How to invest in the world’s largest equities market
Active or passive? And if passive, which is the best benchmark to track?
Citywire Playbook helps you decide the best route to invest in North America
Fund performance chart data is in percentages and to 25 February 2021
Will American equities be great again?
Legendary investor Warren Buffett recently said ’never bet against America’. Despite its manifold problems and the growth of challenger economies, the US continues to lead the world in innovation
Active
Plays
US Equities’ top active funds
With so much information available, the US market is traditionally the hardest for active managers to beat the index. However, these three funds have beaten their benchmarks by handsome margins with heavy allocations to the booming tech sector.
Active Play
Baillie Gifford US Equity Growth K
Started
Dec 2016
On Benchmark
Active Play
Baillie Gifford American A Acc
Started
Jul 1997
On Benchmark
Active Play
Fidelity Advisor® Series Growth Opps
Started
Nov 2013
On Benchmark
Active Play
Baillie Gifford US Equity Growth K
Started
Dec 2016
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Managers
Tom Slater
Tom Slater
Gary Robinson
Gary Robinson
Kirsty Gibson
Kirsty Gibson
Dave Bujnowski
Dave Bujnowski
Benchmark
Russell 1000 Growth
3-year total return % (USD)
$209.1
Holdings
44
Biggest holding
Tesla
Biggest holding size
10.5
%
Active Play
Baillie Gifford American A Acc
Started
Jul 1997
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Managers
Tom Slater
Tom Slater
Gary Robinson
Gary Robinson
Kirsty Gibson
Kirsty Gibson
Dave Bujnowski
Dave Bujnowski
Benchmark
S&P 500
3-year total return % (USD)
200.9
Holdings
44
Biggest holding
Tesla
Biggest holding size
9.1
%
Active Play
Fidelity Advisor® Series Growth Opps
Started
Nov 2013
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Managers
Kyle Weaver
Kyle Weaver
Benchmark
Russell 3000 Growth
3-year total return % (USD)
163.1
Holdings
279
Biggest holding
Microsoft
Biggest holding size
7
%
Index Play
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Started
Jan 1993
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Expense ratio
0.09
%
Benchmark
S&P 500
P/E ratio
28.7
Holdings
-
Biggest holding
Apple
Biggest holding size
6.0
%
Index Play
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Started
May 2000
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Expense ratio
0.03
%
Benchmark
S&P 500
P/E ratio
28.9
Holdings
-
Biggest holding
Apple
Biggest holding size
6.0
%
Index Play
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund
Started
May 2001
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Expense ratio
0.03
%
Benchmark
CRSP US Total Market Index
P/E ratio
27.7
Holdings
-
Biggest holding
Apple
Biggest holding size
5.3
%
Index
Plays
US equities’ biggest ETFs
The ETF story started in the ultra-liquid US equities sector and it remains the biggest asset class for these vehicles. These three funds have combined assets in excess of $800bn.
Index Play
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Started
Jan 1993
On Benchmark
Index Play
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Started
May 2000
On Benchmark
Index Play
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund
Started
May 2001
On Benchmark
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