Frequently asked questions

Use the links below to find answers to frequently asked questions. If you have a question you don't see answered here, please contact us.

What's better about your fundamental approach to ETF analysis?

It's forward-looking. Most ETF research is backward-looking, warmed-over mutual fund research. It examines past performance and fees, and compares that against other funds in the category. That's appropriate for a mutual fund because your objective is to evaluate the manager and the value he or she brings to your portfolio. Some funds consistently deliver above-average returns and earn a high rating; others not so much.

However, with ETFs it's different. There is nothing inherently good or bad about a particular sector, geographic region, or investing style that an ETF tracks. Rather, the investment merit of an ETF is determined by two factors: market conditions, and the underlying fundamentals of the stocks which comprise the fund. These, of course, change all the time.

A sector fund which has performed well (and would thus be ranked highly under the mutual fund approach) might be full of stocks that are richly valued just as industry fortunes are about to reverse. Or a region which had been left for dead might be about to rebound.

AltaVista's approach overcomes these deficiencies by examining the fundamentals of the underlying stocks in each fund. The result is that users of our research are able to compare funds based on investment merit, not just past performance.  

Why is your service more expensive than other ETF newsletters available?

We believe the price pales in comparison to the value delivered (of course, you'd expect us to say that). But it's also more expensive and time-consuming to produce. Most ETF newsletters give you recommendations based on technical or economic analysis of widely available data such as past performance and fund fees. In contrast, AltaVista analysts pour over mountains of fundamental data on the individual constituents for each fund, then clean and aggregate them in order to provide you with proprietary insights.  Quite simply, the labor intensity of providing the information necessary to evaluate ETFs based on investment merit is one of the reasons we're the only firm taking such an approach.

Why don't you cover most ETFs?

We are constantly expanding coverage. However, one of the most important decisions an investor can make is the broad-based one of asset allocation. So, it's more important to get the decision about which market cap segment, or which sector, to focus on than it is to try to pick from among the various offerings with each category (i.e., if Health Care turns out to be a poor investment sector, you are unlikely to be happy with results even if you manage to pick the best Health Care-related ETF). We currently cover more than 60% of ETF assets listed in the U.S., spanning every equity asset class broadly defined (market cap, sector, style, and geographic region). Thus, you can still derive great value from our research, even if you choose a fund we don't currently cover to implement your strategy.

What is your cancellation policy?

You may cancel your subscription at any time. We will issues refunds to annual subscribers pro-rated to the number of full months remaining until expiration (one month minimum charge). No refunds will be given to monthly subscribers, however you can continue to access the site after cancellation up until the monthly renewal date. If you wish to remain a customer, do nothing and we will automatically renew your subscription at the then-current rate for the equivalent level of service (basic or premium). Please read our Terms & Conditions for full details.

What is your publishing schedule?

The ETF Advisor newsletter is published monthly, generally during the first full week of each month. The ETF Analyzer is published quarter, generally during the second or third week of each calendar quarter. Data in the online ETF Research Center is generally updated overnight and should be available several hours before markets open.

How do I upgrade from Basic to Premium?

Simply purchase a new premium subscription (either annual or monthly) on our Upgrade page using your existing log-in ID and password. We will then automatically cancel your basic subscription and issue any refund due in accordance with our cancellation policy.

What are the advantages of ETFs over mutual funds?

There are many advantages to ETFs versus mutual funds, as well as some disadvantages. Our research assumes that readers are familiar with ETF basics. To learn more about the pros and cons of ETFs, consult some of the resources listed on our Industry Links page.