QLTY's 37% Tech Allocation Was A Tailwind; Now It's A Liability

Core Viewpoint - The GMO U.S. Quality ETF (QLTY) has seen significant inflows and strong performance, but its heavy allocation to technology may pose risks as market conditions change [1] Group 1: Performance and Inflows - QLTY attracted $3 billion since its launch in November 2023, focusing on companies with exceptional returns on capital [1] - The ETF returned 20.5% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 by approximately 500 basis points [1] Group 2: Technology Allocation Risks - QLTY has a 37% allocation to Information Technology, which exposes it to valuation risks as tech multiples may compress [1] - The top holdings in QLTY have an average forward price-to-earnings ratio near 25x, which is reasonable for companies with double-digit revenue growth [1] - Quality premiums can diminish quickly with shifts in interest rate expectations or disappointing growth [1] Group 3: Earnings Quality and Company Performance - Meta Platforms, a significant holding in QLTY, has a profit margin of 30.9% but experienced an 82.6% year-over-year earnings decline due to investments in Reality Labs [1] - The uncertainty surrounding Meta's earnings raises questions about the sustainability of QLTY's performance [1] - Johnson & Johnson, with a 4.4% weight in QLTY, offers some defensive balance, but the portfolio remains heavily influenced by tech giants like Microsoft and Lam Research [1]