Is This Small-Cap Growth ETF a Buy After Lee Financial Scooped Up Shares Worth Nearly $8 Million?

Core Insights - Lee Financial Co. initiated a new stake in iShares Trust - iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF (NASDAQ: IJT), acquiring 55,677 shares valued at approximately $7.86 million [1][2] - This new position represents 1.06% of Lee Financial's total reportable U.S. equity assets of $741.18 million as of December 31, 2025 [2] - The ETF has a total return of 8.2% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 by 5.5 percentage points during the same period [2] ETF Overview - The iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF has an Assets Under Management (AUM) of $6.29 billion and a current price of $152.27 as of January 21, 2026 [2][4] - The ETF offers a dividend yield of 0.8% and a one-year total return of 8.18% [2] - The fund targets small-cap growth equities, with at least 80% of its assets invested in index constituents [6] Investment Strategy - The ETF employs a rules-based, index-tracking approach to provide exposure to the small-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity market [4][6] - The portfolio primarily consists of small-cap U.S. stocks with growth characteristics, maintaining liquidity and diversification [4][6] Implications for Investors - The initiation of a new position in IJT by Lee Financial Co. indicates a perceived opportunity in the fund, elevating it into the top 15 holdings of the firm [7]