Navigating the US stock market: four investment strategies for 2025

February 28, 2025  |  Vincent Denoiseux
Asset Blog Navigating US Stock Market 1920
Practical tips for enhancing your investment strategy with US equity ETFs.

Marketing Communication. Capital at risk.

The US stock market is a treasure trove for retail investors, offering everything from tech giants to small start-ups.

But how can you navigate this broad landscape effectively?

Why Invest in US Equities?1

The US market is not just the largest in the world; it’s also a meeting point for innovation and diversity. Boasting a wealth of small and mid-sized firms, the US market offers unique growth opportunities. It’s no surprise then that US equities remain a core staple of many global investment portfolios.

By investing in US equity ETFs, you can gain exposure to this rich tapestry of companies without the potential increased risks of investing in individual stocks.

Mega Caps: A double-edged tech sword?

US companies make up over 71% of the MSCI World index and many of these are in the tech sector.2 Technology companies have changed how we live but have also driven significant market growth.3 However, if the tech boom slows down, it could impact the broader market.

Mega-cap stocks, defined as companies with market caps over $180 billion, could be a cornerstone of your portfolio. Under the right market conditions they can sometimes provide growth potential, especially in the tech sector.

However, relying too heavily on these giants can expose you to concentration risk, which is the risk of potential losses on a single large investment in a particular market. It would be a bit like putting all of your eggs in one basket. If the basket breaks, you may have a problem. Diversifying4 your investments is key to managing this risk effectively.

Don’t Overlook Smaller Companies

While mega caps have their advantages, smaller companies often fly under the general public’s radar. They can sometimes perform successfully in relatively unknown niche markets and are historically undervalued when compared to mega-caps. Small companies are still priced lower than they have been in decades, even after recent market gains.5 Including small and mid-cap stocks in your portfolio could enhance diversification2 and possibly lead to higher returns.6

Crafting Your Ideal Portfolio

Treating ETFs like your strategic investment toolkit could help you calibrate a portfolio and align it with your risk tolerance and goals.

Using US equity ETFs could help you tailor your investment strategy based on your goals. If you don’t know where to start, here are four options to consider:

Amundi MSCI USA UCITS ETF ACC:
Provides a broad exposure to the US market, tracking over 600 stocks.

ISIN: IE000FSN19U2
Management fees*: 0.03%
Buy now | Details

Amundi MSCI USA Mega Cap UCITS ETF ACC:
If you’re bullish on mega caps, it focuses on 37 of the largest US companies, with a large portion in the tech sector.

ISIN: IE000YBGJ9I4
Management fees*: 0.15%
Buy now | Details


Amundi MSCI USA Ex Mega Cap UCITS ETF ACC:

For a more cautious approach, it excludes the largest companies, which can reduce concentration risk.

ISIN: IE000XL4IXU1
Management fees*: 0.15%
Buy now | Details


Amundi S&P 500 Equal Weight ESG Leaders UCITS ETF DR – USD (A):
Another broad exposure, but with equal weighting of stocks, whilst meeting responsible investment criteria.

ISIN: IE000LAP5Z18
Management fees*: 0.18%
Buy now | Details

*Management fees refer to the management fees and other administrative or operating costs of the fund. For more information about all the costs of investing in the fund, please refer to its Key Information Document (KID).

Investing in US equity ETFs could be a smart way to build a portfolio that reflects your values and risk tolerance. By leveraging the right ETFs, you could create a strategy that works for you. Remember, the key to successful investing is not just about choosing the right stocks but also about building a well-rounded portfolio that can weather market fluctuations.

1 Investment involves risks. For more information, please refer to the Risk section below.

2 Source: Bloomberg, MSCI, Amundi. Data as at 30/08/2024. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

3 Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investment involves risks.

4 Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss.

5 Source: Bloomberg, Amundi. Data as at 15/11/2024. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

6 Investment involves risks. For more information, please refer to the Risk section below.

*Management fees refer to the management fees and other administrative or operating costs of the fund. For more information about all the costs of investing in the fund, please refer to its Key Information Document (KID).

Important information

Key risks

  • Risk of the loss of invested capital. Investors may not get back the original amount invested and may lose all of their investment.
  • Risk associated with the markets to which the ETF is exposed. The price and value of investments are linked to the liquidity risk of the components. Investments can go up as well as down.
  • Risk associated with the volatility of the securities/currencies composing the underlying index.
  • The fund investment objective may only be partially reached.

Capital at risk. Investing in funds entails risk, most notably the risk of capital loss. The value of an investment is subject to market fluctuation and may decrease or increase as a consequence. As a result, fund subscribers may lose part or all of their initial investment.

Past performance is not a guarantee or indication of future results.

*Management fees refer to the management fees and other administrative or operating costs of the fund. For more information about all the costs of investing in the fund, please refer to its Key Information Document (KID).

Information on Amundi’s responsible investing can be found on amundietf.com and amundi.com. The investment decision must take into account all the characteristics and objectives of the Fund, as described in the relevant Prospectus.

RISK INDICATOR

Risk Indicator Blog - EN

ETF Name

ISIN

Risk Indicator

SFDR Classification

Amundi MSCI USA UCITS ETF ACC

IE000FSN19U2

5
Article 6

Amundi MSCI USA Mega Cap UCITS ETF ACC

IE000YBGJ9I4

5
Article 6

Amundi MSCI USA Ex Mega Cap UCITS ETF ACC

IE000XL4IXU1

5
Article 6

Amundi S&P 500 Equal Weight ESG Leaders UCITS ETF DR – USD (A)

IE000LAP5Z18

5
Article 8

The summary risk indicator is a guide to the level of risk of this product compared to other products. It shows how likely it is that the product will lose money because of movement in the markets or because we are not able to pay you. Beside the risks included in the risk indicator, other risks may affect the Sub-Fund’s performance. For further information, please refer to the prospectus of the fund. Please note that the funds will not necessarily be registered or authorized in all jurisdictions or be available to all investors.

SFDR: “Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation” –2019/2088/EU. EU regulation that requires, amongst other things, the classification of financial products according to their ESG intensity. A fund is referred to as “Article 8” if it promotes ESG characteristics in tandem with other financial objectives, or “Article 9” when it has a sustainable investment objective. Any fund that does not comply with the two previous categories is an “Article 6” fund.

This is a marketing communication. Please consult the Prospectus and the Key Investor Document (“KID”) before making a final investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This document is of a commercial nature. This is a promotional and non-contractual information which should not be regarded as an investment advice or an investment recommendation, a solicitation of an investment, an offer or a purchase, from Amundi Asset Management (“Amundi”) nor any of its subsidiaries.​‌ The Funds are Amundi UCITS ETFs. Amundi ETF designates the ETF business of Amundi. Amundi UCITS ETFs are passively-managed index-tracking funds. The Funds are French, Luxembourg or Irish open ended mutual investment funds respectively approved by the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers, the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier or the Central Bank of Ireland, and authorised for marketing of their units or shares in various European countries (the “Marketing Countries”) pursuant to the article 93 of the 2009/65/EC Directive.

This document contains information about subfunds from the Amundi ETF ICAV (the “Fund”), an open-ended umbrella Irish collective asset-management vehicles established under the laws of Ireland and authorized for public distribution by the Central Bank of Ireland. The management company of the Fund is Amundi Ireland Limited, 1 George’s Quay Plaza, George’s Quay, Dublin 2, D02 V002, Ireland. Amundi Ireland Limited is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

The Fund is described in a Key Information Document (KID), or Key Investor Information Document (KIID) for UK investors, and prospectus. The Funds KID, or KIID for UK investors, must be made available to potential subscribers prior to subscription.

The prospectus in French for French UCITS ETFs, for Luxembourg UCITS ETFs and Irish ETFs, and the KID in English are available free of charge on www.amundi.com, www.amundietf.com or lyxoretf.com.
They are also available from the headquarters of Amundi Luxembourg S.A. (as the management company of Amundi Index Solutions and Lyxor SICAV), or the headquarters of Amundi Asset Management (as the management company of French FCPs, Multi Units Luxembourg, Multi Units France and Lyxor Index Fund), or at the headquarters of Amundi Ireland Limited (as the management company of Amundi ETF ICAV).

The Fund offers no capital guarantee. Investors may not get back the full amount of their initial investment, particularly in the event that the benchmark index falls. Subscribing to a UCITS may involve risks. Potential investors are advised to read the Funds risk profile, which is described in detail in the prospectus. The amount that is reasonable to invest in the Fund will depend on the personal circumstances of each investor. To determine this amount, investors should take into account their financial situation, personal assets, and current and future requirements, as well as considering their willingness to accept risks or conversely their preference to invest cautiously. Investors are also strongly recommended to sufficiently diversify their investments so as to avoid being exposed solely to the risks of this Fund. Investors should therefore seek advice in this regard from their usual advisors (legal, tax, financial and/or accounting) before purchasing any units of the Fund.

The source of the data contained in this document is Amundi Asset Management unless otherwise stated.

FRANCE

Some information may constitute a general investment recommendation as defined in the article‌ 3. (35) of 596/2014/UE regulation. This material has not been produced with the aim at promoting the independency of financial analysis, and Amundi, as an investment services provider, has no restriction in negotiating any financial instruments described in this material before its issue.

The prospectus in French for French UCITS ETFs, and in English for Luxembourg UCITS ETFs and Irish ETFs, and the KID in French are available free of charge on www.amundi.com or www.amundietf.com. They are also available from the headquarters of Amundi Luxembourg S.A. (as the management company of Amundi Index Solutions and Multi Units Luxembourg), or the headquarters of Amundi Asset Management (as the management company of French FCPs, Multi Units France and Lyxor Index Fund), or at the headquarters of Amundi Ireland Limited (as the management company of Amundi ETF ICAV).

The prospectus in English and KID of the Amundi ETF are available on www.amundietf.com; and free of charge from the “centralisateur” of the Funds which in the case of Amundi Index Solutions SICAV and Amundi ETF ICAV, is CACEIS Bank SA, 1-3 place Valhubert, 75013 Paris, France.

In the case of funds admitted to trading in France, trading is subject to a control mechanism to ensure that the price of the shares or units does not deviate significantly from a reference value set by the rules of the regulated market on which the ETF is traded, in particular through the implementation of a mechanism to halt trading in the event of excessive deviation from the reference value. The Market Maker ensures that the market price of the Funds units does not deviate more than the percentage indicated in the prospectus of the Funds mentioned in this Document, and on the other hand from the net asset value of the UCITS, in order to comply with the reservation thresholds set by Euronext Paris SA.

GERMANY

The Funds are German, French, Luxembourg or Irish collective investment schemes respectively approved by the German Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, French Autorité des Marchés Financiers, the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier or the Central Bank of Ireland.

‌‌For additional information on the Funds, a free prospectus may be requested from Amundi Deutschland GmbH, Arnulfstr. 124-126 80636 Munich, Germany (Tel. +49.89.99.226.0). The regulatory documents of the Funds registered for public distribution in Germany are available free of charge on request, and as printed version, from Marcard, Stein & Co. AG, Ballindamm 36, 20095 Hamburg, Germany.

SPAIN

The Funds are foreign undertakings for collective investment registered with the CNMV. Luxembourg Funds were approved for public distribution in Luxembourg by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier of Luxembourg, French Funds were approved by the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers and Irish Funds were approved by the Central Bank of Ireland.

- Amundi ETF Funds which are Luxembourg SICAVs approved by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier are numbered: Amundi Index Solutions (1495), RCS B206810, located 5, allée Scheffer, L-2520 Luxembourg; Multi Units Luxembourg (920), RCS B115129, and Lyxor Index Fund (760), both located 9, rue de Bitbourg, L-1273 Luxembourg.

- Amundi ETF Funds approved by the Central Bank of Ireland are numbered: Amundi ETF ICAV. Amundi ETF ICAV is an Irish ICAV located 1 George’s Quay Plaza, George’s Quay, Dublin 2, D02 V002, Ireland.

- French FCPs approved by the Autorités des Marchés Financiers

- Amundi ETF Funds approved by the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers are numbered: Multi Units France (319). Multi Units France RCS 441 298 163, is a French SICAV, located, 91-93, boulevard Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France.

Information and documents are available on www.amundi.com or www.amundietf.com. They are also available from the headquarters of Amundi Luxembourg S.A. (as the management company of Amundi Index Solutions and Multi Units Luxembourg), or the headquarters of Amundi Asset Management (as the management company of French FCPs, Multi Units France and Lyxor Index Fund), or at the headquarters of Amundi Ireland Limited (as the management company of Amundi ETF ICAV).

Any investment in the Funds must be made through a registered Spanish distributor. Amundi Iberia SGIIC, SAU, is the main distributor of the Funds in Spain, registered with number 31 in the CNMV's SGIIC registry, with address at Pº de la Castellana 1, Madrid 28046, Spain. A list of all Spanish distributors may be obtained from the CNMV at www.cnmv.es. Units/shares may only be acquired on the basis of the most recent prospectus, key information document and further current documentation, which may be obtained from the CNMV.
The legal documentation of the Funds is also available on the web page www.amundi.com or www.amundietf.com.

AUSTRIA

For Amundi Index Solutions and Amundi ETF ICAV: The regulatory documentation of the Funds registered for public marketing in Austria are available free of charge, as printed copies, from Société Générale, Vienna Branch, Prinz Eugen Strasse 8, 10/5/Top 11, A-1040 Vienna, Austria, which acts as a paying agent and tax representative, and at www.amundietf.com.

For Multi Units France, Lyxor Index Fund and Multi Units Luxembourg: The regulatory documentation of the Funds registered for public marketing in Austria are available free of charge, as printed copies, from: Erste Bank der österreichischen Sparkassen AG, Am Belvedere 1, A-1100 Vienna, Austria, which acts as a paying agent and tax representative, and at www.amundietf.de.

Risk Disclaimer – There are risks associated with investing. The value of your investment may fall or rise. Losses of the capital invested may occur. Past performance, simulations or forecasts are not a reliable indicator of future performance. We do not provide investment, legal and/or tax advice. Should this website contain information on the capital market, financial instruments and/or other topics relevant to investment, this information is intended solely as a general explanation of the investment services provided by companies in our group. Please also read our risk information and terms of use.

Author_Vincent_Denoiseux_coloured
Vincent Denoiseux
Head of ETF Investment Strategy at Amundi ETF, Indexing and Smart Beta
Vincent Denoiseux has 20-years’ experience in quantitative research, derivatives, structuring and portfolio construction. Before joining Amundi, Vincent was Head of ETF Research and Solutions at Lyxor ETF (now Amundi ETF) and prior to that he was DWS’ Head of Portfolio Solutions. Within DWS he spearheaded the research initiatives of the Passive business about themes like ETFs vs Futures, market liquidity and quantitative investing. Previously he developed fund linked investment solutions at Exane (now BNP Paribas), focusing on hedge funds and absolute return strategies. Prior moving to capital markets, Vincent was a Head of Quantitative Research, firstly at BNP Paribas Asset Management and subsequently for Lehman Brothers Asset Management. Vincent has also been a Lecturer in Quantitative Portfolio Management at Ecole Centrale Paris from which he graduated.