Is VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF (SMOT) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Insights - The VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF (SMOT) debuted on October 4, 2022, providing broad exposure to the Style Box - All Cap Blend category of the market [1] Fund Overview - SMOT has accumulated over $372.58 million in assets, positioning it as an average-sized ETF within its category [5] - The fund is managed by Van Eck and aims to match the performance of the Morningstar US Small-Mid Cap Moat Focus Index, which tracks small and mid-cap companies with sustainable competitive advantages [5] Cost Structure - SMOT has an annual expense ratio of 0.49%, which is competitive with peer products [6] - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 1.11% [6] Sector Allocation and Holdings - The fund's largest sector allocation is to Industrials at 20.7%, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Information Technology [7] - Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc (IONS) is the largest individual holding at approximately 1.99% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings comprising about 15.5% of total assets [8] Performance Metrics - As of October 28, 2025, SMOT has gained approximately 6.69% year-to-date and 6.55% over the past year [10] - The fund has traded between $28.40 and $37.49 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 1.24 and a standard deviation of 18.74% over the trailing three-year period [10] Alternatives - While SMOT is a viable option for investors seeking to outperform the Style Box - All Cap Blend segment, there are alternative ETFs available, such as iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT) and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) [11][12]