Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.82% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Invesco (IVZ - Free Report) Invesco Ltd. is an independent investment manager headquartered in Atlanta, GA. As of June 30, 2026, Invesco served clients in more than 120 countries with $2.47 trillion in AUM.

IVZ is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. IVZ has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 38.9% for the current fiscal year.

For fiscal 2026, three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.00 to $2.82 per share. IVZ boasts an average earnings surprise of +12.5%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, IVZ should be on investors' short list.

The market expects Invesco (IVZ - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 27. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis investment management company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.74 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +21.3%.

Revenues are expected to be $1.39 billion, up 17.3% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.82% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Invesco?For Invesco, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.19%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Invesco will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Invesco would post earnings of $0.67 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.71, delivering a surprise of +5.97%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Invesco doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Designed to provide broad exposure to the High-Yield/Junk Bond ETFs category of the market, the Invesco Bloomberg Enhanced Fallen Angels ETF (IFLN - Free Report) is a smart beta exchange traded fund launched on 11/15/2007.

What Are Smart Beta ETFs?For a long time now, the ETF industry has been flooded with products based on market capitalization weighted indexes, which are designed to represent the broader market or a particular market segment.

Because market cap weighted indexes provide a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns, they work well for investors who believe in market efficiency.

There are some investors, though, who think it's possible to beat the market with great stock selection; this group likely invests in another class of funds known as smart beta, which track non-cap weighted strategies.

Non-cap weighted indexes try to choose stocks that have a better chance of risk-return performance, which is based on specific fundamental characteristics, or a mix of other such characteristics.

Methodologies like equal-weighting, one of the simplest options out there, fundamental weighting, and volatility/momentum based weighting are all choices offered to investors in this space, but not all of them can deliver superior returns.

Fund Sponsor & IndexManaged by Invesco, IFLN has amassed assets over $285.06 million, making it one of the average sized ETFs in the High-Yield/Junk Bond ETFs. Before fees and expenses, IFLN seeks to match the performance of the BLOOMBERG US HGH YLD ENHCD FLN ANGL ID .

The Bloomberg US High Yield Enhanced Fallen Angels Index comprises of U.S. dollar-denominated high yield corporate bonds.

Cost & Other ExpensesSince cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.

Annual operating expenses for IFLN are 0.23%, which makes it one of the least expensive products in the space.

It's 12-month trailing dividend yield comes in at 6.85%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsIt is important to delve into an ETF's holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

When you look at individual holdings, Vodafone Group Plc-7.00%-4-4-2079 (VOD) accounts for about 3.07% of the fund's total assets, followed by Gfl Environmental Inc-6.75%-1-15-2031 (GFLCN) and Nissan Motor Co Ltd-4.81%-9-17-2030 (NSANY).

IFLN's top 10 holdings account for about 23.85% of its total assets under management.

Performance and RiskThe ETF has lost about -3.51% and it's up approximately 0% so far this year and in the past one year (as of 10/20/2026), respectively. IFLN has traded between $17.17 and $18.58 during this last 52-week period.

The ETF has a beta of 0.39 and standard deviation of 0.00% for the trailing three-year period. With about 121 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .

AlternativesInvesco Bloomberg Enhanced Fallen Angels ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the High-Yield/Junk Bond ETFs segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.

iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) tracks Markit iBoxx USD Liquid High Yield Index and the iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY) tracks BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Constrained Index. iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF has $16.92 billion in assets, iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF has $25.33 billion. HYG has an expense ratio of 0.49% and USHY changes 0.08%.

Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the High-Yield/Junk Bond ETFs

Bottom LineTo learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Readers are advised to fact-check thoroughly before committing any capital to this idea; this reflects the personal views of the author and should not be pursued as formal financial or investment advice in any manner. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, errors may exist in the data and financial projections presented. The author is not responsible for any financial gains or losses incurred from investments made based on this content.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo each released third-quarter results on Tuesday, and the two banks made more than $21 billion between them. JPMorgan's net income grew 6% year over year to $15.3 billion, and Wells Fargo's climbed around 6% to almost $6 billion.

Investors in the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ -1.97%) didn't own a slice of either one. The popular exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracks the Nasdaq-100, and the index doesn't admit banks -- or any other company classified as financial, for that matter.

And banks aren't the only thing missing. Some of the biggest companies in the U.S. stock market are absent for a reason that has nothing to do with what they sell.

I don't think any of this is a reason to skip QQQ, which trades near $742 and has risen about 21% in 2026 as of this writing. But it's worth knowing what the fund leaves out before using it as a stand-in for the whole stock market.

Image source: JPMorgan Chase.

Two rules explain what's missingThe Nasdaq-100 is built to track 100 of the biggest non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq, and each half of that description acts as a rule. A company can't be classified as a financial business, and it must keep its primary listing on a Nasdaq exchange.

The first rule cuts out a big chunk of the market. Financials are the second-largest sector in the S&P 500 (^GSPC -1.11%), at around 11.5% of the index as of Oct. 12. QQQ, though, holds no banks and no insurers at all.

The second rule might go further than many investors realize. Berkshire Hathaway and Visa both trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), so they're out no matter how they're classified. Oracle and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing are missing for the same reason, though both are tech companies.

Walmart shows how mechanical the listing rule can be. The retailer moved its shares from the NYSE to Nasdaq last December, and it joined the Nasdaq-100 in January. The business, of course, was the same as before -- just the listing changed.

Has skipping banks hurt returns?Leaving out banks hasn't hurt QQQ's long-term returns. Its annual return for the 10 years through September was around 21%. The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF -0.55%), which holds the S&P 500's financial stocks, averaged about 13% a year over the same span.

Compounded for a decade, 21% a year grows an investment more than sixfold, and 13% a year a bit more than triples it.

The gap has been even bigger lately. As of this writing, the financial fund is up only around 2% in 2026 -- a small fraction of QQQ's gain.

But the year-by-year results are less lopsided. In four of the past 10 calendar years (2016, 2021, 2022, and 2024), the financial fund came out ahead of QQQ. The standout is 2022, when QQQ fell around 33% and the financial fund dropped about 11%. And in 2024, a strong year for each, the financial fund returned more than 30% and beat QQQ by about 5 percentage points.

Put another way, QQQ investors haven't paid for the missing sector over time. But they've arguably given up some protection in years when growth stocks drop.

An S&P 500 fund fills most of the gapA QQQ holder who wants what the fund leaves out has two simple choices. The most direct is a financial sector fund like the State Street one. But it's a concentrated bet in its own right, as Berkshire, JPMorgan, Visa, and Mastercard made up about 39% of that fund as of Oct. 12.

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The simpler pairing, I think, is a fund that tracks the S&P 500, such as the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO -1.09%). It owns the big banks and most of the NYSE-listed giants that QQQ can't.

Of course, it also holds the big tech companies. Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft are the three largest stocks in the S&P 500 and the three largest holdings in QQQ, so the two funds overlap quite a lot.

In the end, I don't think the missing banks are a flaw in QQQ. The fund's rules have arguably helped keep it focused on faster-growing businesses, and its long-term returns show it. But the same rules mean it isn't a complete portfolio on its own, and I'd consider holding it alongside a broader index fund.

Wells Fargo is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Daniel Sparks and his clients have positions in Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, Visa, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(Kitco News) - The gold market continues to face significant headwinds from persistent inflation, rising interest rates and higher bond yields; however, the precious metal has demonstrated remarkable resilience, ending the third quarter with solid gains even as U.S. Treasury yields climbed to multi-decade highs. According to one investment firm, these competing forces are expected to remain important drivers of gold prices through the final three months of the year.

In their latest quarterly outlook, market analysts at Invesco said that although higher bond yields could continue to weigh on gold prices in the fourth quarter, structural demand from central banks and renewed investor interest in gold-backed exchange-traded products (ETPs) should continue to provide long-term support.

The analysts noted that gold ended September at $4,157 an ounce, representing a gain of 3.7% during the third quarter. The positive performance came despite a sharp selloff in global bond markets that pushed longer-dated U.S. Treasury yields to their highest levels in more than two decades.

The analysts pointed out that 10-year Treasury yields ended September at 5.28%, while 30-year yields reached 5.63%, their highest closing levels since 2002.

The analysts explained that higher bond yields, particularly rising real yields, increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets such as gold. However, they noted that the historical relationship between gold and real interest rates has weakened considerably in recent years.

"The historical relationship between gold and real yields has been much weaker since 2022, when the freezing of Russian reserves pushed central banks to buy gold regardless of price," the analysts said.

Looking ahead, the analysts said that persistent inflation remains one of the most significant near-term risks for gold, particularly as economic growth continues to demonstrate resilience.

The report noted that the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points in September, bringing its target range to between 3.75% and 4.00%. The central bank's updated projections also signaled at least one additional rate hike before the end of the year.

However, Invesco said that weaker-than-expected personal consumption expenditures inflation data at the end of September reduced expectations for an October rate hike. Currently, according to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets see only a 21% chance of a rate hike later this month.

The Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates unchanged at its October meeting as policymakers wait for additional economic data before considering another increase in December.

Analysts have said that persistent inflation will force the Federal Reserve to maintain its tightening bias; meanwhile, Invesco noted that stronger economic growth is increasingly contributing to higher bond yields, adding another challenge for gold investors.

The analysts also pointed to growing concerns about U.S. government borrowing, with national debt surpassing $40 trillion during the third quarter. They suggested that investors may increasingly demand additional compensation for holding longer-dated government debt as fiscal risks mount, pushing bond yields even higher.

Despite these challenges, Invesco said that gold's underlying investment fundamentals remain intact, supported by renewed interest in gold-backed investment products.

According to the report, global holdings in physically backed gold ETPs declined through much of 2026 as elevated gold prices and strong equity markets reduced the precious metal's appeal in diversified portfolios.

However, that trend reversed sharply during the third quarter, with global holdings ending September at their highest level in 12 months.

The analysts also expect central bank demand to remain an important source of support through the fourth quarter, particularly as reserve managers increasingly focus on geopolitical risks and the security of their gold holdings.

Invesco noted that central banks purchased more gold during the second quarter of 2026 than in any second quarter on record, quoting data from the World Gold Council.

While the firm maintains a constructive long-term outlook, it warned that investors should prepare for continued volatility in the fourth quarter.

"If financial markets remain volatile, we wouldn’t be surprised to see volatility in the gold price, possibly even regardless of the outlook," the analysts said.

They explained that during periods of significant financial market stress, investors can be forced to liquidate gold holdings to meet margin calls or cover losses elsewhere in their portfolios, even when their longer-term views on the precious metal remain unchanged.

This risk could be particularly relevant for investors whose gold positions have appreciated significantly in recent years.

Nevertheless, Invesco expects central bank diversification, geopolitical uncertainty and renewed investment demand to continue supporting the precious metal, even as elevated interest rates and bond yields create challenges in the near term.

"That said, we think structural support for gold remains in place. We believe central banks will continue buying gold to diversify their reserves," the analysts said.

See live precious metals prices for gold, silver, platinum and palladium — in USD, CAD and 12 more currencies.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

The world's largest asset manager just crossed $15.3 trillion in client money, but the dividend stock with the most room to grow its payout is not the one paying the highest yield right now.

Asset managers make money in a simple way. They charge a small annual fee on every dollar of client money they manage, which the industry calls assets under management, or AUM. AUM grows two ways: markets go up, or clients put in more money than they take out (net inflows), and it shrinks when markets fall or when clients withdraw (net outflows). The dividend depends on market levels and client behavior.

There is no product cycle or regulated rate base behind it, so these stocks pay income differently from an industrial or a utility. Right now the background is strong: industry leader BlackRock (NYSE:BLK | BLK Price Prediction) ended its latest quarter with a record $15.3 trillion in AUM. All four names below run on the same fee engine, but their yields are far apart, and the lowest yielder makes the list because its payout grows reliably, while the others make it on the size of their checks.

T. Rowe Price Pays the Highest Yield in the Group T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ:TROW) yields 4.93%, the highest in this group and a clear high-yield payer. At a recent price of $105.16, the stock has an annualized forward dividend of $5.20 per share.

Dividend safety: The trailing dividend of $5.14 against diluted EPS of $9.96 works out to a payout ratio of about 51.6%. On the latest quarter’s adjusted EPS of $2.57, the $1.30 quarterly dividend uses roughly 50.6% of earnings. Cash flow backs that up. First-quarter operating cash flow was $966.3 million, and the company returned $629 million through dividends and buybacks. Cash on hand is $3.23 billion against $11.0 billion of shareholders’ equity, and debt has historically been low.

Track record: The regular quarterly payment has gone up every year from $0.57 in 2017 to $1.30 in 2026, and quarterly payments in the record go back to 1999. Occasional specials, such as the $3.00 payment in 2021, come on top of that base.

Bull case: AUM hit a record $1.89 trillion, net revenue rose 10.7% to $1.907 billion, and Multi-Asset fees grew 16.1%. The CEO pointed to “positive flows in May and June”. At a trailing P/E of about 11, investors are paying a modest price for a cash-rich payer.

Risk: Clients still pulled a net $6.5 billion in the quarter, mostly from active equity funds, and the investment advisory fee rate fell 1.5 bps to 38.1 bps. If those outflows continue, the market will have to do more of the work to lift fee revenue.

Franklin Templeton Pairs a High Yield With Record Inflows Franklin Templeton (NYSE:BEN), which formally took that name on August 17, yields 4.04%, which also puts it in high-yield territory. Shares trade near $31.99, with an annualized forward dividend of $1.32 per share.

Dividend safety: On a GAAP basis coverage is thin. The trailing dividend of $1.31 against EPS of $1.47 is a payout ratio near 89.1%. One-time items drove much of that, including a $100 million regulatory settlement, a $33 million impairment and $77.2 million of severance. On adjusted fiscal third-quarter EPS of $0.72, the $0.33 dividend uses about 45.8%. The company also returned $521.5 million in the quarter, including $348.1 million of buybacks, so it has cash to left over after the dividend.

Track record: The regular quarterly payment has gone up once a year in the available records, from $0.23 in late 2017 to $0.33 today. Specials such as the $3.23 payment in 2018 are separate from that base.

Bull case: AUM reached a record $1.8 trillion, long-term net inflows were $18.4 billion and were positive in every asset class and region. Alternatives AUM hit a record $294.2 billion. The adjusted operating margin expanded to 28.0% from 23.7%, and the forward P/E of about 10 is far below the trailing 22.

Risk: Western Asset Management lost another $1.1 billion to long-term net outflows, and more legal or regulatory charges would keep GAAP coverage tight.

Invesco Has the Most Dividend Cushion After Its Reset Invesco (NYSE:IVZ) yields 2.82% at a price of $29.51, with an annualized forward dividend of $0.86 per share. The stock trailed its peers Friday and is down 8.04% over the past month, which lifts the yield for new buyers.

Dividend safety: Trailing GAAP EPS is -$0.68, so the GAAP payout ratio tells you nothing useful. Adjusted second-quarter EPS of $0.71 covers the $0.215 dividend at a payout ratio near 30.3%, the lowest of the four. Operating cash flow was $734.2 million in the quarter, and total debt fell to $1.62 billion from $1.97 billion.

Track record: Invesco cut its quarterly dividend from $0.31 to $0.155 in 2020. The payout has gone up every year since: $0.17, $0.1875, $0.20, $0.205, $0.21, and now $0.215.

Bull case: Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) became an open-end ETF on December 20, 2025, so Invesco now collects management fees on it for the first time. Net long-term inflows hit a record $45.1 billion in the quarter, and the adjusted operating margin rose to 37.5% from 31.2% a year ago. Buybacks are up 80% year to date, and the stock trades at a forward P/E near 10.

Risk: Fundamental Equities still lost $7.7 billion to long-term outflows, a reminder that the active side of the business keeps shrinking even as the ETFs grow.

BlackRock Trades Current Yield for Reliable Dividend Growth BlackRock yields just 2.05% at $1,081.88, the lowest in the group. It belongs here because its dividend keeps growing reliably. The annualized forward dividend is $22.92 per share.

Dividend safety: The trailing dividend of $21.88 against EPS of $41.78 is a payout ratio of about 52.4%. On adjusted second-quarter EPS of $13.91, the $5.73 quarterly dividend uses roughly 41.2%. An adjusted operating margin of 45.9% leaves room for both the dividend and roughly $2 billion of planned buybacks this year.

Track record: The quarterly payout has grown from $0.78 in 2009 to $5.73 in 2026, with a higher rate every year since 2010. The latest increase was 10%.

Bull case: BlackRock brought in $192 billion of net inflows in the quarter and $868 billion over 12 months, grew organic base fees 10%, and pushed iShares past $6 trillion. Technology subscription revenue of $566 million grew 13%, adding recurring income that does not depend on AUM. The forward P/E of about 16 sits well below the trailing 26.

Risk: Bringing GIP, HPS and Preqin into the business raised the share count and added integration risk, and losses on minority stakes can make GAAP results swing away from adjusted figures.

Matching the Fee Engine to Your Income Goal T. Rowe Price and Franklin Templeton currently pay the most income, and T. Rowe’s cash-heavy balance sheet makes it the stronger of the two. Invesco has the most room on an adjusted payout basis and the clearest turnaround, while BlackRock pays the least today and has the strongest record of dividend growth. All four face the same threat: fees keep falling as money moves to low-cost passive funds, and active managers keep losing client assets. Net flows are the number to check each quarter, because they show whether fee income, and the dividend it pays for, will keep growing. Picking the right mix for a monthly income schedule is its own exercise, and we walked through the payout calendar and withdrawal order in a free guide to the Paycheck Portfolio method.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

The Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (PJP +1.56%) focuses on concentrated exposure to drug manufacturers with lower historical volatility, while the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF (RSPH +1.70%) provides a more diversified, lower-cost approach to the broader healthcare sector.

Investors seeking healthcare exposure often choose between niche industry concentration and broad sector coverage. This comparison explores two Invesco funds: one that isolates the pharmaceutical industry and another that equal-weights every healthcare constituent in the S&P 500, including medical devices and services firms.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricPJPRSPHIssuerInvescoInvescoShare price$121.10 (as of 2026-10-05)$37.28 (as of 2026-10-05)Expense ratio0.58%0.4%1-yr return (as of 2026-10-05)34.6%27.0%Dividend yield0.9%0.6%Beta0.430.78AUM$557.2 million$882.1 millionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-year return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.

The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF is more affordable for investors with an expense ratio of 0.4%. The Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF carries a higher 0.58% fee but offers a slightly higher trailing payout.

Performance & risk comparisonMetricPJPRSPHMax drawdown (5 yr)(17.5%)(21.9%)Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return)$1,659$1,310What's insideThe Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF primarily allocates its portfolio to the healthcare and technology sectors, containing 61 holdings in total. Its largest positions include Moderna (MRNA +14.21%) at 2.31%, Illumina (ILMN +5.14%) at 2.20%, and Revvity (NYSE:PKI) at 2.02%. It was launched in 2006, and has paid $0.22 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$37.3 share price works out to a 0.6% yield.

The Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF concentrates its investments 100% within the healthcare sector by holding 28 pharmaceutical companies. Its top holdings include AbbVie (ABBV +1.49%) at 5.67%, Pfizer (PFE +1.65%) at 5.58%, and Gilead Sciences (GILD +2.77%) at 5.58%. It was launched in 2005, and has paid $1.13 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$121.1 share price works out to a 0.9% yield.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

Which looks like the better buyInvesco offers two distinct approaches to gaining exposure to the healthcare industry through its Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF (RSPH) and Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (PJP). Choosing between them depends on your investment objectives.

RSPH is the better fund for those who want broad exposure to the healthcare sector, and that includes pharmaceutical stocks. This diversification helps to protect the ETF's performance from a downturn in pharmaceuticals or another medical industry sub-sector. Its equal weight approach means no one company dominates the ETF's performance. However, its one-year and five-year performance is lower than PJP.

PJP's focus on the pharma industry allows it to capture high-flying pharmaceutical trends and innovations, such as the GLP-1 weight-loss drug boom. This has helped it deliver superior returns compared to RSPH. The ETF employs a variety of criteria for inclusion, which include price and earnings momentum, management action, and value. That said, its narrow sector and stock concentration leaves the fund vulnerable to regulatory changes, drug trial failures, or pricing pressures.

Robert Izquierdo has positions in Pfizer. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AbbVie, Gilead Sciences, Illumina, Moderna, and Pfizer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

ATLANTA, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ)1, a leading global asset management firm, announced today preliminary month-end assets under management (AUM) of $2,537.8 billion, a decrease of 0.9% versus previous month-end.

The iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF (IYK +0.40%) and the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (RSPS +0.14%) offer distinct exposures to defensive stocks, with the iShares fund emphasizing market-cap leaders while the Invesco fund equalizes its holdings.

Investors often look to the consumer staples sector for defensive positioning and reliable dividends during periods of economic uncertainty. Both the iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF and the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF target this industry, but they employ very different indexing strategies. This comparison explores how their differing weighting methodologies impact concentration, yield, and historical performance.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricRSPSIYKIssuerInvescoiSharesShare price$29.00 (as of 2026-10-06)$71.98 (as of 2026-10-06)Expense ratio0.40%0.37%1-yr total return (as of 2026-10-06)2.70%9.71%Dividend yield3.06%2.62%Beta0.520.43AUM$424.8M$1.6BBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.

The iShares fund is slightly more affordable with a 0.37% expense ratio compared to 0.40% for the Invesco fund. However, the Invesco fund offers a higher payout, providing a 3.1% yield against 2.6% for its counterpart.

Performance & risk comparisonMetricRSPSIYKMax drawdown (5 yr)(18.6%)(15.0%)Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return)$1,063$1,343What's insideThe iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF has a sector breakdown of 83% consumer defensive, 13% healthcare, and 3% basic materials. Its largest positions include Procter & Gamble at 13.7%, Coca-Cola at 13.3%, and Philip Morris International at 11.8% across 54 holdings. It was launched in 2000. iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF has paid $1.89 per share over the trailing 12 months, which, on its recent ~$71.62 share price, works out to a 2.6% yield.

The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF tracks an equal-weighted version of its sector, holding 34 stocks with a 98% tilt toward consumer defensive and 2% in consumer cyclical names. Its top holdings include Procter & Gamble at 3.2%, Kroger at 3.1%, and Costco Wholesale at 3.1%. It was launched in 2006. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF has paid $0.89 per share over the trailing 12 months, which, at its recent ~$28.78 share price, works out to a 3.1% yield.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

Which looks like the better buy?The iShares looks like the more resilient consumer staple fund. It has delivered superior five-year returns, with a lower drawdown. Plus, it has more assets under management and has continued to outperform over the past year.

The RSPS has barely budged in value since 2021, while IYK has increased by about 34% in total, including dividend reinvestment. The past five years are a good barometer for measuring a consumer staple ETF's performance, since it includes one bear market (2022) and a recent stretch of choppy consumer spending amid higher inflation.

Through all that uncertainty, the iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF has come out ahead, making it the better long-term hold across market cycles.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Monthly bills don't care about quarterly dividend schedules, and one S&P 500 ETF built its entire identity around solving that mismatch. But the convenience of a monthly paycheck comes with a cost that decade-long performance data makes impossible to ignore.

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The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY) is the default core holding for millions of investors, and for good reason. One ticker buys the entire S&P 500 with deep liquidity and a long record of price growth. This limitation matters most for one specific reader: the retiree matching portfolio income against monthly bills, because SPY pays only four times a year. The Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHD) pays every month. For that reader, the timing is the product. It has also come at the cost of a great deal of price growth, and anyone weighing the move needs to see both sides.

Quarterly Checks Versus a Deposit Every Month SPY’s most recent quarterly distribution was $1.888834 per share. Shares went ex-dividend on September 18, 2026, yet the cash lands on October 30, 2026. SPY is structured as a unit investment trust, which holds the dividends its companies pay until the quarterly distribution.

SPHD’s most recent monthly distribution was $0.20156 per share, with an ex-dividend date of September 21, 2026. Another follows next month. For someone drawing a paycheck from a portfolio, that rhythm decides whether income lines up with rent, utilities, and insurance premiums or gets spread across a quarter. Wes Moss, speaking on Clark Howard’s Ask An Advisor program in January 2026, put it simply: “When it comes to creating income into retirement, I’m just a huge believer in doing that through dividends.”

A Full Year of Distributions, Share by Share Over the trailing twelve months, SPHD distributed $2.46659 per share, and SPY distributed $7.582717. SPHD’s forward annualized run rate is now $2.41872, slightly below its trailing figure, and its latest check came in under the prior month’s $0.21963. Monthly amounts vary, so budgeting requires a buffer.

How SPHD Builds a Larger Payout SPHD tracks the S&P 500 Low Volatility High Dividend Index and holds roughly 50 stocks. It screens the S&P 500 for its highest-yielding members and weights toward them, shifting the portfolio toward utilities, real estate, consumer staples, and other slower-growing sectors.

SPY weights by company size, so the largest growth names dominate. As of its March 17, 2026 fact sheet, its largest disclosed holding was NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) at 7.58% of net assets. SPHD’s larger payout comes from owning very different companies, with slower growth and greater sensitivity to interest rates.

What the Monthly Check Has Cost in Price Growth As of September 28, 2026, SPHD fell 2.71% over one week and 8.33% over one month. SPY gained 0.59% and 0.01% across the same windows. The slide coincided with the 10-year Treasury yield reaching 5.18% on September 24, its high of the past year. Rising rates give income seekers a competing option and tend to weigh on utilities and real estate.

Window SPHD SPY One week -2.71% 0.59% One month -8.33% 0.01% Five years 39.58% 72.6% Ten years 90.46% 255.43% One note on basis. SPY’s figures are unadjusted and exclude distributions, while SPHD’s are adjusted and include reinvested distributions. That difference favors SPHD, and SPY still leads in every window, so treat the comparison as directional. An investor who chose the monthly timing and larger payout gave up a great deal of price growth for it. SPHD’s stated expense ratio is 0.30%.

Switching Without a Tax Surprise For an IRA or 401(k), a swap triggers no immediate tax consequence. With a taxable account, selling long-held SPY shares can realize large capital gains and a tax bill that outweighs the convenience of monthly deposits. Two easier paths exist. Direct new contributions and SPY’s quarterly distributions into SPHD, or carve out only the slice reserved for monthly spending while SPY remains the growth core.

Who Should Take the Monthly Check and Who Should Pass Retirees who need a deposit every month and treat price appreciation as secondary have a real case for SPHD, ideally as an income bucket beside a broad core. Investors still building wealth have a weaker case. Over ten years, SPY’s price growth far outpaced SPHD’s even with the measurement basis shifting toward SPHD, and compounding matters more than timing for anyone years from retirement. Falling interest rates or a rotation into defensive sectors would help SPHD’s price, while a shrinking run rate would erode its central appeal. Weigh the choice against your own tax situation, timeline, and spending needs.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Investors often choose between these two heavyweight ETFs as core holdings to anchor their portfolios.

While the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO -0.16%) provides broad exposure to the largest U.S. companies at a low cost, Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ +0.19%) offers concentrated growth potential through a technology-heavy portfolio. Here's how the two stack up on fees, risk, and performance.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricQQQVOOIssuerInvescoVanguardShare price (as of Sept. 29, 2026)$737.93$702.46Expense ratio0.18%0.03%1-yr return (as of Sept. 29, 2026)24.2%17.0%Dividend yield0.42%1.04%Beta (5Y monthly)1.261.00Assets under management (AUM)$489.0 billion$1.0 trillionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.

VOO is significantly more affordable on fees, with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.18% for QQQ. This means that for every $10,000 you invest, you'll pay either $3 or $18 per year, respectively, in fees. VOO also provides a higher dividend payout, which may be a perk for income-focused investors.

Performance & risk comparisonMetricQQQVOOMax drawdown (5 yr)(35.1%)(24.5%)Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return)$2,108$1,892What's insideVOO tracks the S&P 500 and includes just over 500 stocks. Its sector exposure is diverse but weighted toward technology at 39% of assets, financial services at 12%, and communication services at 10%. Its largest positions include Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft. It was launched in 2010 and has paid $7.43 per share in dividends over the trailing 12 months.

In contrast, QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100, resulting in a more concentrated portfolio of 102 holdings. It leans heavily into technology at 59% of assets, communication services at 12%, and consumer cyclical at 11%, and its top holdings match those of VOO. Launched in 1999, it has paid $3.09 per share in dividends over the trailing 12 months.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

Which looks like the better buyAs two of the world's most popular ETFs, VOO and QQQ are core holdings for millions of investors. Whether you're just starting out in the stock market or are looking to diversify your portfolio, both of these funds can be smart choices.

VOO is much broader than QQQ, offering around five times as many stocks and more diversification within the fund itself. While tech is the leading industry in both funds, these stocks make up more than half of QQQ's portfolio -- meaning this ETF could be more vulnerable to price swings within the tech industry.

The advantage of investing in a fund that leans more heavily on tech, however, is the outsize returns when the industry is thriving. QQQ has outperformed VOO in both one- and five-year total returns, largely thanks to tech giants' staggering growth in recent years.

VOO could be the better choice for investors wanting a consistent long-term investment with plenty of diversification. While all ETFs are subject to short-term volatility, the S&P 500 ETF is one of the safer, more stable choices for tracking the broader market.

QQQ, on the other hand, can be a smart buy for investors seeking greater exposure to tech stocks. It may experience more severe price swings in the near term, but if the tech sector continues outperforming, this ETF could be the more lucrative option.

Investing in the top stocks on the Nasdaq exchange has historically been a great move for long-term investors. The Nasdaq-100 index is popular because it gives investors exposure to the top growth stocks on the exchange, and that has resulted in tremendous gains in recent years.

The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ -1.07%) tracks the Nasdaq-100, and over the past five years, it has more than doubled in value, outpacing the S&P 500, which has risen at a more modest rate of 77% during that same time frame.

However, recently, the Invesco ETF hit a new all-time high, and it comes at a time when the market is growing concerned about artificial intelligence (AI) stocks and a potential bubble that could burst in the near future. Is the ETF still a good buy right now, or has it gotten too risky?

Image source: Getty Images.

Is there an AI bubble?This is arguably the biggest question in the markets right now: whether there is an AI bubble. Bullish investors and tech CEOs will say there isn't, that this is a new tech revolution, and that there's much more growth ahead.

There are also plenty of naysayers, including Michael Burry, who famously predicted the subprime housing crash. He knows a thing or two about crashes, and Burry has shorted AI stocks and recently said he believes the bubble will burst sooner than he expected.

Tech companies have invested heavily in AI on the expectation that the growth opportunities will justify their expenditures. But if that doesn't end up happening, they could indeed have far to fall. Palantir Technologies, which is one of the most valuable AI companies with a market cap of around $450 billion, trades at a monstrous price-to-earnings multiple of 160; investors are expecting tremendous growth ahead for the business.

Meanwhile, a stock such as Micron Technology trades at a seemingly low valuation (just seven times its projected future earnings), but that's based on the assumption that demand will remain robust for its products, thanks again, due to AI.

These are just some examples of where there's considerable risk on the Nasdaq these days.

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Why I'd avoid the Nasdaq-100 right nowThe Nasdaq-100 tracks the most valuable non-financial companies on the Nasdaq, which will inevitably include many overvalued stocks. Holding a position in an index of highly valued stocks at a time when valuations are high simply doesn't appear to be all that enticing an option these days. Interest rates are on the rise again, and the market may be overdue for a pullback. These are precisely the types of stocks that could be vulnerable to corrections.

There are far safer stocks and investments to consider right now. While the Nasdaq-100 has done well in recent years, it may be running out of steam.

David Jagielski, CPA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Micron Technology and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Nasdaq. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Invesco has hired a BlackRock ETF trading executive to lead its ETF capital markets team in the Americas.

Key Takeaways: Tim Clavin moves to Invesco after about two years at BlackRock and nearly a decade at Vanguard. Equal weighting keeps RSP from leaning on the largest S&P 500 stocks, and the fund has drawn steady inflows. QQQM has drawn more new money this year than QQQ despite holding far less in assets. Tim Clavin shared the news on LinkedIn, saying he is “starting a new position as Head of ETF Capital Markets, Americas at Invesco.” His profile lists a September 2026 start date.

Clavin joins from BlackRock, where he was a vice president for about two years, according to his LinkedIn profile. There, he led ETF trading solutions for institutional and wealth clients and sat on the U.S. ETF markets leadership team.

Before BlackRock, he spent nearly 10 years at The Vanguard Group, Inc., his profile shows. His roles there ranged from foreign exchange and rates trading, including time in London, to managing index and ETF bond products.

Capital markets teams work with trading firms to keep ETF shares trading smoothly near the value of fund holdings. At Invesco, the five largest ETFs alone hold about $751 billion, according to ETF Database.

That job can look different from one fund to the next. Some of Invesco’s biggest ETFs trade millions of shares daily, ETF Database data shows. Others see less trading but steady inflows from long-term investors.

A Closer Look at Invesco’s Largest ETFs The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) leads the lineup with $501.5 billion in assets, according to ETF Database. It also trades about 37.2 million shares a day on average, the most of their top five funds.

Its lower-cost sibling, the Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM), holds $110 billion and charges 0.15% a year, ETF Database data shows. That compares with 0.18% for QQQ, though both track the Nasdaq-100 Index.

The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) ranks third, with $97.3 billion, according to ETF Database. Rather than letting the biggest companies dominate, it gives each S&P 500 stock roughly the same weight. The fund has also taken in $13.7 billion in net inflows this year.

See More: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) Surpasses $100B in Assets

Two factor funds, which pick stocks based on specific traits, round out the top five, according to ETF Database. The Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF (SPMO) holds $23.5 billion in stocks with the strongest recent price gains. It is up 28.1% year to date, the best of the five.

Meanwhile, the Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (SPHQ) holds $18.8 billion in profitable companies carrying low debt, ETF Database data shows.

New money has favored the cheaper Nasdaq-100 option. QQQM has drawn $22.2 billion in net inflows this year, more than five times QQQ’s $4.1 billion, ETF Database shows.

For more news, information, and strategy, visit the Innovative ETFs Content Hub.

Invesco Distributors, Inc. is an independent company unaffiliated with VettaFi LLC (“VettaFi”). These articles do not form any kind of legal partnership, agency affiliation, or similar relationship between VettaFi and Invesco Distributors, Inc., nor is such a relationship created or implied by the articles herein. VettaFi LLC is the author and owner of these articles.

QQI expands access to the innovation profile of the QQQ Innovation Suite through companies outside the U.S.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ), a leading global asset management firm, today announced it is expanding the Invesco QQQ Innovation Suite by launching the Invesco Nasdaq International Innovators 100 ETF (QQI). As the first internationally focused strategy in the suite, QQI provides investors with access to innovative companies outside the United States through a rules-based approach designed to identify businesses demonstrating a similar innovation, growth and profitability profile as the QQQ Innovation Suite.

"QQI aims to capture the performance of innovative companies located outside the United States, allowing investors to harness global securities that exhibit similar characteristics of the Invesco QQQ Innovation Suite," said Brian Hartigan, Global Head of ETFs & Index Investments at Invesco. "This launch reinforces our commitment to providing investors with a comprehensive view of innovation across geographies, market capitalizations and investment objectives through the largest suite of Nasdaq Index-tracking ETFs, with more than $500 billion in assets under management."1

QQI seeks to track the Nasdaq International Innovators 100 Index™, which selects 100 companies from the Nasdaq Global Ex United States Large Mid Cap Index™ with the highest Innovator scores. The methodology evaluates factors such as research and development intensity, revenue growth and profitability to identify companies demonstrating strong dedication to innovation across developed and emerging markets. Together, these companies provide investors with targeted exposure to innovative businesses outside the United States. The portfolio is designed to reflect the size of the companies in the index and is reviewed quarterly to help ensure it remains aligned with the Index.

"For more than two decades, Nasdaq and Invesco have worked together to help investors access innovative companies through index-based investment solutions," said Cameron Lilja, Global Head of Index Solutions at Nasdaq. "We're pleased to support the continued expansion of the Invesco QQQ Innovation Suite, extending its innovation-focused approach to companies beyond the United States."

QQI launches at a time when investors are increasingly reassessing international markets amid shifting trade dynamics, evolving supply chains and renewed interest in geographic diversification. As leadership broadens beyond a narrow group of U.S. companies, opportunities are evolving across developed and emerging markets for businesses investing in technologies, research and other long-term growth drivers.

"Many investors are looking to diversify beyond the U.S. while maintaining exposure to the companies shaping tomorrow's economy," said Paul Schroeder, Director & QQQ Product Strategist at Invesco. "QQI was designed for this environment, providing exposure to international companies that are investing in their future and demonstrating an ability to translate those investments into growth. As market leadership broadens globally, we believe that investors have an opportunity to complement or replace traditional international allocations with an approach targeting innovative, growth-driven businesses."

QQI joins a growing lineup of innovation-focused ETFs within the Invesco QQQ Innovation Suite, which includes flagship strategies such as Invesco QQQ, Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM), Invesco NASDAQ Next Gen 100 ETF (QQQJ), Invesco NASDAQ Future Gen 200 ETF (QQQS), Invesco QQQ Income Advantage ETF (QQA), Invesco Top QQQ ETF (QBIG), Invesco QQQ Hedged Advantage ETF (QQHG) and Invesco QQQ Equal Weight ETF (QEW). Together, this ETF suite offers investors multiple ways to access innovation through differentiated portfolio construction approaches, investment outcomes and now, international exposure.

QQI has a total expense ratio of 0.29%.

About Invesco Ltd.
Invesco Ltd. is one of the world's leading asset management firms serving clients in more than 120 countries. With US$2.5 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026, we deliver a comprehensive range of investment capabilities across public, private, active, and passive. Our collaborative mindset, breadth of solutions and global scale mean we're well positioned to help retail and institutional investors rethink challenges and find new possibilities for success. For more information, visit www.invesco.com.

Invesco Distributors, Inc. is the U.S. distributor for Invesco Ltd.'s products and is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Invesco Ltd.

About Risk
There are risks involved with investing in ETFs, including possible loss of money. Index-based ETFs are not actively managed. Actively managed ETFs do not necessarily seek to replicate the performance of a specified index. Both index-based and actively managed ETFs are subject to risks similar to stocks, including those related to short selling and margin maintenance. Ordinary brokerage commissions apply. The Fund's return may not match the return of the Index. The Funds are subject to certain other risks. Please see the current prospectus for more information regarding the risk associated with an investment in the Funds.

Investments focused on a particular sector, such as information technology, are subject to greater risk and are more greatly impacted by market volatility than more diversified investments.

QQQM, QQQJ, QEW and QQI
The risks of investing in securities of foreign issuers can include fluctuations in foreign currencies, political and economic instability, and foreign taxation issues.

QQQM, QQQS and QQI
The Fund is non-diversified and may experience greater volatility than a more diversified investment.

QQLV
In general, equity values fluctuate, sometimes widely, in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions.

There is no assurance that the Fund will provide low volatility.

The Fund may become "non-diversified," as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, solely as a result of a change in relative market capitalization or index weighting of one or  more constituents of the Index. Shareholder approval will not be sought when the Fund crosses  from diversified to non-diversified status under such circumstances.

Unlike many investment companies, the Fund does not utilize an investing strategy that seeks returns in excess of its Underlying Index. Therefore, the Fund would not necessarily buy or sell a security unless that security is added or removed, respectively, from its Underlying Index, even if that security generally is underperforming.

QBIG
Securities held by the Fund are subject to market fluctuations. You should anticipate that the value of the Shares will decline, more or less, in correlation with any decline in value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio. Additionally, natural or environmental disasters, widespread disease or other public health issues, war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, economic crises or other events could result in increased premiums or discounts to the Fund's net asset value ("NAV").

The Fund is subject to management risk because a portion of its assets are actively managed. In managing certain of the Fund's investment sleeves and other portfolio holdings, the Adviser applies investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment and asset allocation decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these actions will produce the desired results.

While a portion of the Fund's portfolio is actively managed, another portion of the Fund's portfolio is designed to track the performance of the Index. In managing this portion of the Fund's portfolio, the portfolio managers will not generally buy or sell a security unless that security is added or removed, respectively, from the Index, regardless of the performance of that security. If a specific security is removed from the Index, the Fund may be forced to sell such security at an inopportune time or for a price lower than the security's current market value. The Index may not contain the appropriate mix of securities for any particular economic cycle.

Swaps involve greater risks than direct investments. Swaps are subject to leveraging, liquidity and counterparty risks, and therefore may be difficult to value. Adverse changes in the value or level of the swap can result in gains or losses that are substantially greater than invested, with the potential for unlimited loss.

Derivatives may be more volatile and less liquid than traditional investments and are subject to market, interest rate, credit, leverage, counterparty and management risks. An investment in a derivative could lose more than the cash amount invested.

Risks of futures contracts include: an imperfect correlation between the value of the futures contract and the underlying commodity; possible lack of a liquid secondary market; inability to close a futures contract when desired; losses due to unanticipated market movements; obligation for the Fund to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin; failure to close a position may result in the Fund receiving an illiquid commodity; and unfavorable execution prices.

Counterparty risk is the risk that the other party to the contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations, which may cause losses or additional costs.

Leverage created from borrowing or certain types of transactions or instruments may impair the fund's liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time or lose more than it invested, increase volatility or otherwise not achieve its intended objective.

To the extent the Fund holds cash or cash equivalents rather than securities or other instruments in which it primarily invests, the Fund risks losing opportunities to participate in market appreciation and may experience potentially lower returns.

Collateral may include obligations issued or guaranteed by the US government, its agencies and instrumentalities, including bills, notes and bonds issued by the US Treasury, money market funds and corporate debt securities, such as commercial paper. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry US government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund. Money market funds are subject to management fees and other expenses. Therefore, investments in money market funds will cause the Fund to bear indirectly a proportional share of the fees and costs of the money market funds in which it invests. At the same time, the Fund will continue to pay its own management fees and expenses with respect to all of its assets, including any portion invested in the shares of the money market fund. It is possible to lose money by investing in money market funds. Corporate debt securities such as commercial paper generally are short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by businesses. Corporate debt may be rated investment grade and below-investment grade and may carry variable, or floating, rates of interest. Corporate debt securities carry both credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk is the risk that the Fund could lose money if the issuer of a corporate debt security is unable to pay interest or repay principal when it is due. Some corporate debt securities that are rated below investment grade generally are considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher quality debt securities.

Obligations issued by US Government agencies and instrumentalities may receive varying levels of support from the government, which could affect the fund's ability to recover should they default.

Interest rate risk refers to the risk that bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise and vice versa.

The Fund typically will hold a small number of positions. To the extent that a significant portion of the Fund's total assets is invested in a limited number of holdings, the appreciation or depreciation of any one position may have a greater impact on the Fund's NAV than it would if the Fund held a greater number of constituents.

American Depository Receipts (ADRs) may be subject to certain of the risks associated with direct investments in the securities of foreign companies. ADRs may not track the price of the underlying securities on which they are based, and their value may change materially at times when US markets are not open for trading.

The value of an individual security or particular type of security may be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

The Fund currently intends to effect creations and redemptions principally for cash, rather than principally in-kind because of the nature of the Fund's investments. As such, investments in the Fund may be less tax efficient than investments in ETFs that create and redeem in-kind.

The Fund is subject to numerous market trading risks, including the potential lack of an active market, losses from trading in secondary markets, and disruption in the creation/redemption process. During stressed market conditions, Shares may become less liquid as result of deteriorating liquidity which could lead to differences in the market price and the underlying value of those Shares.

To qualify as a regulated investment company ("RIC"), the Fund must meet a qualifying income test each taxable year. Failure to comply with the test would have significant negative tax consequences for shareholders. The Fund believes that income from futures should be treated as qualifying income for purposes of this test, thus qualifying the Fund as a RIC. If the IRS were to determine that the Fund's income is derived from the futures did not constitute qualifying income, the Fund likely would be required to reduce its exposure to such investments in order to maintain its RIC status.

QQA
Securities held by the Fund are subject to market fluctuations. You should anticipate that the value of the Shares will decline, more or less, in correlation with any decline in value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio. Additionally, natural or environmental disasters, widespread disease or other public health issues, war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, economic crises or other events could result in increased premiums or discounts to the Fund's net asset value ("NAV").

The investment techniques and risk analysis used by the portfolio managers may not produce the desired results.

While the Fund is actively managed, a substantial portion of the Fund's portfolio is designed to track the performance of the Index. In managing this portion of the Fund's portfolio, the portfolio managers will not generally buy or sell a security unless that security is added or removed, respectively, from the Index, regardless of the performance of that security. If a specific security is removed from the Index, the Fund may be forced to sell such security at an inopportune time or for a price lower than the security's current market value. In general, equity values fluctuate, sometimes widely, in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions.

Investments in ELNs are susceptible to the risks of their underlying instruments, which could include management risk, market risk and, as applicable, foreign securities and currency risks. ELNs are also subject to certain debt securities risks, such as interest rate and credit risks. Should the prices of the underlying instruments move in an unexpected manner, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of an investment in an ELN, and may realize losses, which could be significant and could include the Fund's entire principal investment. An ELN investment is also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the ELN will default or become bankrupt and the Fund may not be repaid the principal amount of, or income from, its investment. ELNs may also be less liquid than more traditional investments and the Fund may be unable to sell ELNs at a desirable time or price. In addition, the price of ELNs may not correlate with the underlying securities or a fixed income investment.

Derivatives - Derivatives may be more volatile and less liquid than traditional investments and are subject to market, interest rate, credit, leverage, counterparty and management risks. An investment in a derivative could lose more than the cash amount invested.

Risks of futures contracts include: an imperfect correlation between the value of the futures contract and the underlying commodity; possible lack of a liquid secondary market; inability to close a futures contract when desired; losses due to unanticipated market movements; obligation for the Fund to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin; failure to close a position may result in the Fund receiving an illiquid commodity; and unfavorable execution prices.

A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment and even a well conceived option transaction may be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected events. The prices of options can be highly volatile and the use of options can lower total returns.

Short sales may cause an investor to repurchase a security at a higher price, causing a loss. As there is no limit on how much the price of the security can increase, exposure to potential loss is unlimited.

QQQJ
The Fund may become "non-diversified," as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, solely as a result of a change in relative market capitalization or index weighting of one or constituents of the Index. Shareholder approval will not be sought when the Fund crosses from diversified to non-diversified status under such circumstances.

Stocks of medium-sized companies tend to be more vulnerable to adverse developments, may be more volatile, and may be illiquid or restricted as to resale.

QQQS
Stocks of small and mid-sized companies tend to be more vulnerable to adverse developments, may be more volatile, and may be illiquid or restricted as to resale.

The Fund's Underlying Index (Index) is composed of companies with valuable portfolios of patents. The Index Provider relies on an independent data provider to ascertain the potential value of an issuer's patents and related intangible assets (i.e., intellectual property and research & development activities) for inclusion in the Index. The Fund's performance may suffer if the data provider does not correctly value an issuer's patents or if the companies included in the Index ultimately do not benefit from holding such patents. There is no guarantee that the Index will be composed of companies with the most valuable patents.

QQHG
Securities held by the Fund are subject to market fluctuations. You should anticipate that the value of the Shares will decline, more or less, in correlation with any decline in value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio. Additionally, natural or environmental disasters, widespread disease or other public health issues, war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, economic crises or other events could result in increased premiums or discounts to the Fund's net asset value ("NAV")

The investment techniques and risk analysis used by the portfolio managers may not produce the desired results.

While the Fund is actively managed, a substantial portion of the Fund's portfolio is designed to track the performance of the Index. In managing this portion of the Fund's portfolio, the portfolio managers will not generally buy or sell a security unless that security is added or removed, respectively, from the Index, regardless of the performance of that security. If a specific security is removed from the Index, the Fund may be forced to sell such security at an inopportune time or for a price lower than the security's current market value

In general, equity values fluctuate, sometimes widely, in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions.

Investments focused in a particular industry are subject to greater risk, and are more greatly impacted by market volatility, than more diversified investments.

Information Technology Sector Concentration - Investments focused in a particular sector, such as information technology, are subject to greater risk, and are more greatly impacted by market volatility, than more diversified investments.

Derivatives - Derivatives may be more volatile and less liquid than traditional investments and are subject to market, interest rate, credit, leverage, counterparty and management risks. An investment in a derivative could lose more than the cash amount invested.

The put/collar strategy used to seek to protect the Fund against a decline in value may not work as intended.

A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment and even a well conceived option transaction may be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected events. The prices of options can be highly volatile and the use of options can lower total returns.

Short sales may cause an investor to repurchase a security at a higher price, causing a loss. As there is no limit on how much the price of the security can increase, exposure to potential loss is unlimited.

The Fund is non-diversified and may experience greater volatility than a more diversified investment.

The value of an individual security or particular type of security may be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

The Fund is subject to numerous market trading risks, including the potential lack of an active market, losses from trading in secondary markets, and disruption in the creation/redemption process. During stressed market conditions, Shares may become less liquid as result of deteriorating liquidity which could lead to differences in the market price and the underlying value of those Shares.

The Fund is subject to certain other risks.  Please see the current prospectus for more information regarding the risks associated with an investment in the Fund.

QEW
Because the underlying Fund operates as a passively managed index fund, adverse performance of a particular stock ordinarily will not result in its elimination from the underlying Fund's portfolio.

Ordinarily, the Adviser will not sell the underlying Fund's portfolio securities except to reflect changes in the stocks that comprise the Index, or as may be necessary to raise cash to pay underlying fund shareholders who sell underlying fund shares.

The value of an individual security or particular type of security may be more volatile than the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

An investment in an underlying fund involves risks similar to those of investing in any underlying fund of equity or fixed-income securities traded on exchanges. You should anticipate that the value of the shares will decline, more or less, in correlation with any decline in value of the underlying index of certain underlying exchange-traded funds.

The Fund is considered non-diversified and may experience greater volatility than a more diversified investment. ADRs and GDRs may be subject to certain of the risks associated with direct investments in the securities of foreign companies, such as currency, political, economic and market risks, because their values depend on the performance of the non-dollar denominated underlying foreign securities.

An underlying Fund's return may not match the return of the underlying index of certain underlying ETFs for a number of reasons, including underlying expenses and trading costs. In addition, the performance of the Fund and the underlying index of certain underlying ETFs may vary due to asset valuation differences and differences between the underlying Fund's portfolio and the underlying index.

QQI
Stocks of medium-sized companies tend to be more vulnerable to adverse developments, may be more volatile, and may be illiquid or restricted as to resale.

The Invesco NASDAQ International Innovators 100 ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. or its affiliates (NASDAQ OMX, with its affiliates, are referred to as the "Corporations"). The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Invesco NASDAQ International Innovators 100 ETF. "NASDAQ®" is a registered trademark and is used under license.

This does not constitute a recommendation of any investment strategy or product for a particular investor. Investors should consult a financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Before investing, investors should carefully read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus and carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. For this and more complete information about the fund(s), investors should ask their advisors for a prospectus/summary prospectus or visit invesco.com/fundprospectus.

The Nasdaq-100 Index comprises the 100 largest non-financial companies traded on the Nasdaq. The Nasdaq International Innovators 100 Index is designed to track the 100 most innovative companies, based on Nasdaq's proprietary methodology, that have the highest  "Innovator" score as determined by the Index Provider, of all constituents in the Nasdaq Global Ex United States Large Mid Cap Index (the "Parent Index"). The Index is reweighted quarterly in March, June, September, and December and rebalanced semi-annually in June and December.

Shares are not individually redeemable, and owners of the Shares may acquire those Shares from the Fund and tender those Shares for redemption to the Fund in Creation Unit aggregations only, typically consisting of 10,000, 20,000, 25,000, 50,000, 80,000, 100,000 or 150,000 Shares.

Invesco Distributors, Inc.   09/26    NA 5937294

NOT A DEPOSIT l  NOT FDIC INSURED  l  NOT GUARANTEED BY THE BANK  |  MAY LOSE VALUE  |  NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

1 Data sourced from Bloomberg, as of 9/15/26

Contact: Samantha Brandifino, [email protected], 332.323.5557

SOURCE Invesco Ltd.

U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds needed less than two years to approach $120 billion in assets, a pace that took gold ETFs well over a decade to match, Bloomberg Intelligence senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said. Key Takeaways: Bitcoin ETFs reached $120 billion in assets within two years, a pace that outran gold ETFs.

ATLANTA, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. (NYSE: IVR) (the "Company") today announced that the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share of common stock for the month of September 2026.

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Invesco (IVZ - Free Report) Invesco Ltd. is an independent investment manager headquartered in Atlanta, GA. As of June 30, 2026, Invesco served clients in more than 120 countries with $2.47 trillion in AUM.

IVZ is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. IVZ has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 38.9% for the current fiscal year.

For fiscal 2026, seven analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.12 to $2.82 per share. IVZ boasts an average earnings surprise of +12.5%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, IVZ should be on investors' short list.

Key Takeaways Invesco's July AUM fell 0.9% to $2.45 trillion, pressured by $59 billion in unfavorable market returns.Invesco attracted $8.6 billion in net long-term inflows and $22.8 billion in money-market inflows in July.Invesco's Asia Pacific and EMEA AUM rose 23.4% and 28.7% year over year, respectively, in Q2. Invesco Ltd. (IVZ - Free Report) continues to strengthen its asset-gathering capabilities through its diversified investment platform spanning ETFs, index strategies, fixed income, private markets, and global investment solutions. As of June 30, 2026, the company had $2.47 trillion in assets under management (AUM). Over the five years ended 2025, AUM increased at a 10% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), highlighting the company’s ability to expand its asset base over the longer term despite market volatility.

Though Invesco reported a 0.9% decline in preliminary month-end AUM to $2.45 trillion as of July 31, 2026, because of $59 billion of unfavorable market returns, it was partly offset by $8.6 billion of net long-term inflows, $22.8 billion of money-market inflows, and a $4.6 billion favorable foreign-exchange impact. This underscores the company’s ability to capture long-term inflows despite market-related pressure.

Invesco is expanding its AUM base by strengthening its ETF, index and private markets franchises while broadening its investment offerings. The company’s product pipeline remains active, with more than 50 new products launched year to date through the second quarter of 2026, including active ETFs, to address demand across investment strategies. Invesco is also expanding its private-market capabilities through partnerships with Barings and LGT Capital Partners, which are designed to accelerate growth in the U.S. private-wealth market. The LGT partnership focuses on developing multi-alternative private-market solutions for U.S. wealth and retirement investors, providing access to private equity, private credit, infrastructure, and secondaries.

In August 2026, Invesco further advanced its Solutions & Custom Strategies platform by integrating customized investment capabilities across public and private markets. The platform broadens Invesco’s ability to provide tailored solutions to clients and creates additional opportunities to gather assets across its public- and private-market offerings.

Invesco’s international footprint provides further opportunities for AUM expansion. As of June 30, 2026, Asia Pacific represented 15% of total AUM and EMEA accounted for 16%, with AUM in these regions increasing 23.4% and 28.7% year over year, respectively. The company’s China joint venture also reached a record $163.2 billion in AUM as of June 30, 2026. Invesco’s presence across global markets allows it to capture growing demand as investors diversify across geographies and asset classes. Management continues to view Asia Pacific and EMEA as long-term opportunities, supported by the breadth of first-half 2026 inflows across both regions.   

Invesco’s AUM Diversification Supports Expansion     

Image Source: Invesco Ltd.                                                        

Overall, Invesco’s diversified product portfolio, expanding ETF and private markets capabilities, and broad international presence should support continued AUM expansion. As such, the company’s total operating revenues have been rising since 2024 after remaining subdued in the years before that. These initiatives support further AUM and revenue growth as clients rebalance across active, passive and alternative strategies.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales reinforces this, with the top line expected to rise 15.4% year over year to $5.38 billion in 2026 and 10.6% to $5.94 billion next year.

Sales Estimates

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AUM Expansion Strategy of Invesco’s PeersFranklin Resources, Inc. (BEN - Free Report) has witnessed steady AUM growth, with a 3.1% CAGR during fiscal 2021-2025. The growth trend continued in the first half of fiscal 2026, with AUM increasing year over year to $1.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026, supported by strong client demand and favorable market conditions.

Strategic expansion in alternatives, private markets, and digital assets, including the Apera Asset Management and 250 Digital acquisitions, and several partnerships, has diversified BEN’s asset base and will likely continue to support AUM growth.

Similarly, Lazard, Inc. (LAZ - Free Report) has demonstrated steady AUM growth, with a 2.8% CAGR during 2016-2025. The growth trend continued in 2026, with AUM reaching $286.9 billion as of July 31, 2026, supported by market appreciation, net inflows, and foreign exchange gains.

Strategic expansion in wealth management and private markets, including the acquisition of Truvvo Partners and a controlling interest in Elaia Partners, has diversified LAZ’s asset base and is expected to support continued AUM expansion.

IVZ’s Price Performance & Zacks RankOver the past six months, shares of IVZ have rallied 35.5% compared with the industry’s 15.3% growth.

Six-Month Price Performance 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

(Kitco News) – Investors are beginning to treat gold less as a tactical play and more as a strategic allocation as government debt levels continue to spiral higher, according to Christopher Hamilton, head of client solutions, Asia Pacific at Invesco.

In an interview with CNBC on Thursday, Hamilton was asked what he thinks is behind the broad-based selloff in the global bond market.

Hamilton pointed to two major factors that are pushing global yields higher.

“One, at least from a U.S perspective, you see fairly resilient economic growth,” he said. “However, you also see concerns about inflation, and a re-emergence of the term premium we've seen off and on over the last 18 months, looking at some of the fiscal concerns coming out of the US.

Hamilton said real yields are also rising quite substantially, and productivity increases are part of that. “I also think [there’s] this emerging term premium, and some of the fiscal concerns drive that too, because gold has also simultaneously increased, so that's driving a lot of the big theme, inflation, oil, I think all of this is pushing rates upward, as hard as maybe the Treasury's tried to push them down lately.”

“That's really where I see rates going, and some of the confluent factors I see driving that.”

Hamilton was then asked if gold’s price appreciation was being driven by a loss of investor confidence in central banks and governments as global debt continues to rise.

“We consider gold definitely a fiscal and monetary shock absorber,” he replied. “I think there's also a much longer-term strategic play for gold in portfolios. We think about gold as almost like a walking proxy vote on faith in the monetary system, and we think with governments’ debt balances, and just the general fiscal situation, particularly from developed countries, that gold's going to become a more attractive asset class due to its store of value.”

Hamilton said that investors have traditionally treated gold as more of a tactical play in their portfolios. “Now we're having a lot of conversations about using gold in a strategic asset allocation, permanently embedding it into your portfolio framework, due to these concerns.”

“Now, it doesn't necessarily mean those can't abate at times,” he acknowledged. “They can, but I think the fears about those terms re-emerging are warranting that more strategic placement of gold in portfolios.”

According to Invesco’s quarterly gold outlook from July, despite spiking energy prices boosting inflation and rate hike expectations, central bank demand will still help gold finish 2026 on a positive note.

After gold posted its worst quarter since Q2 2013 when the price fell by 22.7, they cautioned that downside risks to the gold price remain.

“The next few months could be pivotal for gold, as we watch to see how the Fed reacts to inflation – and whether inflation is sticky or comes down with lower oil prices – and if the US Dollar firms further versus other major currencies,” they said. “Higher interest rates and a stronger USD are generally negative for gold, as the former increases the opportunity cost of holding a non-yielding asset and the latter makes gold more expensive for international (non-US) investors.”

But despite the rise in inflation expectations, the potential for rate hikes, and the yellow metal’s recent weakness, Invesco maintained a constructive outlook for gold in the second half of 2026.

“[W]e believe much of the structural support for gold remains largely intact,” the authors said. “Central banks look set to continue buying gold to diversify their reserves. The World Gold Council (WGC) reported that a record 45% of central bankers responding to its latest survey said they expected to increase their gold reserves in the next 12 months, while 89% expect gold central bank reserves to increase globally over the coming year.”

They noted that this structural support was reflected in their recent Global Sovereign Asset Management Study, “in which a majority of central banks reported increasing gold allocations over the past three years, with concern over global volatility, inflation protection, and geopolitical uncertainty now among the leading drivers of ongoing gold purchases.”

But while central bank demand is largely price-insensitive, they said, investment demand is sensitive to price momentum. “Rising prices may attract flows into an asset, but falling prices can sometimes encourage selling, particularly when an investor can lock in a profit and needs to access liquidity to reallocate elsewhere,” the authors wrote. “Retail purchases of coins and small gold bars were a strong source of demand throughout the long-term gold rally, and it will be important to see how they respond to the correction.”

“For retail and professional investors, the case for including gold in a portfolio is not based on a single consideration, such as using it only to hedge geopolitical risk, although historically gold has performed this role relatively well,” the Invesco analysts concluded. “Rather, gold can be a useful diversifier as it tends to have low correlation to most assets, especially equities. Gold is a unique asset as it has no issuer, no credit risk, and a long history as a store of value when confidence in currencies, institutions, or market plumbing is questioned.”

See live precious metals prices for gold, silver, platinum and palladium — in USD, CAD and 12 more currencies.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

The Invesco KBW Bank ETF (KBWB -0.74%) offers concentrated exposure to the banking industry with a higher yield, while the iShares U.S. Financials ETF (IYF -0.78%) provides a more diversified financial sector portfolio with lower historical volatility.

Both funds serve as primary vehicles for financial sector exposure but differ in scope. The Invesco fund targets 26 specific banking stocks, while the iShares ETF casts a wider net across 141 holdings, including insurance and investment firms. This comparison explores which strategy better suits an investor's risk tolerance.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricKBWBIYFIssuerInvescoiSharesShare price (as of 8/27/26)$95.98$136.88Expense ratio0.35%0.37%1-yr return (as of 8/27/26)26.7%10.8%Dividend yield1.9%1.4%Beta1.20.8AUM$6.8 billion$4.3 billionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.

KBWB is the more affordable option with a 0.35% expense ratio compared to 0.38% for IYF. Furthermore, the Invesco fund provides a higher payout, currently offering a yield 0.53 percentage points above its iShares counterpart.

Performance & risk comparisonMetricKBWBIYFMax drawdown (5 yr)(49.3%)(25.1%)Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return)$1,628$1,737iShares U.S. Financials ETF tracks a broad index of financial firms, with its portfolio weighted toward financial services at 99%. With more than 140 holdings, its largest positions include JPMorgan Chase & Co at 11.2%, Berkshire Hathaway at 11.1%, and Bank of America at 4.34%. It was launched in 2000. iShares U.S. Financials ETF has paid $1.92 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$136.88 share price works out to a 1.4% yield.

Invesco KBW Bank ETF focuses purely on banks, with financial services representing 100% of the basket. Its 26 holdings are more concentrated; top positions include Bank of America at 8.7%, JPMorgan Chase & Co at 8.6%, and Wells Fargo & Co at 8.1%. The fund was launched in 2011. Invesco KBW Bank ETF has paid $1.86 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$95.98 share price works out to a 1.9% yield.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

Which looks like the better buyChoosing between KBWB and IYF presents a classic investing dilemma. KBWB's concentrated focus on just 26 banks has yielded a higher one-year return and generates more dividend revenue than IYF's broader approach. But it has also made the bank ETF more volatile, with a larger maximum drawdown over five years.

IYF's structure, in contrast, provides stability through greater diversification, as its more than 140 holdings target both banks and other financial institutions, including conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, a market stalwart that accounts for more than 10% of its portfolio. This structure significantly reduces risk, as seen in IYF's maximum five-year drawdown, but also may limit near-term upside as well as overall dividend returns.

Investing in banks has its upsides, including reliable dividend income and exposure to economic growth. But banks are also exposed to interest rate fluctuations, cyclicality, and loan losses. The wider swath of financial companies captured by IYF is also exposed to these risks to some degree. When choosing either of these funds, be sure they align with your long-term financial goals, and take a minute to check your exposure to these companies via holdings in other popular index funds, like those that track the S&P 500.

Wells Fargo is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Sarah Sidlow has positions in Bank of America and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways Five stocks passed the screen for S&P 500 outperformance, positive estimate revisions and solid fundamentals.VLO leads one-year gains at 132.6%, followed by RCMT at 54.7%, IVZ at 51.4% and RELY at 41.3%.All five saw 2026 earnings estimates rise over 60 days, led by VLO's 37.1% increase. U.S. stocks ended August on a softer note as renewed U.S.-Iran tensions lifted oil prices and kept Treasury yields elevated. Still, the broader market picture remains encouraging. The S&P 500 gained 2.6% in August and stayed close to its recent record high, suggesting that the underlying uptrend remains intact despite geopolitical uncertainty and inflation concerns.

The rally could also become more broad-based, with cyclical areas potentially joining AI-related stocks if economic growth remains steady. Expectations of continued business investment provide further support, while possible policy measures aimed at easing financial conditions could create a better backdrop for equities.

With market momentum still positive but volatility likely to persist, investors may benefit from focusing on stocks already showing stronger performance than their peers. Relative price strength therefore appears to be a useful strategy in the current market.

At this stage, investors would be wise to consider companies such as Paycom Software (PAYC - Free Report) , Invesco Ltd. (IVZ - Free Report) , RCM Technologies (RCMT - Free Report) , Remitly Global (RELY - Free Report) and Valero Energy (VLO - Free Report) .

Relative Price Strength StrategyWhether a stock has the potential to offer considerable returns is determined primarily by its earnings and valuation ratios. Simultaneously, it is essential to check whether its price performance exceeds its peers or the industry average.

Upon such comparison, if we find that a stock is unable to match up to wider sectoral growth despite having impressive earnings momentum or valuation multiples, it may be better to avoid it.

However, those outperforming their respective industries or benchmarks should be included in your portfolio since they have a higher chance of securing significant returns. Picking a stock that outperforms its peers ensures a winning option in your hands.

Then again, it is imperative that you determine whether or not an investment has relevant upside potential when considering stocks with significant relative price strength. Stocks delivering better than the S&P 500 for 1 to 3 months, at least, and having solid fundamentals, indicate room for growth and the best way to go about this strategy.

Finally, it is crucial to find out whether analysts are optimistic about the upcoming earnings of these companies. In order to do this, we have added positive estimate revisions for the current quarter’s (Q1) earnings to our screen. When a stock undergoes an upward revision, it leads to additional price gains.

Screening ParametersRelative % Price change – 12 weeks greater than 0

Relative % Price change – 4 weeks greater than 0

Relative % Price change – 1 week greater than 0

(We have considered those stocks that have been outperforming the S&P 500 over the last 12 weeks, four weeks and one week.)

% Change (Q1) Est. over 4 Weeks greater than 0: Positive current-quarter estimate revisions over the last four weeks.

Zacks Rank equal to 1: Only Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks — that have returned more than 26% annually over the last 26 years and surpassed the S&P 500 in 23 of the last 26 years — can get through. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Current Price greater than or equal to $5 and Average 20-day Volume greater than or equal to 50,000: A minimum price of $5 is a good standard to screen low-priced stocks, while a high trading volume would imply adequate liquidity.

VGM Score less than or equal to B: Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 (Buy), offer the best upside potential.

Here are five of the 16 stocks that made it through the screen:

Paycom Software: It provides cloud-based human capital management software that helps businesses manage employees from hiring through retirement. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings of Paycom Software indicates 28.8% growth. PAYC has a VGM Score of B.

Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Paycom Software’s 2026 earnings has moved up 10.9%. The company has a market capitalization of $10.8 billion. PAYC shares have gone up 8.7% in a year.

Invesco: Founded in 1935, Invesco is an independent investment manager serving clients in more than 120 countries with $2.5 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings of Invesco indicates 38.9% growth. IVZ has a VGM Score of B.

Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Invesco’s 2026 earnings has moved up 8.9%. The company has a market capitalization of $14.6 billion. IVZ shares have gone up 51.4% in a year.

RCM Technologies:The company provides business and technology services in healthcare, engineering, aerospace, defense, industrial, life sciences, and data, helping companies modernize operations and infrastructure. RCM Technologies has a market capitalization of $295.8 million. It has a VGM Score of A.

Notably, over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for RCM Technologies’ 2026 earnings has gone up 13.3%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings of RCMT indicates 22.8% growth. RCM Technologies shares have gained 54.7% in a year.

Remitly Global: Seattle, WA-based Remitly Global is a mobile-first platform that helps immigrants send money across borders. Operating in more than 175 countries, it supports millions of customers and is expanding beyond remittances into broader cross-border financial services for individuals and businesses. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings of the company indicates 390.6% growth. RELY has a VGM Score of B.

The firm has a market capitalization of around $5.7 billion. Notably, over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Remitly Global’s 2026 earnings has gone up 13.8%. RELY’s shares have gained 41.3% in a year.

Valero Energy: It is one of the largest independent refiners and marketers of petroleum products in the United States. Valero Energy’s expected EPS growth rate for three to five years is currently 37.3%, which compares favorably with the industry's growth rate of 33%. VLO has a VGM Score of A.

Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Valero Energy’s 2026 earnings has moved up 37.1%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings indicates 283.6% growth. VLO shares have gained 132.6% in a year.

One of the biggest misnomers about investing is that prospective market participants need considerable sums of capital to get started. Investors who invest with patience, time, and compounding can reap big long-term rewards even when starting small.

That potential certainly exists with the Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQM -0.30%). For those not familiar with this exchange-traded fund (ETF), it's basically the lower-cost counterpart to the famous Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ -0.30%). Both funds track the Nasdaq-100, but the QQQ ETF charges 0.18% per year, or $18 on a $10,000 investment, while the $103.7 billion Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF has an annual expense ratio of 0.15%.

This ETF can turn small stakes into large dollar amounts over the long term. Image source: Getty Images.

That's not a big difference, but over time it can add up, suggesting that cost-conscious investors should opt for the lower-fee option. Speaking of time, it's something investors want to put on their side with these growth ETFs. Consider the case of the QQQ ETF, which is the older of these two funds.

It debuted in March 1999. An investor who put just $100 into it the following month would have had $1,520 as of July with no additional contributions to the initial $100 stake.

Imagine what that $1,520 could have been if the investor contributed $100 monthly to their cause. We don't have to imagine. A backtest shows that an investor who contributed $100 per month for a decade to the QQQ ETF would have more than $38,000.

Today's Change

(

-0.30

%) $

-0.88

Current Price

$

294.12

That figure would be higher with the Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF, which turns six years old in October, due to its lower expense ratio.

Of course, past performance isn't a guarantee of future returns, but that doesn't mean this ETF can't turn $100 monthly contributions into $40,000 or more over a decade. If history repeats or rhymes over the coming decade, the Nasdaq-100 Index could extend its long-term outperformance of the S&P 500. And if the artificial intelligence (AI) trend gains more momentum, that'd be one more tailwind for the Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF.

Todd Shriber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Invesco (IVZ - Free Report) . Shares have added about 17.5% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Invesco due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Invesco Ltd. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

Invesco’s Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Higher AUM & RevenuesInvesco’s second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 71 cents per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents. The bottom line increased 97.2% from the prior-year quarter.

The results primarily benefited from an increase in adjusted revenues and substantial growth in AUM balance. Record net long-term inflows also supported the quarter. However, an increase in adjusted expenses was a headwind.

Net income attributable to Invesco Ltd. (GAAP basis) was $345.3 million or 76 cents per share against a net loss of $12.5 million or 3 cents per share in the year-ago quarter.

Adjusted Revenues Improve, Expenses RiseAdjusted net revenues in the quarter were $1.33 billion, up 20.3% year over year. The top line marginally surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The rise in revenues was driven by higher average AUM and net revenues earned from QQQ. Favorable foreign exchange rate changes increased net revenues by $6.3 million.

Adjusted operating expenses were $830.4 million, up 9.2% year over year. The increase reflected higher employee compensation and marketing expenses. General and administrative expenses also increased, primarily due to higher professional fees.

The adjusted operating margin was 37.5%, up from 31.2% a year ago.

AUM Balance IncreasesAs of June 30, 2026, AUM was $2.47 trillion, up 23.4% year over year. The average AUM in the second quarter totaled $2.37 trillion, up 24.8%.

Net long-term inflows were a record $45.1 billion compared with $15.6 billion in the year-ago quarter. The annualized long-term organic growth rate was 8.5%.

Client demand remained supportive across IVZ’s multiple investment capabilities. Net long-term inflows were led by ETFs and Index products ($30.1 billion), QQQ ($13.8 billion), the China joint venture ($6.9 billion), Private Markets ($1.9 billion) and Fundamental Fixed Income ($0.4 billion).

These positives were partially offset by net outflows from Fundamental Equities of $7.7 billion and Multi-Asset/Other strategies of $0.3 billion.

By geography, the Americas, Asia Pacific and EMEA produced net long-term inflows of $30.8 billion, $8.2 billion and $6.1 billion, respectively.

Decent Balance SheetAs of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $915.4 million compared with $806.9 million as of March 31, 2026. Debt was $1.62 billion, down from $1.97 billion at the end of the prior quarter. The credit facility balance declined to $736 million from $1.08 billion. Net debt was $708.6 million, down from $1.16 billion as of March 31, 2026.

Share Repurchase UpdateIn the reported quarter, Invesco repurchased 1.9 million common shares for $50 million in the open market.

OutlookManagement expects one-time implementation costs of the Alpha investment platform to be $15 million per quarter in the second half of 2026, with completion targeted by the end of 2026. As more AUM transitions onto the platform during 2026, the incremental expense associated with AUM on the system is expected to build through the year, reaching approximately $10 million per quarter later in the year. Hence, the combined costs related to the hybrid platform are expected to be $20 million to $25 million higher in 2026 than in 2025.

Implementation spending should begin tapering in the first quarter of 2027 and decline fairly quickly thereafter. Management expects the installed platform to create further expense-efficiency opportunities through 2027 and into 2028.

Beginning in the third quarter of 2026, operating income is expected to be negatively impacted initially by the Canada fund deal, including an operating expense reduction of $5 million to $10 million per quarter (i.e., a cost benefit that partially offsets other headwinds). Over time, the operating expense benefit is expected to move closer to about $10 million per quarter.

For 2026, the company expects $3.275 billion in operating expenses. Compensation expenses are expected to be roughly 40% of revenues. Third-party expenses plus distribution fees relative to management fees are expected to be 22.7–23%, likely closer to 23%, reflecting a mix shift toward lower-fee products such as QQQ, QQQM and RSP.

Non-GAAP effective tax rate is expected to be in the range of 25-26% for the second half of 2026.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates revision.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Invesco has a average Growth Score of C, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. It comes with little surprise Invesco has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerInvesco belongs to the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry. Another stock from the same industry, Ameriprise Financial Services (AMP - Free Report) , has gained 3.7% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended June 2026.

Ameriprise reported revenues of $4.9 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +13%. EPS of $11.07 for the same period compares with $9.11 a year ago.

Ameriprise is expected to post earnings of $11.59 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.8%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +1.2%.

Ameriprise has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of B.