**A $1,000 investment in Chipotle back in 2006?** That'd be worth over $50,000 today. But here's where it gets even more interesting—Chipotle still plans to double its store count. So, are we late to the party, or is there still a seat at the table?

Markets are moving fast, and with all the noise around Nvidia’s GTC conference and the Fed’s rate decisions, it's easy to get caught up in macro trends. But let's take a step back and talk about individual stocks that look attractive right now.

While U.S. stocks have had a strong run, markets in Europe, Japan, and other developed nations now offer compelling value. This article helps you understand what makes a great international large-cap value ETF, how it fits in a long-term portfolio, and which options deserve your attention.

QQQ gets a lot of love from investors—and for good reason. It’s loaded with household tech giants, posts eye-catching returns, and feels like a direct ticket to the innovation economy. In this article, you'll learn about what QQQ really holds, how it stacks up against traditional large-cap funds like SPY or VOO, and whether it deserves a spot in your long-term portfolio.

Most portfolios are heavily tilted toward U.S. stocks, but that’s not always where global growth happens. In this guide, we’ll cut through the noise and help you choose one ETF that gives you true global reach without overcomplicating your portfolio.

Large-cap international ETFs are a simple way to invest in the world’s biggest companies outside the U.S.—without picking individual stocks or tracking foreign markets. Adding international ETFs to your portfolio helps reduce home bias, smooth out volatility, and tap into growth that doesn’t depend on the U.S. economy alone.

International large-cap stocks are the global heavyweights—companies based outside the U.S. with massive market capitalizations and global reach. Including them helps reduce home bias and adds exposure to different economic cycles, currencies, and growth drivers. While U.S. stocks still lead in size, international giants offer diversification.

Market capitalization is a quick way to measure size, but also a signal of influence. These companies shape global supply chains, drive innovation, and anchor major stock indexes. In 2025, the leaderboard includes Microsoft, Nvidia, Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet, alongside global powerhouses like Saudi Aramco, TSMC, and Eli Lilly. Understanding what makes these firms so valuable is helpful to investors.

When we talk about the “most valuable” companies in the world, we’re really talking about market capitalization—the total value of a company’s outstanding shares. In 2025, the leaderboard includes familiar names like Microsoft, Nvidia, Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet. Understanding their role helps investors make smarter, more grounded decisions.

Market capitalization is not just a number; it’s a signal of investor confidence, business scale, and economic impact. The biggest companies by market cap often shape entire sectors, drive index performance, and influence global trends. For investors, understanding who’s on top and why offers more than trivia.

Market capitalization is one of the simplest ways to gauge a company’s size. Industry-level market cap helps investors understand which sectors dominate the economy. Understanding where the market’s weight lies can help you invest not just in companies, but in the forces driving the economy forward.

Market capitalization, or market cap, is a measure of a company’s total value in the stock market, calculated by multiplying its share price by the number of outstanding shares. In this article, we’ll explore how sector market cap is calculated, rank the largest sectors globally in 2025, highlight the companies driving their dominance, and examine the implications for ETF strategies and portfolio construction.

Market capitalization, or market cap, is a foundational concept in investing that helps categorize companies based on their total market value. Stocks are typically grouped into three main categories: small-cap (roughly $250 million to $2 billion), mid-cap ($2 billion to $10 billion), and large-cap (over $10 billion). In this article, we’ll break down the defining traits of each cap tier.

The S&P 500 is widely regarded as the gold standard for tracking the performance of U.S. equities. Although most of its constituents meet the large-cap threshold, some exceptions exist due to market fluctuations and index committee discretion. In this article, we’ll explore what qualifies a company for inclusion in the S&P 500, how market cap thresholds are applied, and whether all its components truly fit the large-cap mold.

Large-cap stocks—typically defined as companies with a market capitalization between $10 billion and $200 billion—are the backbone of the equity market. In this article, we’ll explore the typical price range of large-cap stocks, what drives their valuations, and how these prices vary across sectors.

Large-cap stocks—typically defined as companies with a market capitalization exceeding $10 billion—form the backbone of the equity market. GICS organizes publicly traded companies into 11 primary sectors. In this article, we’ll explore each of these sectors in detail.

Large-cap stocks—typically defined as companies with a market capitalization exceeding $10 billion—play a dominant role in the equity market. This article will explore how large-cap stocks are distributed across sectors, examine historical shifts in sector dominance, and offer practical insights for portfolio construction based on sector weightings and market trends.

Vanguard’s S&P 500 ETF, known as VOO, has earned its place as a core component in many diversified portfolios thanks to its low expense ratio and broad market exposure. In this article, we will explore VOO’s investment style, provide an in-depth breakdown of its sector composition, and compare it with dedicated large-cap growth funds.

SCHD and VOO are two popular, low-cost ETFs favored by long-term investors for their distinct strategies. This article will begin with an in-depth overview of SCHD followed by a detailed exploration of VOO.

Vanguard’s ETF lineup has become a cornerstone for investors building lasting wealth. Two popular options are VOO, which tracks the S&P 500, and VTI, which covers the entire U.S. stock market. This article will review each ETF’s investment style, compare their portfolio compositions and risk profiles, assess tax and expense considerations, and conclude with recommendations tailored to various investor profiles.