E=MC Squared... Profits: International Stocks Shine Brighter Than the S and P 500!

Relativity and Returns: A Cosmic Shift in Investments

Good heavens! It seems even the financial markets are subject to the laws of relativity. While the S&P 500 crawls along at a measly 2% this year – slower than a photon stuck in molasses – international stocks are shooting off like rockets. Remember folks the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Perhaps it's time to consider that the universe of investment extends far beyond our American borders. After all as I always say "The important thing is not to stop questioning," and in this case that includes questioning your portfolio's composition.

Beyond Big Tech: Escaping the Black Hole of US Over Allocation

It appears many investors have placed all their eggs in the Big Tech basket a decision as precarious as balancing on a unicycle on a tightrope! Diversification my friends is key. As they say 'A ship in port is safe but that's not what ships are built for.' International exposure offers a chance to sail into new waters away from the gravitational pull of those tech giants. Marguerita Cheng rightly points out the star performance of international markets this year.

The Vanguard Leap: A 14% Quantum Jump!

Observe the Vanguard FTSE All World ex US ETF (VEU)! A modest 5.5% return in 2024 but a phenomenal 14% surge this year! This reminds me of a time I was trying to explain quantum entanglement to my barber. He didn't get it but he gave me a great haircut. The point is sometimes you need to look beyond the obvious and in this case the obvious is screaming "International!"

Copa Holdings: Flying High on Dividends and Analyst Love

Ah Copa Holdings! A Panamanian airline soaring through the skies with a 6.3% dividend yield. It is up more than 16% in 2025. Even I a humble physicist can appreciate the elegance of such a profitable trajectory. Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth even called their results 'Best In Class.' Clearly someone understands that 'education is not the learning of facts but the training of the mind to think.' And thinking about profits is always a good start. With over 90% of analysts rating this name a buy this airline is in good company!

Vale: Mining for Gold – and Dividends – in Brazil

Vale the Brazilian mining magnate is digging up profits with a dividend yield of 9.1%! Now that's what I call an investment that doesn't require a Ph.D. to understand. Bank of America upgraded the stock and even the new management team seems to be striking gold. Though I must say 'I never came upon any of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking.' Sometimes you just have to trust your gut – and the analysts at Bank of America of course.

Latam Airlines: Taking Off with Traffic and Returns

Latam Airlines Group up 37% this year is defying gravity with a 2.7% dividend yield. Morgan Stanley is overweight on the stock noting a significant increase in traffic. It seems this airline is not just flying planes but also flying high in the stock market. As I always say 'Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.' And Latam is certainly moving in the right direction. Though their dividend is more modest the 23.2% upside potential may make this a risk worth the reward!