war could drag the index toward 4,000, while a meaningful trade breakthrough &#8211; with Europe, Japan and a softened stance on China &#8211; could launch a rally toward 5,800.
Investors in the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), the iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>) and the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) should remain wary of their holdings.
In the meantime, he expects markets to remain range-bound, with any short-term bounce vulnerable to fading if not backed by real policy clarity or Fed support.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Global Hedges: China Tech, India In Focus</h2>
As U.S. risks mount, Bassi highlights select opportunities abroad. China tech remains investable, especially given the likelihood of aggressive policy support from Beijing. ETFs like the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KWEB#NYSE">KWEB</a>) and iShares MSCI China ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCHI#NYSE">MCHI</a>) offer exposure to that rebound theme.
India also gets a bullish nod, with potential policy tailwinds making it a compelling risk-on trade. U.S. investors may want to keep an eye on the iShares MSCI India ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INDA#NYSE">INDA</a>) as a way to diversify away from the choppy U.S. outlook.
Bassi's view is clear: the tariff pause is not a pivot. With macro risks still elevated and the market vulnerable, investors may want to hedge through global plays rather than rush back into the U.S. exceptionalism trade.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44748635/stocks-bounce-off-session-lows-after-trump-says-china-deal-is-going-to-work-out">China Deal Is &#8216;Going To Work Out,&#8217; Trump Says As Stocks Bounce From Session Lows</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Asia

Emerging Market ETFs

Analyst Ratings

INDA

KWEB

MCHI

S&P 500 Could Tank To 4,000 If 'Trump Put' Fizzles, Says JPMorgan

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect that the fund formerly known as the Invesco Defensive Equity ETF is now the Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF.
The S&amp;P 500's fireworks this week may have lit up Wall Street, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/jeremy-siegel">but Jeremy Siegel</a> isn't buying into the revelry just yet.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Pause Doesn&#8217;t Equal Peace: Trump's Tariff Timeout Isn't The Endgame</h1>
Despite a 9.5% one-day rally that put the index in rarefied post-World War II territory, Siegel <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/10/jeremy-siegel-says-stocks-are-not-out-of-the-woods-yet-due-to-difficult-china-negotiations-ahead.html">told</a> CNBC's Squawk Box that investors celebrating a tariff truce may be getting ahead of themselves. "We're not out of the woods," the WisdomTree chief economist warned, pointing to the looming uncertainty in U.S.-China trade negotiations.
President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs sparked the market&#8217;s surge, but with the 10% tariff now permanent and China countering with 84% on U.S. goods, this is hardly a peace treaty. 
According to Siegel, investor sentiment remains shaky, still reeling from the initial tariff shock. That means the S&amp;P 500, down 11% from its highs and still negative for April, may struggle to reclaim its February peak anytime soon.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44730455/bearish-sentiment-hits-7-week-high-mimicking-35-year-old-record-which-marked-the-bottom-of-the-october-1990-bear-market">Bearish Sentiment Hits 7-Week High, Mimicking 35-Year Old Record Which Marked The Bottom Of The October 1990 Bear Market</a>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Next Stop: July 9 and More Trade Turbulence</h1>
The market's next inflection point? Likely July 9, when the next tariff round could escalate tensions further.
For investors riding the broader index rebound, ETFs like the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>) and Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) have all surged — but Siegel suggests caution.
For investors looking to play defense, sector ETFs like the Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POWA#NYSE">POWA</a>) or the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) may offer some shelter.
On the flip side, those still leaning into the rebound could watch the iShares U.S. Technology ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYW#NYSE">IYW</a>) as tech has led past snapbacks, but remains exposed to global trade flows.
This isn't an "all clear" for risk-on strategies. Bulls may want to wait for more than just headlines before charging back in.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44734009/tech-sector-heading-into-a-period-of-mass-uncertainty-amid-tariffs-and-upcoming-earnings-season-says-dan-ives-the-damage-is-real">Tech Sector Entering A Period Of &#8216;Mass Uncertainty&#8217; Amid Tariffs And Upcoming Earnings Season, Says Dan Ives: &#8216;The Damage Is Real&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/zimmytws">zimmytws</a> via Shutterstock

Macro Economic Events

Sector ETFs

Economics

iShares Dow Jones US Technology Sector Index Fund

POWA

TSX:DEF

Jeremy Siegel Sounds The Tariff Alarm: Bulls May Want To Be Cautious (UPDATED)

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07151508/Screen_Shot_2025-04-06_at_10.56.45_PM-1.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-9950" /></figure>
<a href="https://earningshub.com/earnings-calendar/this-week?utm_source=marketmadness-newsletter.beehiiv.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=the-black-monday-breakdown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://earningshub.com/earnings-calendar/this-week?utm_source=marketmadness-newsletter.beehiiv.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=the-black-monday-breakdown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This Week's Earnings Calendar</a>
Markets just wrapped up one of the toughest two-day stretches in recent memory, with a drop of over 10 percent. On Wednesday at 4 PM, President Trump announced a sweeping plan to impose "reciprocal" tariffs on every country around the globe.
Initially, investors responded with cautious optimism. A report from the Wall Street Journal suggested the tariffs would be limited to just 10 percent. That changed quickly. Trump presented a chart showing actual rates, and while 10 percent was the floor, many countries faced far steeper penalties, China was hit the hardest with a combined rate of 54 percent.
Markets began to slip after hours. By Thursday, the selloff accelerated. Major indexes each lost more than 4 percent, and yet some investors began calling it a buying opportunity. With the market already down over 10 percent year to date, it seemed like a fair bet.
But Friday morning brought a fresh headline: China would strike back with its own tariffs on US goods, totaling 34 percent. Markets opened lower and closed with a nearly 6 percent loss, another blow to an already volatile week.
Over the weekend, I poured through research, commentary, and analysis. One theme kept popping up: "Black Monday." That phrase brings back memories of 1987, and the fear that we might see a repeat began to spread among investors and analysts.
Global markets followed the same path. Asian exchanges opened sharply lower. Japan fell 6 percent out of the gate, and China dropped 9 percent. As I write this on Sunday evening, US futures are down more than 3 percent and have not seen a single moment of green.
Corrections like this are never easy, but they are normal. Long term investors should see times like these as moments to reassess, reframe, and possibly reenter. To borrow from&nbsp;The Art of War, "In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity."
This will pass. It always does.
Keep your head up. Stay focused on the long term. And remember, investing rewards patience.
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Global

The Black Monday Breakdown: This Week's Market Forecast

Good Morning Traders! In today&#8217;s Market Clubhouse Morning Memo, we will discuss SPY, QQQ, AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, META, and TSLA.
Our proprietary formula, exclusive to Market Clubhouse, dictates these price levels. This dynamic equation takes into account price, volume, and options flow. These levels are updated every day and shared with all Clubhouse Members, prior to the opening of the market.
We recommend closely monitoring these stocks, and be prepared to leverage potential breakouts or reversals. As always, stay alert and ready to adjust your tactics based on the market&#8217;s pulse to optimize your trading gains. Now, let&#8217;s dive into the stock analysis:
SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (SPY)
Bulls want SPY to maintain stability above our key pivot at 496.93, then drive higher to challenge resistance at 497.55. If buyers maintain control and firmly establish price above this level, further upside towards the next target at 498.17 becomes likely. Sustained strength there would clear the path to test the resistance at 498.93, with our ultimate bullish goal for today sitting at 500.17.
On the downside, losing the 496.93 pivot would empower sellers to push price lower towards initial support at 494.93. Continued bearish dominance could expose a deeper move to test support at 493.24. Heavy selling through this level may trigger additional weakness, targeting the strong support at 491.70, with potential capitulation down to our extreme bearish target at 490.11.
Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (QQQ)
QQQ bulls aim to hold firmly above our critical reference of 413.72. Strength above this point should motivate buying momentum toward the next important resistance at 414.83. If price action remains constructive and buyers sustain pressure, expect a rally toward 416.23, and potentially extend further upward to 417.49. Our highest bullish expectation for today stands at 419.19.
Conversely, if buyers fail to maintain 413.72 as support, bearish forces are likely to drive the price down initially towards 412.59. Continued weakness could escalate selling pressure, bringing support at 411.80 into play. Persistent selling beyond this point would lead to further downside tests at 410.34, with today&#8217;s ultimate bearish objective being 409.44.
Apple Inc. (AAPL)
For Apple bulls, holding the line firmly at 181.25 is essential. Successfully defending this area could ignite upward momentum towards the next bullish hurdle at 182.96. If buyers stay committed, continued advancement should reach resistance at 184.09. A strong bullish presence today might propel Apple's price to our optimistic target of 184.96.
Should 181.25 fail under selling pressure, bears would aim to drive prices down initially toward 180.10. Persistent weakness may then lead to a deeper sell-off targeting 178.61. If selling accelerates, Apple could see additional declines toward support at 178.18, with our lowest bearish target today situated at 177.20.
Microsoft Corp. ( MSFT)
Bulls in Microsoft are looking to defend our crucial pivot at 354.73 today. A strong hold above this level could trigger bullish moves towards the next resistance level at 358.28. If buyers establish control firmly there, we anticipate continued upward movement toward 359.64. Sustained bullish enthusiasm may eventually propel Microsoft to our ultimate daily bullish target of 363.81.
If Microsoft struggles and falls decisively below 354.73, bears are likely to take charge and press lower toward the immediate support at 352.26. Breaking down this level would heighten bearish sentiment, potentially driving the price toward deeper supports at 347.85 and then 342.88. Continued bearish activity could even challenge today&#8217;s low bear target at 335.57.
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA)
NVIDIA bulls need to gain decisive control above our significant pivot at 90.43 and push upward to initially reclaim resistance at 92.47 as new support. Continued bullish commitment could then lead the auction higher to 95.02. Sustained buying enthusiasm might fuel a further rally toward resistance at 96.58, with today&#8217;s bullish ambition reaching as high as 98.02.
If bulls fail to defend 90.43 today, bearish forces may quickly seize control, targeting immediate downside support at 89.28. Increased selling could further test the next level at 87.80. Weakening conditions may drive price action lower towards 86.32, with potential bearish exhaustion leading NVIDIA down to our lowest bearish objective at 84.52.
Alphabet Inc Class A (GOOGL)
Alphabet bulls seek firm control above today&#8217;s pivotal level of 141.71, aiming initially for an advance toward resistance at 143.17. If bullish momentum remains steady, expect further price appreciation towards our maximum bullish target at 144.72.
On the bearish side, failure to hold 141.71 would likely see bears aggressively target initial downside support at 140.57. Further selling pressure could push Alphabet to challenge deeper support at 139.46. Under intensifying bearish activity, the price may retreat as low as today&#8217;s ultimate bearish target of 137.79.
Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)
Bulls in Meta aim to keep the price strongly above our pivotal level at 488.81. Sustaining this bullish momentum would open the door to an upward test of resistance at 492.33. Ongoing buyer participation may enable further upward movement towards 498.03, ultimately targeting today&#8217;s ambitious bullish objective at 500.83.
If Meta cannot hold above 488.81, bearish activity could intensify, quickly driving price action lower toward support at 483.11. Continued selling pressure could push further downward, testing the next level at 479.47. Accelerated bearish momentum would likely trigger deeper selling toward today&#8217;s lowest bearish target of 475.19.
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla bulls are initially aiming to secure the price action firmly above today&#8217;s pivot at 223.98, with their first bullish challenge lying at 226.53. If bullish momentum stays strong, expect buyers to target a higher push toward the significant level at 230.65. Continued strength from the broader market may push Tesla even higher to 235.74, with today&#8217;s maximum bullish target set at 238.50.
On the downside, if bulls lose control at 223.98, bears will aim aggressively lower toward support at 220.65. Further weakness could bring selling into deeper support at 217.78. Should bearish pressure increase, we anticipate a potential retreat toward Tesla's lowest bearish objective for today at 213.88.
Final Word:&nbsp;
Markets today lack impactful economic reports but face intense volatility driven by escalating tensions surrounding global trade conflicts and newly implemented tariffs. Traders must remain highly vigilant, as price action will hinge on unpredictable trade-related headlines that could significantly impact market sentiment throughout the session.
Given the elevated uncertainty, managing risk carefully is crucial today. Expect large and potentially rapid price movements across sectors. Keep position sizing prudent, remain disciplined, and stay nimble to effectively navigate today&#8217;s turbulent conditions. Good luck and trade carefully!
The Morning Memo is curated by RIPS, a pro trader with years of experience in equities, options, and futures trading. RIPS is at the heart of the exclusive Market Clubhouse community, offering his insights, expertise, and real-time mentorship.
Start your day with a live daily market analysis, a carefully selected watch list, early access to the Morning Memo, and exclusive Market Clubhouse price levels, providing precise support and resistance indicators. When you become a member of Market Clubhouse, you will gain early access to the Morning Memo, just like this one, every single day—hours before it&#8217;s published. You will also have access to a live stream with zero latency and screen sharing, enabling you to witness Rips executing his trades in real-time and sharing his exclusive trading plans, strategies, and live decision-making.
For a limited time during our special promotion, you can join RIPS and get a full access pass to Market Clubhouse for 7 full days for just $7. Check it out at <a href="https://marketclubhouse.club/7Days/" title="https://marketclubhouse.club/7Days/">https://marketclubhouse.club/7Days/</a> where you can trade live with him and tap into his wealth of knowledge and experience. You can also catch Rips on his live day trading streams every Monday-Friday at 8 am EST on the Market Clubhouse YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MarketClubhouse" title="https://www.youtube.com/@MarketClubhouse">https://www.youtube.com/@MarketClubhouse</a>.

Technicals

Signals

TSLA

How To Trade The Market As Global Trade Tensions Escalate

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="936" height="556" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07061618/image-1.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-9835" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07061618/image-1.jpeg 936w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07061618/image-1-300x178.jpeg 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07061618/image-1-768x456.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px" /></figure>
<a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fef1fda4a-e58e-43ae-93d8-5b12ae44ecaf_1024x608.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>
It's been a challenging few days.
There's been a mountain of news about the direction of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and-persistent-annual-united-states-goods-trade-deficits/">global trade policy</a>, which has been followed by a tsunami of research and insights intended to help investors make sense of it all.
I've spent a ton of time sifting through much of it, and I've concluded: It is impossible to know what will happen next.
While&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/wall-street-agrees-tariffs-are-bad">everyone agrees</a>&nbsp;that the announced tariffs are negative at least in the near-term, the range of potential outcomes is very wide and impossible to define precisely. Not only are the indirect effects hard to capture, the uncertainty is heightened by the possibility that at least some of the tariffs are short-lived or negotiated lower.
Consequently, I'd caution against listening to folks who have a high degree of confidence in the particular outcome they're touting. There are just too many unknowns to be able to model a clean forecast.
A couple of analysts I follow had some particularly insightful commentary on the murky state of things.
"There is no tariff playbook," BofA's Savita Subramanian wrote on Thursday. "Known unknowns are plentiful." From her note:
Investors looking for historical parallels are faced with scant observations from incomparable eras (e.g., 1930s Smoot Hawley ended badly). Import/export exposure by company is difficult to estimate and not regularly disclosed. Full supply chains are hard to figure out. Secondary impacts are even hazier: prolonged negotiations could stall activity spiraling into a recession. Calls to boycott U.S. goods could ramp further. But pricing power and currency moves can mollify tariff impacts. Ex-U.S. multinationals can avoid tariffs (and maybe enjoy lower corporate tax rates) by expanding U.S. footprint. Our constructive equity outlook relies on at least partial resolution from which corporates can plan and grow by early 2H25, as capacity buildouts are multi-quarter phenomena.
Among the many challenges in analyzing the impact on the stock market is the fact that regulations don't require publicly-traded companies to disclose many details about their overseas exposure. This is something I've mentioned in past discussions about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/us-listed-companies-share-of-global-profits">S&amp;P 500 revenues generated outside of the U.S.</a>
To Subramanian's point about boycotts,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/boycott-america-gdp-stock-market-negative-impact">earlier this week</a>&nbsp;Goldman Sachs economists also highlighted the challenges in estimating the magnitude of this second order effect.
Subramanian estimates that the impact of tariffs could drag S&amp;P 500 earnings per share (EPS) by 5% to 32%. Yes, that's a wide range. And even she acknowledges that it's derived from an "oversimplified scenario analysis."
On&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2025-04-04/bloomberg-surveillance-jobs-and-tariffs-podcast">Bloomberg Radio on Friday</a>, Renaissance Macro's Neil Dutta addressed the shock to GDP that economists have been estimating as a result of the announced tariffs. He too cautioned: "These calculations understate the hit to some extent, because you're just looking at direct costs. You're not including, ‘What are the ramifications to corporate confidence? Household confidence?' The spillover and knock-on effects. I think that's why I think it can be even worse."
In terms of modeling how the ongoing trade war will unfold, Dutta added: "We're all just guessing at this point."
Oaktree Capital's Howard Marks, also speaking to Bloomberg on Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2025-04-04/bloomberg-talks-howard-marks-talks-market-selloff-podcast">said</a>: "The world economy and the world order beyond the economy — meaning geopolitics and international relationships — has been shook up like a snow globe by the events of the last days, and nobody knows what it&#8217;s going to look like."<a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e66fe10-8fe0-4cbd-a67c-22ea11dd7d48_782x436.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>
<a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e66fe10-8fe0-4cbd-a67c-22ea11dd7d48_782x436.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>"Today, whatever your forecast may be, you have to say the probability that I&#8217;m right is lower than ever," Marks added. "Because the probability that we know what the future is going to look like is lower than ever."
While uncertainty and market volatility may be elevated in the near term, experts generally agree that stocks continue to be attractive for long-term investors. It's just that the near future has become very difficult to predict.
It's times like these where the best move is to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/sam-ro-unlucky-market-timer">stick to your financial plan</a>, which hopefully takes into consideration periods of high volatility and uncertainty.
Watch earnings season &#x1f440;
If there's any good news, the first quarter just ended. This means we'll soon be in earnings season, when companies will give more color on what they see and where they expect things to head.
This could be productive, because so far we haven't heard much about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/i/156333109/tariffs-are-not-factored-into-earnings-guidance">how tariffs may impact earnings</a>. Here's what RBC's Lori Calvasina had to say in her research note on Wednesday:
We&#8217;ve been reading earnings call and conference transcripts closely since November across market capitalizations, sectors, and industries and feel fairly confident in saying that U.S. public companies have been very reluctant to discuss tariff impacts (outside of China) until specific details have been provided by the administration, and even then, many still have not given sell-side analysts a lot of specifics to start factoring into their models. The incremental information provided Wednesday (we hope) will enable sell-side analysts to push companies a bit harder to get the conversation going about these policies. This is important, because for U.S. equities to put in a durable bottom, EPS forecasts need to be adjusted which in turn will give investors confidence to assess valuations and make decisions about when opportunity has been unlocked in certain corners of the U.S. equity market.
"Like most analysts and strategists, we&#8217;ll be digesting the implications of the newly announced reciprocal tariffs in the coming days," Calvasina wrote.
All eyes and ears will be on Corporate America in the coming weeks as earnings season picks up.
Will we get&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/sp500-earnings-guidance-q1-2025">more clarity</a>? Or will we learn they have no clue where things are headed either?
As always,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/stock-market-drawdowns-bull-markets">keep your stock market seat belts fastened</a>. Investing in the stock market is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/stock-market-down-days-drawdowns-down-years-normal">an unpleasant process</a>.
More insights from Sam Ro:
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<li>One Of The Most <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44361076/one-of-the-most-misunderstood-moments-in-stock-market-cycles">Misunderstood </a>Moments In Stock Market Cycles</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44079509/preparing-for-worse-doesnt-mean-dumping-stocks-investing-wisdom-from-market-guru-sam-ro">Preparing</a> For Worse Doesn't Mean Dumping Stocks</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/exclusives/25/02/43917155/warren-buffett-americas-businesses-usually-find-a-way">Warren Buffett</a>: America&#8217;s Businesses &#8216;Usually Find A Way&#8217;</li>
</ul>
&#x2A;&#x2A;

Sam Ro: If You Know Where Things Are Heading, Then You Probably Don't Know What You're Talking About

Building a strong investment <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44534646/dad-with-mini-portfolio-and-1m-investment-plan-wants-son-living-off-of-dividend-income-comfortably-reddit-debates-best-stocks-to-buy">portfolio</a> requires an allocation for growth, one for stability, and a last one for income, especially when it comes to planning for retirement.
One widespread investing strategy involves mixing dividend-paying assets with broad-market ETFs, allowing investors to profit from both compounding revenue and long-term <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/bonds/25/02/43724725/at-home-restructured-bonds-offer-asymmetric-opportunity-via-high-yields-potential-capital-appreciat">capital appreciation</a>. By continuously investing a fixed amount each month, investors can grow their <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44348490/how-does-your-wealth-stack-up-against-your-peers-heres-the-net-worth-youll-need-to-be-among-the-richest-10-at-each-age">wealth</a> while minimizing risk through diversification.
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Still, this strategy is often debated with some wondering whether dividend-focused ETFs are necessary for younger investors or if growth ETFs would deliver better returns in the long run. In a recent Reddit post, a 34-year-old investor shared he&#8217;s just starting his investing journey and is wondering whether his planned allocation can help him reach his financial goals.
His strategy involves allocating $2,000 per month across a mix of ETFs and dividend stocks, including 40 % to Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>), 20% to Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQM#NASDAQ">QQQM</a>), 15% to Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VXUS#NASDAQ">VXUS</a>), 15% to Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>), and 10% to SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>).
The poster&#8217;s goal is to build a portfolio that will generate substantial returns by the time he reaches his 50s or 60s. Yet, he's open to advice, especially regarding his 10% allocation to GLD. The Reddit community has offered the investor plenty of suggestions in the comments, so let&#8217;s jump into these right away.
Trending: It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is the Investor&#8217;s Planned Allocation a Good Strategy? Reddit Weights In</h2>
Opt for Small or Mid-Cap ETFs
Several Redditors argued that gold may not be the best choice for a young investor with a long time horizon. Instead, they suggested small- and/or mid-cap ETFs or even bond funds for better growth potential or stability.
&#8220;I like everything except gold. I'd look into small/mid-cap ETFs, and maybe a total bond ETF if you&#8217;re worried about volatility,&#8221; a commenter wrote.
Suggesting other assets and even Bitcoin instead of GLD, this Reddit user appreciated most of the poster&#8217;s allocation: &#8220;Love it besides the GLD. I would go either with a small/mid-cap ETF or Bitcoin if you are interested in that.&#8221;
This commenter suggested the investor&#8217;s portfolio should be more focused on U.S.-based stocks rather than international assets.
&#8220;Too much international, and way too much gold. Would add some small- and mid-cap instead,&#8221; he wrote.
See Also: Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/5mil-nest-egg-adv">The percentage may shock you</a>.
Focus on Growth While Young
Many Reddit users argued that dividend ETFs like SCHD are less ideal for a 34-year-old investor, as growth-focused ETFs historically outperform over long periods.
&#8220;Zero reason for SCHD at that young of an age in my opinion,&#8221; a comment reads.
Suggesting that focusing on growth-oriented ETFs while young would reap better yields in the long run, this Redditor mentioned that the investor should shift to dividends when approaching retirement only.
&#8220;Because you are young, you could benefit from the time horizon and reap better returns from growth-focused ETFs over dividend ETFs, even taking into account dividend reinvestment. Closer to retirement you can transition to a dividend-focused portfolio,&#8221; he wrote.
&#8220;I&#8217;d skip QQQM and go 50% VOO, 25% VXUS, and 25% SCHD,&#8221; a commenter recommended.
Another Redditor suggested a similar allocation but also included GLD, saying, &#8220;I would drop the SCHD and QQQM in favor of more VOO and more VXUS. 65% VOO (or better [Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vti#NYSE">VTI</a>)]), 25% VXUS, 10% GLD.&#8221;
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Reddit Erupts Over 34-Year-Old's Plan: 'My Strategy Is To Add $2K Monthly' – Is His Mix Of ETFs And Dividends A Genius Move Or A Bad One?

A stock portfolio with many holdings can minimize risk and give you access to many opportunities. However, one Redditor is wondering if two holdings are all they need and <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/dividends/comments/1jo8l2z/thinking_of_going_50_voo_50_schd_too_simple/">posted in the Dividends subreddit</a> for some feedback.&nbsp;
"I'm seriously considering streamlining my entire portfolio," the Redditor stated at the start of the post.
Instead of picking a bunch of stocks, the Redditor has settled on two positions: the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) and the Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>). The Redditor is also considering a 45/45 split, with the remaining 10% going into the Schwab US Large-Cap Growth ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHG#NYSE">SCHG</a>).
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<li>If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/arrived-private-credit-fund">7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it</a>?</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ETFs Simplify Investing</h2>
Several commenters agreed with the ETF-focused approach and shared that they also heavily invest in funds. The top commenter puts 50% into SCHD and the remaining 50% into SCHG. One of the top replies to that comment came from someone who puts 60% into SCHD and 40% into SCHG.
The comment got plenty of traction from Redditors who agreed. One commenter replied to the top comment saying, "This is exactly my portfolio in Roth. Not too much going on but that's all I need. Tired of gambling on single stocks."
Trending: It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">No Such Thing As Too Simple</h2>
One commenter stated that there is no such thing as having a portfolio that is too simple. While you can have a portfolio that isn't diverse enough, you can buy shares in a single ETF and instantly have a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44461718/high-income-earner-with-3000-monthly-to-invest-faces-big-decision-i-definitely-want-to-diversify-beyond-ai-and-dividends">diversified portfolio</a>.
The commenter said that VOO has plenty of growth. Investors don't have to beat the market. Most people can reach their long-term financial goals if they match market returns instead of taking high risks just for the hope of outperforming an index like the S&amp;P 500.
Some commenters said that this simple approach was a good one. The Redditor received encouraging comments telling them to keep up the good work. Another commenter mentioned that a more complex portfolio doesn't necessarily generate a higher return.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">Are you rich?</a> Here&#8217;s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Knowing The Redditor's Age and Goals Would Help</h2>
While most of the commenters praised the Redditor's decision, one commenter said that knowing the original poster's age and time horizon would have been better. The commenter also said it would be optimal to know the age of each person who has committed to sticking with a few ETFs.
The commenter makes a good point, as each person's investment preferences are different. Some people have higher risk tolerances and gravitate toward ETFs that give exposure to big tech companies. Others accumulate shares in less risky, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44589415/desperate-investor-with-50k-seeks-the-highest-possible-dollar-amount-of-a-dividend-payment-what-fund-would-you-buy-reddit-erupts">high-yield ETFs</a> as they get closer to retirement.
Assessing someone's financial goals can help them decide which combination of ETFs is right for them. However, you don't need a ton of stocks. A good growth fund may be all you need.
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</ul>

SCHG

A Redditor Only Wants to Hold Two Stocks: 'I'm Seriously Considering Streamlining My Entire Portfolio'

Warren Buffett&nbsp;is considered one of the greatest&nbsp;investors&nbsp;of all time. He also appears to be one of the greatest teachers of all time, given the massive returns generated by one of his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/02/30736762/former-hedge-fund-manager-lists-3-reasons-berkshire-hathaway-has-everything-we-look">portfolio managers</a>.
What To Know:&nbsp;According to a Business Insider&nbsp;<a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-ted-weschler-berkshire-hathaway-ira-retirement-losses-saving-2021-9?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_campaign=business-sf&amp;fbclid=IwAR0l3O5vxSJKAtyJxJGPDCx2V0saqwmwfE67AnEmE9j_huNjrF40zjvrWrk">report</a>&nbsp;citing a Washington Post interview from late 2021,&nbsp;Ted Weschler, an investment manager at&nbsp;Berkshire Hathaway Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/brk-a#NYSE">BRK-A</a>) (NYSE:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/brk-b#NYSE">BRK-B</a>), grew his retirement account from $70,000 to $264 million&nbsp;in less than&nbsp;30 years with a pretty simple approach.
The massive fortune was first uncovered in June 2021 when ProPublica got ahold of Weschler's tax returns. The Berkshire Hathaway portfolio manager then shared some details about how he managed to amass the wealth with reporter&nbsp;Allan Sloan.
"In a perfect world, nobody would know about this account," Weschler&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/08/27/retirement-fund-millionaire/">reportedly told Sloan</a>&nbsp;in an email.
"But now that the number is out there, I&#8217;m hopeful that some good can come of it by serving as a motivation for new workforce entrants to start saving and investing early."
Weschler definitely got an early start, and anyone hoping to replicate the feat needs to do the same.
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The report indicates that Weschler started&nbsp;an&nbsp;IRA in 1984 at the age of 22 and by the time he was 27, he had grown his account to&nbsp;$70,384&nbsp;by maxing out his contributions and doubling down via employer match.
He quit his job as a financial analyst and began his journey in&nbsp;private equity. Despite getting off to a rocky start with investments in&nbsp;Continental Health&nbsp;and Intelogic, his new role&nbsp;ultimately led him to become a hedge fund manager by the turn of the century.
Speaking with Sloan, the portfolio manager noted that all losses are simply "unmonetized lessons."&nbsp;
Weschler reportedly generated compound annual returns of 22% for more than a decade before he joined Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in 2012.&nbsp;
He noted that he used to focus on companies that he believed were in much better standing than the market was pricing in. Weschler also said he spent a lot of his time studying companies and industries in order to find important pieces of information <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/30689536/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-trims-stake-in-chinese-ev-maker-to-less-than-13">the market was missing</a>. 
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For those who don't have the time, he recommended&nbsp;focusing on index funds like the&nbsp;Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>). They can be very powerful tools for investors who can't&nbsp;closely follow individual investments, he said.
But his main advice is to keep all&nbsp;of your money in equities and to tune out anyone&nbsp;who tells&nbsp;you to do something different.&nbsp;
"Start early, maximize the [employer]&nbsp;match, invest 100% in equities, and ignore all the other noise," Weschler said.
The Berkshire manager told the Washington Post he made all of his money&nbsp;by investing in&nbsp;publicly available securities, suggesting anyone can do it with the right approach.
Buffett too was a beneficiary of an&nbsp;early&nbsp;start. The billionaire investor&nbsp;has been piling money into equities&nbsp;since he was 11.&nbsp;If you don't have the early start advantage in front of you, one&nbsp;can always&nbsp;back the guys who are&nbsp;arguably the best to ever do it by&nbsp;buying shares of Berkshire Hathaway. The fund has historically&nbsp;outperformed the S&amp;P 500.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">This Alternative Asset Has Outpaced the S&amp;P 500 Since 1995, Delivering an Average Annual Return of 11.4%</a>. </li>
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Photo: Shutterstock / Some elements of this story were previously reported by Benzinga and it has been updated.

Hedge Funds

General

Warren Buffett's Fund Manager Didn't Want Anyone To Know He Turned $70,000 Into $264M, 'But Now That The Number Is Out There...'

Wall Street just got a wake-up call. According to JPMorgan analyst Maia G. Crook, the probability of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/recession">a U.S. recession</a> has surged to 60%, up from 40% last month, thanks to the latest round of tariff hikes.
The "largest U.S. tax hike in nearly 60 years" is expected to hit household and business spending, drag down sentiment and disrupt global supply chains.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tariffs &amp; Tumbling Sentiment</h2>
The tariff war escalated with a fresh 22% hike, pushing fears of retaliation and economic slowdowns to new highs. Crook warns of ripple effects, noting that the uncertainty around trade policies could further dampen business confidence. 
While there's still a 40% chance of avoiding a recession, she cautions that it hinges on "negotiations&#8221; that &#8220;will bring these announced rates down in the coming weeks."
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44456554/trade-wars-fed-moves-and-a-40-recession-risk-is-your-portfolio-ready">Trade Wars, Fed Moves And A 40% Recession Risk &#8211; Is Your Portfolio Ready?</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Markets On Edge: Where To Look Next?</h2>
With recession risk on the rise, broad market exchange-traded funds (ETFs) like SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), the iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>) and the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) are under scrutiny.
Investors may look to defensive plays like utilities and consumer staples ETFs, such as the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) or Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLP#NYSE">XLP</a>) as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44626085/biopharma-a-safe-haven-as-tariff-turmoil-rages-on">safe havens</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Will The Fed Step In?</h2>
Despite the ominous outlook, Crook sees a path to resilience if global negotiations ease tensions. However, she warns that the administration's approach to tariff calculations "raises questions around the basis for negotiations going forward."
With economic uncertainty mounting, investors may need to brace for volatility ahead.
For now, markets are on edge and recession risk is no longer a distant possibility &#8211; it's a very real threat.
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

JPMorgan Raises Recession Risk To 60% As 'Largest US Tax Hike' In 60 Years Hits Global Economy

For many investors, dividend-focused <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/03/44565770/30-year-old-with-65k-in-stocks-sparks-debate-focusing-mostly-on-etfs-but-now-betting-on-bonds-small-caps-and-international-plays">stocks</a> and funds provide a way to generate passive income, whether to supplement retirement, cover day-to-day <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43768530/should-married-couples-split-expenses-dave-ramsey-says-no-youre-married-not-roommates">expenses</a>, or even finance small luxuries like annual vacations.
While some aim for significant <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44518501/20-year-old-university-student-wants-help-with-buying-dividend-stocks-whats-the-best-way-to-start-reddit-weights-in">dividend</a> payouts to replace their salary, others are happy with modest but constant returns that offer a little extra financial freedom.
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This is the case of a Reddit user who is exploring this approach. With $30,000 to invest, he's seeking long-term dividend stocks that can grow over the next 20 years until retirement. While he already holds dividend-paying stocks like Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Walt Disney&nbsp; (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>), he wants to expand his portfolio for stability and future income, even if it's just enough to cover yearly vacations.
&#8220;I currently have some stocks that give out dividends (Apple, Disney) but I&#8217;m looking for others. Long-term stability, that my wife and I can use the dividends as another form of income say in 20 years. Even if it&#8217;s just enough to pay for a yearly vacation here or there. Any thoughts on good companies to choose from?&#8221; he asked.
Let&#8217;s break down the Redditors&#8217; advice received in the comment section.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Where to Invest $30,000 to Generate Enough Income to Cover Yearly Vacations? Reddit Answers</h2>
Put the Money in an ETF
Several commenters recommended Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>) as a core holding because of its dividend yield, historical growth, and the low-risk, diversified exposure it offers investors.
&#8220;Go all in SCHD. Low risk, nice 3.5% starting yield and it will just keep growing,&#8221; a commenter said.
Reinforcing the idea that SCHD fits the poster&#8217;s long-term stability and dividend payout need, this Redditor also suggested he goes with SCHD: &#8220;Since you want some growth and decent payout, SCHD is a great option. 3.5% dividends and 11% growth over the last 10 years each year.&#8221;
&#8220;I would stick with S&amp;P 500 ETFs being young. Put it in a self-direct investment retirement account to avoid taxes,&#8221; a comment reads.
See Also: Have $200K saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/have-200k-saved-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-lasting-wealth"> Here's how to turn it into lasting wealth</a>
Consider High-Yield Dividend Stocks and Trusts
Several commenters suggested higher-yield assets that would generate higher payouts for the investor in the long run.
&#8220;If you want higher yield stocks check: [Verizon Communications (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vz#NYSE">VZ</a>)], [AT&amp;T (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/t#NYSE">T</a>)], [Realty Income Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/o#NYSE">O</a>)], [Altria Group (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mo#NYSE">MO</a>)], [British American Tobacco (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bti#NYSE">BTI</a>)],&#8221; a Redditor recommended.
A commenter mentioned United Parcel Service (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>) as a great pick since the company seems to start focusing on higher profit margin areas.
&#8220;UPS pays a solid dividend and the share price has been beaten down a lot on the news that they are reducing Amazon deliveries to focus on higher profit margin areas,&#8221; he said.
Suggesting a very detailed portfolio allocation, this Redditor mentioned several ETFs and individual stocks that he considers would help the poster reach his dividend and growth goals.
&#8220;[Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/voo#NYSE">VOO</a>)] $5,000, 1.25% dividends. Do [dividend reinvestment plan] SCHD $5,000, 3.5% dividends. Do [dividend reinvestment plan], [JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepi#NYSE">JEPI</a>)], [JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepq#NASDAQ">JEPQ</a>)​] ($5,000), 8% combined dividends. Do [dividend reinvestment plan] [Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ori#NYSE">ORI</a>)] $2,000, 3% dividends. Do [dividend reinvestment plan] [Waste Management (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wm#NYSE">WM</a>)] and [Automatic Data Processing (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/adp#NASDAQ">ADP</a>)] ($3,000), 2% average dividend. Do [dividend reinvestment plan] [Pfizer (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>)] and [Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jnj#NYSE">JNJ</a>)] $2,000, 4.75% average dividend. Do [dividend reinvestment plan] [JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jpm#NYSE">JPM</a>)] and [UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/unh#NYSE">UNH</a>)] $2,000, 2% average dividends. Do [dividend reinvestment plan] AAPL and [Microsoft (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)] $2,000. [The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ko#NYSE">KO</a>)] and MO $2,000, 5% average dividends. Do [dividend reinvestment plan] JPM or [American Express (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/axp#NYSE">AXP</a>)] $2,000. JPM has good potential growth,&#8221; the suggestion says.
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JEPI

JEPQ

Man With $30K To Deploy Wants Dividends For Life – 'Even If It's Just Enough To Pay For A Yearly Vacation Here Or There,' Reddit Reacts

Investing entails both risk and reward. On one hand, conservative investors focus on stabilizing their portfolios through bonds, <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/startups/25/02/43451833/warren-buffetts-1m-bet-why-simple-index-funds-crushed-hedge-funds-by-7-1-to-2-2-over-a-decade">index funds</a>, and blue-chip <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44486348/58-year-old-with-3m-portfolio-makes-bold-retirement-move-i-want-to-test-it-out-before-i-actually-retire-with-1m-in-dividend-stocks">dividend stocks</a>. On the other, aggressive investors chase high-growth assets, such as tech stocks, leveraged ETFs, and high-yield dividend funds, betting on huge returns.
The middle ground is a diversified portfolio that combines growth and income while adjusting risk as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44552100/i-have-no-doubt-theyre-going-to-raise-the-full-retirement-age-possibly-to-70-suze-orman-weighs-in-on-social-security-fears">retirement</a> approaches. But what happens when a young investor leans heavily into dividend-focused ETFs, overlooking long-term growth for quick cash? That's the question tearing through the r/Dividends Reddit community after a 34-year-old shared his bold three-ETF strategy.
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&#8220;Right now, I'm planning to go with just [Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/voo#NYSE">VOO</a>)], [JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepi#NYSE">JEPI</a>)​], and [Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schd#NYSE">SCHD</a>)], split like this: VOO – 45% (broad market exposure and long-term growth), JEPI – 15% (monthly income and lower volatility), and SCHD – 40% (strong dividend growth and fundamentals). I know this setup is pretty barebones, but I feel like it covers the basics well enough for now. I plan to start adding bonds in maybe 5 to 6 years, once I get closer to 40,&#8221; he wrote.
Still, the poster is wondering whether his allocations are too basic and whether he&#8217;s missing something, mentioning that he wants to build a dividend-only portfolio. The r/Dividends community on Reddit has offered its advice in the comments, so let&#8217;s analyze that.
Trending: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">Are you rich?</a> Here&#8217;s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3-ETF Portfolio–Is He Onto Something or Is It a Bad Idea? Reddit Responds</h2>
Ditch JEPI Since You Don&#8217;t Need Income Now
Most Redditors argued that JEPI is a rather poor fit for a 34-year-old who&#8217;s still in the accumulation phase.
&#8220;Unless you are currently using the income generated from it, there&#8217;s no reason to hold JEPI or [NEOS S&amp;P 500 High Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spyi#NYSE">SPYI</a>)] or any of the others instead of holding the index itself like VOO. They underperform the underlying assets, so the total return of VOO will be higher than JEPI and there are also the tax implications of getting your returns as nonqualified dividends. So, if you are just going to reinvest the dividends from JEPI, there&#8217;s no reason to hold it instead of VOO, but there are good reasons to hold VOO instead,&#8221; a Reddit community member suggested.
Recommending what he thinks is a better allocation for the poster&#8217;s portfolio, this commenter also advised getting rid of JEPI: &#8220;JEPI is not only a bad option for you, it is also not very tax efficient. Stick with this: VOO/[Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schg#NYSE">SCHG</a>)]/SCHD 70/20/10.&#8221;
&#8220;You have a job for income. You don't need JEPI at your age. Get into growth and dividend growth stocks,&#8221; a Redditor wrote.
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Shift from Dividends to Growth for Now
Many users urged the 34-year-old investor to prioritize growth-focused ETFs over dividend-heavy assets like SCHD because he's young and has a long time until retirement to grow the money.
&#8220;At 34, you have a fairly long investment horizon in front of you before you retire–20 years or more. So, you should be much more heavily invested in growth rather than dividends. Growth companies invest their earnings in growth opportunities rather than using cash to pay dividends and as a result, you will almost certainly build more wealth over 20 years with growth stocks/ETFs than you will in dividend stocks/ETFs,&#8221; a comment reads.
Suggesting that the poster&#8217;s allocation is way too conservative for his age, this Redditor shared the way his portfolio is split, recommending keeping growth-focused assets even in retirement: &#8220;You are going too hard on dividends for your age. At 40, I am about 20% dividends, 20% bonds, and 60% growth stocks. That will shift about every 5 years toward stable income goals, but even then I probably will still hold at least 40% growth in retirement.&#8221;
When it comes to long-term growth, a commenter advised the poster to invest in VOO rather than SCHD.
&#8220;VOO outperforms SCHD and is a better option for long-term growth. I&#8217;d also consider mixing in [Vanguard Russell 2000 Index Fund ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vtwo#NASDAQ">VTWO</a>)] and [Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vot#NYSE">VOT</a>)] at 15% to 20% each to cover mid and small-cap stocks,&#8221; he said.
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</ul>

SPYI

VTWO

34-Year-Old Gambles His Entire Future On Just 3 ETFs – 'Is This A Dumb Idea Or Am I Onto Something?' Reddit Explodes Over His Risky Bet

Life has a way of throwing curveballs, such as divorce, career changes, and financial setbacks, and sometimes, it feels like you're back at square one.
But hitting the reset button in your 40s doesn't mean your <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/24/04/38320795/in-your-50s-its-not-too-late-to-transform-your-financial-future-3-key-moves-t">financial future</a> is doomed. In fact, with thorough planning and disciplined <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44380933/investor-with-40000-portfolio-wonders-if-he-should-pick-dividend-investing-or-growth-first-would-you-prioritize-dividends-or-growth">investing</a>, it's possible to rebuild and even come out stronger than before.
For one Redditor, a 42-year-old facing a divorce and raising three kids, rebuilding financially seems like a tough challenge, but also an opportunity for a fresh start. With $250,000 to invest and a stable business generating between $90,000 and $120,000 per year on average, the investor is determined to turn things around.
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&#8220;If you could invest from scratch, $250,000–how would you divide it up? It's almost a full-life restart, not ideal, but it is what it is. Would you put [Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/main#NYSE">MAIN</a>)​], [Gladstone Investment Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gain#NASDAQ">GAIN</a>)], [Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schd#NYSE">SCHD</a>)], [JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepq#NASDAQ">JEPQ</a>)] into individual or [investment retirement account]? What others should I consider?&#8221; he asked.
The comment section of the post exploded with recommendations, with some Redditors advocating for simple, low-risk investments, and others suggesting aggressive growth strategies. Below, we break down the most relevant insights.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Would You Divide $250,000? Reddit Users Debate in the Comments</h2>
Keep It Simple and Low-Cost
There were plenty of comments that suggested the investor avoid financial advisors and instead invest in an S&amp;P index fund.
&#8220;I would not pay a financial advisor one penny, much less $1,500 per year + fees and %. It doesn&#8217;t take a financial advisor to invest in an S&amp;P 500 index fund, which is the simplest and one of the best investments for a 42-year-old, 22-year-old, 32-year-old, or 52-year-old,&#8221; a Redditor advised.
&#8220;If I had to start at 42&#8230; I would dump it all into an S&amp;P index growth fund and leave it be for about 15 years. At that point, I would look for opportunities to move it into dividends for income,&#8221; another comment says.
Also touching on the fact that he doesn&#8217;t need a financial advisor, this Reddit user mentioned a few assets he believes would help the poster meet his financial goals.
&#8220;Invest in only ETFs, no individual stocks. 75% in [Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/voo#NYSE">VOO</a>)], [SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spy#NYSE">SPY</a>)], or if you want some dividends, [JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepi#NYSE">JEPI</a>)​], or [Alerian MLP ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amlp#NYSE">AMLP</a>)]. No need to pay anyone, just invest in S&amp;P 500 index funds,&#8221; he suggested.
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Mix Growth ETFs with Dividend Stocks
While the S&amp;P 500 was one of the most recommended strategies, many commenters suggested mixing growth with dividend ETFs for a balanced portfolio.
&#8220;If you want to retire in, say, 20 years, you need at least 3x if not 4x that $250,000. In addition to the S&amp;P 500 index, MAIN and GAIN look good. If I knew at 42 what I know now, I would have gone into individual growth stocks much earlier than I did, for those have been by far my best performers and would have been even better if I had gotten into them sooner,&#8221; a commenter suggested.
Mentioning that he also owns MAIN and GAIN, this Redditor recommended the poster split the $250,000 between a low-cost S&amp;P index fund, growth assets, and dividend-focused stocks: &#8220;If I were you, I&#8217;d invest the $250,000 in a low-cost S&amp;P index fund and start putting some money every month into an [investment retirement account]. I do own MAIN and GAIN outside of my retirement account&#8230; But I would go growth with your investments and maybe start adding in some dividend payers in your taxable account to diversify your income.&#8221;
&#8220;80% [Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schg#NYSE">SCHG</a>)], 20% SCHD,&#8221; another user suggested.
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</ul>

Small Cap

AMLP

GAIN

MAIN

42-Year-Old With $250K And A 'Failed Marriage, 3 Kids' Faces A Full Life Restart – 'How Would You Divide It Up?' Reddit Explodes With Advice

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