Should ALPS O'Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF (OUSM) Be on Your Investing Radar?

Core Insights - The ALPS O'Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF (OUSM) aims to provide broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $911.95 million [1] - Small cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations below $2 billion, present both potential and risk, typically combining growth and value stocks [2] - The ETF has an expense ratio of 0.48% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.06%, which is competitive within its peer group [3] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Financials sector, comprising approximately 38.40% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Consumer Discretionary [4] - Encompass Health Corp. (EHC) is the largest individual holding at about 2.58% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings representing around 22.73% of total assets under management [5] Performance Metrics - OUSM seeks to match the performance of the FTSE Russell US Qual / Vol / Yield Factor 3% Capped Index, focusing on high-quality, low-volatility, dividend-paying small-cap companies [6] - As of July 17, 2025, the ETF has gained roughly 0.05% year-to-date and approximately 0.30% over the past year, with a trading range between $37.73 and $47.20 in the last 52 weeks [7] Alternatives and Market Position - The ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a moderate outlook based on expected returns, expense ratios, and momentum [8] - Other comparable ETFs include the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) with $66.50 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.19%, and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) with $81.21 billion in assets and a lower expense ratio of 0.06% [9] Investment Trends - There is a growing trend among retail and institutional investors towards passively managed ETFs due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [10]