Investing Port

This ETF offers exposure to developed markets outside the U.S., an asset class that includes many of the largest economies in Europe and Asia. As such, developed ex-U.S. stocks are generally a core holding in long-term, buy-and-hold portfolios; TLTD is one of several ETFs that can be used to achieve exposure to this asset class.

The unique attribute of this ETF is the tilt towards small cap and value stocks, based on the premise that these types of securities have the potential to generate excess returns over the long run. TLTD allows investors to maintain generally broad-based, cheap exposure to this asset class while putting on a tactical tilt towards corners of the market that can potentially generate excess returns over the long haul.

One potential downside for investors is the price tag; TLTD is very reasonable, but there are some ETFs that offer generally similar exposure at a much lower expense ratio (VEA, for example).