Topic: How To Invest

Pat: I bought the iShares U.S. Small Cap Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) prior to subscribing to your Inner Circle service two years ago. I’m thinking of selling it, but before I do, could I get your opinion on it?

Article Excerpt

iShares U.S. Small Cap Index ETF (CAD-Hedged), $27.33, symbol XSU on Toronto (Units outstanding: 6.1 million; Market cap: $166.7 million; www.blackrock.com), aims to track the Russell 2000 Index (hedged against the Canadian dollar). The fund’s MER is 0.36%. The Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index (which measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. firms based on total market capitalization, or “market cap”; these 3,000 represent around 98% of the U.S. equity market). In all, the Russell 2000 represents around 10% of the Russell 3000’s total market cap. The Russell 2000’s average market cap is about $1.3 billion, while the median market cap is about $528 million. The largest company in the index has a market cap of roughly $5.0 billion. The iShares U.S. Small Cap Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) is hedged against movements of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar. As a result, the fund’s value rises and falls solely with the…