Is Janus Henderson Small Cap Growth Alpha ETF (JSML) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Viewpoint - The Janus Henderson Small Cap Growth Alpha ETF (JSML) aims to provide investors with broad exposure to the small-cap growth segment of the market, utilizing a smart beta strategy to potentially outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes [1][5]. Fund Overview - JSML was launched on February 23, 2016, and has accumulated over $206.62 million in assets, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF within its segment [1][5]. - The fund is managed by Janus Henderson and seeks to match the performance of the Janus Small Cap Growth Alpha Index, which selects small-cap stocks based on growth, profitability, and capital efficiency [5][6]. Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for JSML are 0.30%, which is competitive with similar products in the market [7]. - The fund offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.63% [7]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - JSML has a significant allocation in the Industrials sector, comprising approximately 21.8% of the portfolio, followed by Information Technology and Financials [8]. - The top holding, Sterling Infrastructure Inc. (STRL), represents about 2.23% of the fund's total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 18.94% of total assets under management [9]. Performance Metrics - As of August 18, 2025, JSML has increased by roughly 8.34% year-to-date and 15.71% over the past year [11]. - The ETF has traded between $54.00 and $73.60 in the last 52 weeks, with a beta of 1.24 and a standard deviation of 23.03% over the trailing three-year period [11]. Alternatives - Investors may consider other ETFs in the small-cap growth space, such as iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO) and Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK), which have larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [12][13].