iShares Latin America 40 ETF

ILF

Market cap $4.78B

A tentative U.S/–Iran ceasefire has reignited risk appetite across emerging markets, driving more than $1.1 billion into U.S.-listed EM ETFs and snapping a four-week streak of heavy outflows, reported Bloomberg.

Jay Pelosky says geopolitical tensions are accelerating a rotation out of U.S. equities and into international markets. He discusses new leadership in emerging markets as AI‑linked names like Nvidia (NVDA) experience stock de-ratings.

Markets have been uneven to start 2026. Major indexes have struggled to make sustained progress, former technology leaders have traded lower, stress in areas such as private credit has added to the noise and a hot conflict in the middle east compounds the uncertainty.

iShares Latin America 40 ETF offers exposure to the region's forty largest public companies. ILF's portfolio is heavily concentrated, with approximately 82% in Brazil and Mexico, limiting true regional diversification. Recent performance and long-term track record are strong, precluding a sell rating despite structural concentration concerns.

Global stocks are still outperforming US shares so far in 2026, extending last year's winning run. Using a set of ETFs through yesterday's close (Jan. 21), all the major equity regions of the world are maintaining a healthy lead over the US.

iShares Latin America 40 ETF has surged 57% since late 2022, driven by strong regional equity performance. ILF offers diversified exposure to Latin America's largest companies, with a 0.47% fee and nearly 5% dividend yield. Valuations remain attractive versus the MSCI EM Index, with a P/E of 13.7, despite the recent bull run.

The iShares Latin America 40 ETF invests in large-cap companies, primarily in Brazil, Mexico, and Chile. The ETF's zero percentage allocation to the information technology sector makes it appealing for investors looking to hedge risks associated with AI valuations. ILF is overweight in cyclical sectors such as financials, materials, and energy, making returns more volatile and dependent on the economic cycle.

Global equities strategies are having a moment this year. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF in isolation looks strong, posting an 18.3% year-to-date gain.

International equities have outperformed YTD but continue trading at discounted prices and valuations. Yields are generally quite good, if not outstanding. Lots of international equity ETFs out there. I'll be giving a quick rundown of four such ETFs in this article.

It's the year of foreign equities ETF diversification and performance. For many ETF issuers, their international or ex-U.S. ETF strategies have led their suites for performance amid rising domestic risks.