Trend Profile - iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund- CAD Hedged

  • 14 February 2011 |
  • Written by  Skot Kortje, Stock Trends Analyst
  • font size
  • Print

Trading U.S. securities implies foreign exchange rate risk. Canadian dollar hedged funds offer investors some protection of equity returns when exchange rates fluctuate.

The Stock: iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund- CAD Hedged (XSU-T) Recent price: $17.80

The Trend

Canadian investors have enjoyed good returns during the current bull
market, with the domestic stock market outperforming U.S. stocks
throughout the period. However, the relative performance of U.S.
equities has improved enough that Canadians should consider expanding
their exposure south of the border. Of particular interest is the
small-capitalization sector, which has been eclipsing the performance of
the bigger stocks in the S&P 500 index since the end of the third
quarter last year.

The Russell 2000 index is the traditional benchmark for U.S. small-cap
stocks. It is up 14 per cent from three months ago, ahead of the
11-per-cent advance in the broader U.S. market. About 35 exchange-traded
funds offer various ways to play the U.S. small-cap sector. Last week,
all but two of these ETFs reached new 52-week highs, including the
heavily traded iShares Russell 2000 index fund as well as the
top-performing Vanguard Small Cap Growth fund, up 17 per cent in the
past three months.

Small-cap Canadian equities are also doing well, signalled by the TSX
Venture Exchange index outpacing the S&P/TSX composite index by 9 per
cent during the winter's stock market advance. However, small-cap stocks
on the Venture Exchange and the TSX are largely resource plays, so their
recent performance premium is largely a reflection of the speculative
strength of the commodity trade.

The Trade

The relative strength of the U.S. market may seem inviting to Canadian
investors, but currency risk is a real concern. A strong and rising
loonie eats away at the returns from U.S. stocks. But the iShares
Russell 2000 CAD Hedged index fund, traded on the Toronto Stock
Exchange, hedges its currency exposure and provides insurance against
the chance the loonie may continue to rise.

An example of the hedging advantage of this fund can be found when
comparing the performance of the unhedged Russell 2000 index against
this iShares fund. Over the past three months the Russell's
14.3-per-cent gain would have been partially offset by a 2.3-per-cent
rise in the Canadian dollar versus the greenback and resulted in a
12-per-cent return. In contrast, an investor in the Shares Russell 2000
index CAD Hedged fund would have retained a 13.1-per-cent gain.

 

 

The Upside

The Russell 2000 is just 4 per cent shy of its pre-recession high. Trend
investors can expect a bullish stock market to help blast through that
long-term overhang and will be anticipating a 10-per-cent gain from the
current level as the index moves along its current trend line.

The Downside

All the factors that threaten the U.S. stock market can doubly affect
small-cap stocks. A surging U.S. dollar also means bad news for this
trade, since Canadian-dollar-hedged instruments lag the unhedged index
when the loonie drops. This fund would turn Stock Trends Weak Bullish at
$16.50, a possible exit point for this trade if the market turns.

back to top

Subscriber Testimonials

  • I want to thank you for posting such an excellent guide to technical analysis on the web. You have provided a great service to all of us novice investors.

    Michael C., Stock Trends user
  • I am just writing to tell you of my appreciation of your service! It makes so much sense to me. You seem to be an oasis of stability and sensibility in a stockmarket jungle.

    Adrian S., Subscriber

  • An admitted cynic, it's obviously very high praise when he says he likes StockTrends because of its "simplicity, utility, openness, [and] honesty," and in addition to having "no hidden agenda" is "understandably documented [and] historically verifiable." And, he adds, "It lets me see a lot of things without doing a lot of work." Globe and Mail

    Paul W., Subscriber

  • Hence, anyone who had followed the "Stock Trends" line should have sold their Bre-X shares and, with the windfall, paid for a lifetime subscription to The Globe and Mail and more. Talk about return on investment!

    Muni P., Subscriber

  • Thank you for your excellent work and kind approach to your customers.

    Odette C., Subscriber

  • I am fascinated with your service and methodology - it is very impressive. [...] Over the years I have concluded that there are many ways to approach stock investing, but once one has chosen a path, one is better off sticking to it.

    Bob E., Subscriber

  • I have had the good fortune to be reasonably successful and enjoy the investment process. Your process would be recommended for both experts and those who are new to investing.

    Frank I., Subscriber
  • I find your website and research very helpful in my stock trading. I have subscribed to several related services in the past and none present their work with “just the facts” as you. Please keep up the great work so that I can continue to learn! 

    Bryan E., Subscriber
  • You have created and maintained an amazing, highly educational program and I am grateful for your part in getting our retirement funds to the good place they are.

    Karin M., Subscriber
  • I've followed a number of Stock Trends picks, and the methodology is solid.

    Doug B., Subscriber

  • I've followed your recommendations since reading your columns in the Globe & Mail, and finding they published Stock Trends arrows in their financial listings. I do find them a guide to the general market and what I should be avoiding for declining chart trends.
    Has probably saved me the subscription by not rushing into hot stocks!

    Anthony D., Subscriber
  • Stock Trends Weekly Reporter is an easy way to pick up equities that represent an upward trend.

    Subscriber
  • Your report is an impressive, excellent tool and I have recommmended it to friends.

    Colin E., Subscriber

  • Stock Trends analysis quantifies nicely the movement of individual stocks. I’ve found that if the technicals are out of synch with fundamental analysis, it is a wake-up call to make a decision. The Stock Trends Bull/Bear Ratio is useful in identifying major market bottoms and tops. It has always presented a good buying or selling opportunity.

    Charles G., Subscriber
  • I very much like the systematic approach to analyzing stock data, it fits my approach.

    Subscriber
  • Stock Trends information is part of the base information I review before making a trade.

    Subscriber
  • There is a lot to be gained from comparing trends of how individual stocks are doing within a sector, as well as how the sector is performing relative to the broad market.

    Dudley R., Subscriber

  • Just thought I'd call to thank you, Skot. Stock Trends Weekly Reporter helped pay for my daughter's education!

    Peter H., Subscriber

  • I use Stock Trends to help direct my stock picks. Also, following the advice of Stock Trends I have religiously used stop-loss orders and have avoided hanging on to losing stocks for emotional reasons.

    John B., Subscriber
  • I am something of a momentum investor. I find Stock Trends useful as I can look at my portfolio as a “watch list” and quickly see where trends are declining in strength or reversing, so it is particularly useful as a tool in portfolio management regarding sales.

    William C., Subscriber

Subscription Plans

Subscription Plans

STWR - Monthly

$19.95

Monthly subscription plan to Stock Trends Weekly Reporter - pay your monthly subscription fees by having them automatically charged (PayPal only). Free 7-day trial period. Subscribers may cancel before the end of any subscription month.

STWR - 1 Year Prepaid Subscription

$199.00

1 Year Prepaid subscription to Stock Trends Weekly Reporter. Save 16% off monthly rate!

STWR - 2 Year Prepaid Subscription

$299.00

2 Year Prepaid subscription to Stock Trends Weekly Reporter. Save 37% off monthly rate!

STWR - 3 Year Prepaid Subscription

$399.00

3 Year Prepaid subscription to Stock Trends Weekly Reporter. Save 44% off monthly rate!

Stock Trends Editorial

  • Stock Trends Inference Model: A Statistical Foundation for Smarter Investing
    Stock Trends Inference Model: A Statistical Foundation for Smarter Investing At the heart of Stock Trends is a conviction: market data is not noise, but information. For more than three decades, the Stock Trends framework has given investors a disciplined way to interpret market cycles, trend signals, and momentum patterns. The Stock Trends Inference Model (ST-IM) is the natural extension of this approach, embedding rigorous statistical reasoning into the reports available for every listed stock…
    Read more...
  • Technology Sector Split: Hardware & Chips vs. Software – A Deep Dive with Stock Trends
    Technology Sector Split: Hardware & Chips vs. Software – A Deep Dive with Stock Trends The uncertain interest rate environment is evident in a number of sectors, and the stock market is always reflecting both the trend of the cost of capital and the anticipation of changes in it. The technology sector is especially sensitive to interest rates and generally feeds off the risk-on investor appetite supported by lower interest rates or expectations of relatively lower rates. But all technology…
    Read more...
  • Resource rotation remains strong
    Resource rotation remains strong The summer season is coming to a close. It is sometimes a sleepy market season because investor attention is elsewhere. However, the market has provided us with some definite messaging over the past few months. The themes of rotation and building strength in resources and energy stocks, notably fueled by an AI transformation across the broader economy, are key highlights that investors should pay attention…
    Read more...
View all Stock Trends Editorials
 
 

Subscription Plans

STWR - Monthly

$19.95/Month

Monthly subscription plan to Stock Trends Weekly Reporter - pay your monthly subscription fees by having them automatically charged (PayPal only). Free 7-day trial period. Subscribers may cancel before the end of any subscription month.

STWR - 1 Year Prepaid Subscription

$199/Year

1 Year Prepaid subscription to Stock Trends Weekly Reporter. Save 16% off monthly rate!

STWR - 2 Year Prepaid Subscription

$299/2 Years

2 Year Prepaid subscription to Stock Trends Weekly Reporter. Save 37% off monthly rate!

STWR - 3 Year Prepaid Subscription

$399/3 Years

3 Year Prepaid subscription to Stock Trends Weekly Reporter. Save 44% off monthly rate!