Core Insights - The First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX ETF (FYX) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, with assets over $841.68 million [1] - Small cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations below $2 billion, present both potential and risk, typically combining growth and value stocks [2] Costs - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.61%, which is considered relatively high compared to other funds in the space [3] - It offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.21% [3] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Financials sector, comprising about 23.90% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Consumer Discretionary [4] - Sezzle Inc. (SEZL) is the largest individual holding at approximately 1.20% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 6.29% of total assets under management [5] Performance and Risk - FYX aims to match the performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Small Cap Core Index, having lost about -0.04% year-to-date and gained approximately 4.83% over the past year as of July 25, 2025 [6] - The ETF has a beta of 1.12 and a standard deviation of 22.18% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [7] Alternatives - FYX carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting it is a reasonable option for investors seeking exposure to the Small Cap Blend market [8] - Other comparable ETFs include the Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) with $65.51 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.05%, and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) with $82.09 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.06% [9] Bottom-Line - Passively managed ETFs like FYX are favored by both institutional and retail investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency [10]

Core Viewpoint - The Invesco RAFI US 1500 Small-Mid ETF (PRFZ) is a significant player in the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, with over $2.43 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in this category [1] Costs - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.34%, which is competitive within its peer group [3] - It offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.21% [3] Sector Exposure and Top Holdings - The ETF has the largest allocation to the Financials sector at approximately 18.70%, followed by Industrials and Information Technology [4] - Applovin Corp (APP) represents about 0.49% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for around 3.73% of total assets under management [5] Performance and Risk - PRFZ aims to match the performance of the FTSE RAFI US 1500 Small-Mid Index, with a year-to-date return of approximately 1.95% and a one-year return of about 5.28% as of July 25, 2025 [6] - The ETF has a beta of 1.09 and a standard deviation of 21.31% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [7] Alternatives - The ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting it is a reasonable option for investors seeking exposure to the Small Cap Blend market [8] - Other comparable ETFs include the Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) with $65.51 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.05%, and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) with $82.09 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.06% [9] Bottom-Line - Passively managed ETFs like PRFZ are increasingly popular due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investors [10]

Core Viewpoint - The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) is a significant player in the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, with over $66.50 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in this category [1] Group 1: Investment Potential - Small cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations below $2 billion, present high potential but also come with increased risk [2] - Blend ETFs typically include a mix of growth and value stocks, providing a diversified investment approach [2] Group 2: Costs - The iShares Russell 2000 ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.19%, which is competitive within its peer group [3] - The ETF offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.12% [3] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF's largest sector allocation is to Financials, comprising approximately 19% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Healthcare [4] - Insmed Inc (INSM) represents about 0.66% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for around 4.5% of total assets under management [5] Group 4: Performance and Risk - The ETF aims to replicate the performance of the Russell 2000 Index, with a year-to-date return of approximately 0.50% and a decline of about -0.49% over the past year as of July 17, 2025 [6] - The ETF has a beta of 1.10 and a standard deviation of 22.23% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [7] Group 5: Alternatives - The iShares Russell 2000 ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting it is a strong option for investors interested in the Small Cap Blend segment [8] - Other comparable ETFs include the Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) with $64.33 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.05%, and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) with $81.21 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.06% [9] Group 6: Bottom Line - Passively managed ETFs are gaining popularity among both institutional and retail investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [10]

Core Insights - The ALPS O'Shares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF (OUSM) aims to provide broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $911.95 million [1] - Small cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations below $2 billion, present both potential and risk, typically combining growth and value stocks [2] - The ETF has an expense ratio of 0.48% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.06%, which is competitive within its peer group [3] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Financials sector, comprising approximately 38.40% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Consumer Discretionary [4] - Encompass Health Corp. (EHC) is the largest individual holding at about 2.58% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings representing around 22.73% of total assets under management [5] Performance Metrics - OUSM seeks to match the performance of the FTSE Russell US Qual / Vol / Yield Factor 3% Capped Index, focusing on high-quality, low-volatility, dividend-paying small-cap companies [6] - As of July 17, 2025, the ETF has gained roughly 0.05% year-to-date and approximately 0.30% over the past year, with a trading range between $37.73 and $47.20 in the last 52 weeks [7] Alternatives and Market Position - The ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a moderate outlook based on expected returns, expense ratios, and momentum [8] - Other comparable ETFs include the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) with $66.50 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.19%, and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) with $81.21 billion in assets and a lower expense ratio of 0.06% [9] Investment Trends - There is a growing trend among retail and institutional investors towards passively managed ETFs due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [10]

Core Insights - The Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) is a significant player in the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $64.97 billion, making it one of the largest ETFs in this category [1] Investment Potential - Small cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations below $2 billion, present high potential but also come with increased risks [2] - Blend ETFs, like VB, typically hold a mix of growth and value stocks, showcasing characteristics of both types of equities [2] Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for the Vanguard Small-Cap ETF are 0.05%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in the market [3] - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.36% [3] Sector Allocation and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Industrials sector, comprising approximately 20.90% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Information Technology [4] - Individual holdings include Slcmt1142 at about 1% of total assets, along with Nrg Energy Inc (NRG) and Expand Energy Corp (EXE) [5] Performance Metrics - VB aims to replicate the performance of the CRSP US Small Cap Index, which includes U.S. companies in the bottom 2%-15% of investable market capitalization [6] - As of July 10, 2025, the ETF has gained about 2.09% year-to-date and approximately 14.26% over the past year, with a trading range between $193.73 and $261.58 in the last 52 weeks [7] - The ETF has a beta of 1.07 and a standard deviation of 20.67% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [7] Competitive Landscape - The Vanguard Small-Cap ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong expected performance based on various factors [8] - Alternatives in the market include the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) with $66.93 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.19%, and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) with $81.70 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.06% [9] Conclusion - Passively managed ETFs like VB are increasingly favored by both retail and institutional investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [10]