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In this episode of ETF Spotlight, I speak with Kristy Akullian, Head of iShares Investment Strategy for the Americas at BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, about the market outlook and investing strategies for 2025.

U.S. stocks outperformed their global counterparts in 2024 and are expected to maintain their dominance, driven by robust economic expansion, a supportive monetary environment, and anticipated tax and regulatory reforms.

While many have raised concerns about stretched valuations and the concentration of U.S. indexes, BlackRock does not view these factors as near-term risks. However, they favor stocks with growth and quality characteristics that are trading at reasonable valuations.

The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL - Free Report) offers exposure to profitable companies with low leverage and consistent earnings. Apple (AAPL - Free Report) , Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) , and NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) are its top holdings.

Despite the strong performance of the U.S. market and ongoing risks associated with global trade, Kristy highlights that carefully selected investments in Japan and India can provide diversification benefits and attractive return potential.

Amid uncertainty surrounding monetary policy, investors are advised to focus on the short end of the curve, emphasizing income and yield rather than duration and spread.

Take a look at the BlackRock Flexible Income ETF (BINC - Free Report) and the iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEI - Free Report).

Running Length: 00:30:15

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