The Vanguard FTSE Europe Index Fund (NYSE: VGK) is an $18.26 billion exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks an all-cap index of developed European securities.
The FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index tracked by VGK is a market-capitalization-weighted index that is made up of approximately 1,333 common stocks of large-, mid- and small-cap companies in 16 European countries. The fund holds stocks of companies specifically in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
VGK invests all, or the vast majority, of its assets in the common stocks included in the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index.
However, current headlines, especially about a potential a “no deal” Brexit, appear to be having a negative effect on the fund. VGK is down about 1% in the past month, with the fund allocating more than 23% of its assets to equities in the United Kingdom.
“Close to $177 million has left the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF in September, after the fund suffered its biggest daily withdrawal in more than 10 months,” according to Bloomberg. “More than 23% of its holdings are in British companies, which still have little clarity on the nation’s future relationship with the European Union.”
European markets have been mired by political risks surrounding the ongoing Brexit talks, government finance in Italy and weak German growth. Notably, British lawmakers voted in September to once again delay the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union.
Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com
The Vanguard FTSE Europe Index Fund’s top 10 holdings include Nestle SA (OTCMKTS: NSRGY), 3.51%; Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS), 2.06%; Roche Holding AG Dividend Right Cert (OTCMKTS: RHHBY), 2.03%; HSBC PLC (NYSE: HSBC), 1.53%; Royal Dutch Shell PLC Class A (NYSE: RDS.A), 1.29%; BP PLC (NYSE: BP), 1.27%; Total SA (NYSE: TOT), 1.26%; AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE: AZN), 1.23%; SAP SE (NYSE: SAP), 1.21%; and Royal Dutch Shell PLC B (NYSE: RDS.B), 1.08%.
These top 10 holdings only make up 16.47% of the fund’s total assets, making it very diverse and thus potentially less volatile. With a share price currently sitting at $51.69, VGK has a 3.42% dividend yield and is up about 13% year to date.
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