The Inspire International ETF, WWJD, began on September 30, 2019. It is a smart beta exchange-traded fund (ETF) that provides broad exposure to global markets. Unlike traditional ETFs that rely on market cap-weighted indexes, smart beta ETFs like WWJD use alternative strategies, such as equal-weighting or fundamental weighting, to enhance potential returns while managing risk.

Key Features Of The Fund

Managed by Inspire, WWJD has gathered over $394.49 million in assets. The fund aims to replicate the performance of the INSPIRE INTERNATIONAL INDEX, targeting large-cap companies from both foreign and emerging markets. These companies must have a minimum Inspire Impact Score of zero. The annual operating expenses are 0.66%, while the 12-month trailing dividend yield is 2.41%. Top holdings in the fund include Delta Elec-nvdr, Genmab A/S, and Siam Cement-nvdr. Together, these make up 6.31% of the total assets. This year, WWJD has shown a gain of about 24.92%, with a 12-month increase of around 15.28%. The fund has a beta of 0.90 and a standard deviation of 15.32% over the last three years, which includes 222 holdings to help lower individual company risk. For those not focused on outperforming World ETFs, investors might consider alternatives like Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF or iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF. These options have lower expense ratios and more significant asset bases while tracking different indexes in the ESG domain. Given WWJD’s solid year-to-date increase of nearly 25%, we may see less volatility in the coming weeks. The more modest 12-month return of 15.28% suggests that the rapid growth might be slowing. Traders might think about selling call options to take advantage of higher premiums, anticipating that the current upward trend won’t continue at this rate.

Broader Economic Environment Impact

It’s important to consider the uncertain broader economic environment for international stocks. The U.S. dollar has remained strong, with the DXY index often above 104 throughout 2024 and 2025, presenting challenges for foreign investments. This ongoing pressure makes buying protective put options on WWJD a smart way to protect against currency risks and possible market declines. The fund’s expense ratio of 0.66% is higher compared to cheaper alternatives, which can impact performance. Data from 2024 indicates that over 90% of ETF inflows went to products with expense ratios below 0.20%, a trend that continues this year. Therefore, a pairs trade, which involves going long on a low-cost broad international index ETF while shorting WWJD, could be a good strategy to exploit this cost difference. With a beta of 0.90 and 222 diversified holdings, WWJD aims to be less volatile than the overall market. Recent market volatility has been moderate, with the VIX remaining steady in the 16-19 range over the past quarter. As a result, we shouldn’t expect large fluctuations from WWJD, making it less suitable for long vega strategies looking for big gains. Create your live VT Markets account and start trading now.

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