Industry Distribution (estimated, 2025):

• Information Technology: approximately 27%
• Healthcare: approximately 14%
• Finance: approximately 11%

TOP 3 Markets (estimated, 2025):

• USA: approximately 70%
• Europe: approximately 15%
• Asia-Pacific: approximately 10%

The iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:XUS) reflects the composition of the S&P 500, which is heavily dominated by US companies. Information Technology is traditionally the largest sector in the S&P 500, followed by Healthcare and Finance.

The USA is the main market for the S&P 500, as the index is primarily composed of US companies. Europe and the Asia-Pacific region are also significant markets, but to a lesser extent. This distribution reflects the global reach and influence of the companies listed in the S&P 500.

iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:XUS) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) and not a company that produces physical products.

iShares ETFs are managed by BlackRock, one of the largest asset managers globally. The iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF aims to replicate the performance of the S&P 500 Index, which includes the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the USA.

Being a financial product, there are no production facilities or physical products involved. The ETF invests in the stocks of the companies included in the S&P 500 Index.

Current Strategy: Passive Investing
Focus: Replication of the S&P 500 Index
Expense Ratio: 0.10% (estimated, based on 2023)

The iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:XUS) follows a passive investment strategy aiming to closely replicate the performance of the S&P 500 Index. This strategy involves purchasing stocks included in the S&P 500 Index in the same weighting as in the index.

The growth of the ETF primarily depends on the performance of the S&P 500 Index, which comprises the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the USA. Another growth factor is the continuous demand for cost-effective, passive investment solutions that offer investors broad diversification.

Due to the ETF's very low expense ratio, it remains attractive for long-term investors looking to benefit from the overall market performance. Future growth will be determined by the general market trends and the interest in passive investment products.

Commodity Imports: No specific commodity imports

The iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:XUS) is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the S&P 500 Index. As such, the ETF invests in the stocks of companies included in the S&P 500 and does not import any commodities or materials itself.

However, the companies included in the ETF may import commodities and materials from various countries depending on their respective industries and business activities. For example, technology companies may source semiconductors from Taiwan or South Korea, while automakers may import metals from countries like Australia or Brazil.

Since the ETF does not make direct imports, specific information on commodity imports is not applicable.

Competitive Advantage: Moderate to Strong (estimated 2025)

The iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:XUS) benefits from a strong competitive advantage due to several factors. Firstly, the iShares brand is part of BlackRock, one of the largest asset managers globally, creating trust and credibility among investors. Secondly, the ETF provides a cost-effective way to invest in the S&P 500, making it particularly attractive to investors seeking diversification in the US market.

Additionally, the ETF stands out for its high liquidity and large fund size, making it appealing to institutional and retail investors alike. These factors contribute to a stable competitive advantage by increasing the product's attractiveness compared to other ETFs that may have higher costs or lower liquidity.

Institutional Investor Share: Estimate: approx. 70-80% (2025)

Insider Buys/Sells: No significant insider transactions known (2025)

The iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:XUS) is a popular exchange-traded fund that tracks the S&P 500 Index. Due to its structure as an ETF and its broad diversification, the share of institutional investors is typically high, as many pension funds, investment funds, and other institutional investors invest in such ETFs to gain diversified exposure to the US stock market.

Insider buys or sells are less relevant for ETFs as they do not represent individual companies but a basket of stocks. Therefore, there are usually no significant insider transactions that would be relevant for the ETF as a whole.

Market share of iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:XUS): approx. 12% (2025, estimated)

Top competitors and their market shares:

1. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (TSX:VFV): approx. 15%
2. BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:ZSP): approx. 10%
3. SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:SPY): approx. 8% (in the Canadian market)
4. Horizons S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:HXS): approx. 5%
5. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (NYSE:RSP): approx. 3% (in the Canadian market)

The iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF holds a significant market share of around 12% and is one of the leading ETFs in Canada tracking the S&P 500 Index. The largest competitor is the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF with a market share of about 15%.

The "moat" or competitive advantage of iShares lies in the broad acceptance and high brand recognition of the iShares brand, managed by BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager. This brand offers a high level of trust and stability for investors.

Compared to competitors, iShares has the advantage of an extensive network and a strong global presence. However, other ETFs, such as Vanguard's, also offer similar benefits in terms of low costs and high liquidity, intensifying the competition.

Overall, iShares has a solid moat, but competition in this segment is strong, and the differences between the leading ETFs are often marginal, providing investors with a variety of options.

Managed Assets: Over 10 billion USD (estimated for 2025) Annual Expense Ratio: 0.09% (as of 2023) 5-Year Performance: Average of 10% per year (until 2023)

The iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:XUS) is a popular choice for investors seeking broad diversification and a cost-effective way to invest in the US stock market. The ETF tracks the S&P 500 Index, which includes the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the US, providing broad market coverage.

The annual expense ratio of 0.09% is very competitive, allowing investors to retain a significant portion of the returns. Historically, the S&P 500 Index has shown solid performance, as reflected in the ETF's average annual return of about 10% over the past five years.

Additionally, the ETF offers high liquidity and transparency through its structure, making it an attractive option for long-term investors looking to capitalize on the stability and growth of the US market. Given these factors, the iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF could be a good investment for investors interested in a diversified and cost-effective access to the US stock market.

Dividend Yield: Approx. 1.5% - 2.0% (estimated for 2025 based on historical data)

Payout Frequency: Quarterly

The iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:XUS) regularly pays out dividends, typically on a quarterly basis to investors. The dividend yield typically ranges between 1.5% and 2.0%, based on historical payouts from recent years.

The reliability of dividend payments is high as the ETF tracks the S&P 500 Index, which consists of large, established US companies that generally pay stable dividends. Due to the ETF's broad diversification, it can better offset fluctuations in individual company dividends, supporting the stability of the payouts.