Is Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Viewpoint - The Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) offers investors exposure to small-cap growth stocks while focusing on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, aiming to outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes [1][5]. Fund Overview - NUSC debuted on December 13, 2016, and has accumulated over $1.18 billion in assets, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in the small-cap growth category [1][5]. - The fund seeks to replicate the performance of the TIAA ESG Small-Cap Index, which includes equity securities from small-cap companies listed on U.S. exchanges [5]. Cost Structure - NUSC has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.31%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.10% [6]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF's largest sector allocation is in Industrials at approximately 18.3%, followed by Financials and Consumer Discretionary [7]. - Comfort Systems USA Inc (FIX) is the top holding at about 1.48% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings comprising around 9.94% of total assets under management [8]. Performance Metrics - As of September 11, 2025, NUSC has a return of approximately 3.84% and has increased by about 9.22% year-to-date [10]. - The fund has traded between $33.38 and $46.20 over the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 1.08 and a standard deviation of 20.74% over the trailing three-year period [10]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the small-cap growth space include Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU), which have larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [12].