Momentum Portfolio Update
In 2011, Scott’s Investments began tracking a momentum portfolio which ranks a basket of ETFs based on price momentum and volatility. In 2014, I also introduced a pure momentum system, which ranks the same basket of ETFs based solely on 6-month price momentum. The first portfolio was previously called the “ETFReplay.com Portfolio”, but going forward, it will be called the “Conservative Momentum Portfolio” (or “6/3/3 strategy”) to reflect some changes in the portfolio and tracking methodology for both portfolios detailed below. In previous years, the Conservative Momentum Portfolio began with a static basket of 14 ETFs. The basket of 14 ETFs will be reduced to 10 ETFs. This change is being made in order to further simplify the portfolio. The 10 ETFs are listed below: RWX SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF PCY PowerShares Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt Portfolio ETF EFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF EEM iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF VNQ Vanguard REIT Index ETF TIP iShares TIPS Bond ETF VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF GLD SPDR Gold Trust ETF TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF SHY iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF The ETFs will still be ranked by 6-month total returns (weighted 40%), 3-month total returns (weighted 30%), and 3-month price volatility (weighted 30%). The top 3 will be purchased at the beginning of each month, and if a holding drops out of the top 3 at the next month’s rebalance, it will be replaced. Previously, the portfolio purchased the top 4 ETFs and only sold when a holding dropped out of the top 5. In addition, ETFs previously had to be ranked above the cash-like ETF ((NYSEARCA: SHY )) in order to be included in the portfolio. This requirement will be removed, so the top 3 ETFs will be held regardless of proximity to SHY. Pure Momentum System The pure momentum system previously ranked ETFs based solely on 6-month price momentum. For 2015, the strategy will rank ETFs based on 5-month price momentum. There is no cash filter in the pure momentum system, volatility ranking, or requirement to limit turnover. Previously, the strategy bought the top 4 ETFs each month – going forward, the top 3 ETFs will be purchased. The portfolio and rankings are posted on the same spreadsheet as the 6/3/3 strategy. The portfolio names are dropping “ETFreplay.com” because the strategy can be tracked on multiple website. ETFReplay.com is still an excellent choice for tracking and backtesting the strategies detailed. However, a formidable free option for backtesting these strategies has emerged at Portfolio Visualizer . The current top 3 ETFs are listed below for each strategy: Conservative Momentum TIP iShares Barclays TIPS Bond Fund SHY iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Treasry Bond Fund TLT iShares Barclays 20 Year Treasury Bond Fund Pure Momentum PCY PowerShares Emerging Markets Bond TLT iShares Barclays 20 Year Treasury Bond Fund VNQ Vanguard MSCI U.S. REIT The current portfolios are below: Conservative Momentum Position Shares Avg. Purchase Price Purchase Date TIP 38 111.2 2/1/2016 TLT 32 126.67 2/1/2016 SHY 49 84.36 12/31/2015 Pure Momentum Position Shares Purchase Price Purchase Date PCY 117 27.65 8/31/2015 TLT 25 126.67 2/1/2016 VNQ 40 79.89 10/30/2015 Current signals can be viewed on Scott’s Investments here . Disclosure: None.