Is Franklin U.S. Mid Cap Multifactor Index ETF (FLQM) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Insights - The Franklin U.S. Mid Cap Multifactor Index ETF (FLQM) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Mid Cap Blend category and was launched on April 26, 2017 [1] - FLQM is managed by Franklin Templeton Investments and has accumulated over $1.67 billion in assets, making it an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - The ETF seeks to match the performance of the LibertyQ U.S. Mid Cap Equity Index, which focuses on mid-cap companies with favorable exposure to quality, value, momentum, and low volatility factors [5] Fund Characteristics - FLQM has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.30%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.39% [6] - The fund's largest sector allocation is to Industrials at 19.9%, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Financials [7] - The top 10 holdings account for approximately 10.63% of total assets, with Ferguson Enterprises Inc (FERG) being the largest individual holding at 1.18% [8] Performance Metrics - As of July 23, 2025, FLQM has gained about 2.36% year-to-date and approximately 5.39% over the past year [10] - The ETF has traded between $46.92 and $58.81 in the last 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.97 and a standard deviation of 16.48% over the trailing three-year period [10] - FLQM holds around 208 stocks, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the mid-cap space include Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) and iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH), which have significantly larger asset bases of $85.39 billion and $98.03 billion, respectively [12] - VO has a lower expense ratio of 0.04% and IJH has an expense ratio of 0.05%, making them potentially more attractive options for cost-conscious investors [12]