Core Insights - The Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (GSSC) is a smart beta ETF launched on June 28, 2017, providing broad exposure to the small-cap blend market segment [1] Fund Overview - GSSC has accumulated over $692.57 million in assets, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in the small-cap blend space [5] - The fund is managed by Goldman Sachs Funds and aims to match the performance of the Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta U.S. Small Cap Equity Index, which focuses on small-cap U.S. equity securities [5] Cost Structure - GSSC has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.20%, which is competitive within its peer group [6] - The fund offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.45% [6] Sector Allocation - The fund's largest sector allocation is in Financials, comprising approximately 19.2% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Healthcare [7] - The top 10 holdings account for about 3.52% of GSSC's total assets, with Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd (CRDO) being the largest individual holding at 0.47% [8] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, GSSC has gained approximately 8.45%, and it is up about 8.95% over the last 12 months as of October 31, 2025 [10] - The fund has a beta of 1.06 and a standard deviation of 20.67% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a diversified risk profile with around 1348 holdings [10] Alternatives - While GSSC is a viable option for investors looking to outperform the small-cap blend segment, alternatives such as the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) are also available [11][12] - IWM has $68.35 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.19%, while IJR has $84.92 billion in assets with a lower expense ratio of 0.06% [12]

Core Insights - The SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) debuted on January 31, 2006, and provides broad exposure to the Industrials ETFs category [1] - XHB is managed by State Street Investment Management and has accumulated over $1.71 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in the Industrials sector [5] - The fund seeks to match the performance of the S&P Homebuilders Select Industry Index, which represents the homebuilding sub-industry of the S&P Total Markets Index [6] Fund Characteristics - XHB has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in its category [7] - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 0.74% [7] - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Consumer Discretionary sector, approximately 67% of the portfolio, with Industrials and Energy following [8] Holdings and Performance - Allegion Plc (ALLE) constitutes about 3.73% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings making up approximately 35.44% of XHB's total assets [9] - As of October 27, 2025, XHB has gained about 4.73% year-to-date but is down approximately 7.23% over the past year [11] - The fund has a beta of 1.29 and a standard deviation of 26.07% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a higher risk profile [11] Alternatives - For investors seeking to outperform the Industrials ETFs segment, alternatives such as the Invesco Building & Construction ETF (PKB) are available, which tracks the Dynamic Building & Construction Intellidex Index and has $307.49 million in assets [12] - PKB has a higher expense ratio of 0.57% compared to XHB [12] - Traditional market cap weighted ETFs may offer cheaper and lower-risk options for matching returns in the Industrials ETFs space [13]

Core Insights - The Invesco DB Precious Metals ETF (DBP) is a smart beta ETF launched on January 5, 2007, providing broad exposure to the Precious Metals ETFs category [1] - DBP is managed by Invesco and has accumulated over $208.33 million in assets, making it an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - The ETF aims to match the performance of the DBIQ Optimum Yield Precious Metals Index Excess Return, which is based on futures contracts for gold and silver [6] Fund Characteristics - DBP has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.76%, which is considered high in the ETF space, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.07% [7] - The ETF's top holding, Comex Gold 100 Troy Ounces Future-12-29-2025, constitutes approximately 80.68% of total assets, indicating a concentrated exposure [8] - The top 10 holdings account for about 182.3% of total assets under management, suggesting significant overlap or leverage in the portfolio [9] Performance Metrics - As of September 18, 2025, DBP has gained approximately 37.44% year-to-date and 37.83% over the past year, with a trading range between $60.30 and $84.47 in the last 52 weeks [10] - The ETF has a beta of 0.14 and a standard deviation of 16.98% over the trailing three-year period, categorizing it as a medium-risk investment [11] Alternatives and Market Position - While DBP is a viable option for investors looking to outperform the Precious Metals ETFs segment, alternatives like the abrdn Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF (GLTR) exist, which has $1.67 billion in assets and a lower expense ratio of 0.60% [12] - Investors seeking lower-cost and lower-risk options may consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of Precious Metals ETFs [13]

Core Insights - The SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP) is a smart beta ETF launched on June 19, 2006, providing broad exposure to the Energy ETFs category [1] Fund Overview - XOP is managed by State Street Investment Management and has accumulated over $1.95 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in the Energy sector [5] - The fund aims to match the performance of the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index, which represents the oil and gas exploration and production sub-industry [6] Cost and Performance - XOP has an annual operating expense of 0.35%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in its category, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.50% [7] - The ETF has experienced a loss of approximately -1.69% year-to-date and is down about -3.3% over the past year as of August 25, 2025 [11] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Energy sector, comprising about 98% of its portfolio [8] - Hf Sinclair Corp (DINO) represents approximately 3.24% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 30.51% of total assets under management [9] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the energy space include Invesco Energy Exploration & Production ETF (PXE) with $69.94 million in assets and iShares U.S. Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (IEO) with $468.13 million [13]

Core Insights - The iShares Core S&P U.S. Value ETF (IUSV) is a smart beta ETF launched on July 24, 2000, designed to provide broad exposure to the Style Box - All Cap Value category of the market [1] - The fund is managed by Blackrock and has accumulated over $21.64 billion in assets, making it the largest ETF in its category [5] - IUSV seeks to match the performance of the S&P 900 Value Index, which measures the performance of the large and mid-capitalization value sector of the U.S. equity market [5] Fund Characteristics - IUSV has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.04%, making it one of the least expensive ETFs in the space [6] - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 1.98% [6] - The ETF has a beta of 0.88 and a standard deviation of 14.72% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The largest sector allocation for IUSV is Information Technology, comprising approximately 23.5% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Healthcare [7] - Microsoft Corp (MSFT) is the top holding, accounting for about 6.78% of total assets, with Apple Inc (AAPL) and Amazon Com Inc (AMZN) also among the top three [8] - The top 10 holdings represent about 26.57% of total assets under management [8] Performance - As of August 22, 2025, IUSV has gained approximately 6.02% year-to-date and around 7.04% over the past year [10] - The fund has traded between $81.46 and $100.02 in the last 52 weeks [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF (LRGF) and Fidelity High Dividend ETF (FDVV), with LRGF having $2.78 billion in assets and FDVV having $6.53 billion [12] - LRGF has an expense ratio of 0.08% and FDVV has an expense ratio of 0.16% [12]

Core Insights - The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) is a smart beta ETF that provides broad exposure to the Health Care ETFs category, having debuted on February 5, 2001 [1] - Smart beta ETFs are designed to outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes by focusing on specific fundamental characteristics [3][4] - IBB is managed by Blackrock and has over $5.63 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in the Health Care sector [5] Fund Details - IBB aims to match the performance of the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index, which includes securities of NASDAQ listed biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies [5] - The fund has an annual operating expense of 0.45% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.28% [6] - The fund's portfolio is entirely allocated to the Healthcare sector, with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX) being the largest holding at approximately 7.96% of total assets [7][8] Performance Metrics - As of August 18, 2025, IBB has returned approximately 5.05% year-to-date but is down about -4.01% over the past year [10] - The fund has traded between $112.02 and $149.47 in the last 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.75 and a standard deviation of 20.16% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a higher risk profile [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the biotechnology space include the First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology ETF (FBT) and the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI), with assets of $1.08 billion and $5.09 billion respectively [12] - FBT has an expense ratio of 0.54% while XBI charges 0.35%, presenting lower-cost alternatives for investors [12]

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW) is designed to provide broad exposure to the large-cap blend market while utilizing a smart beta strategy that focuses on equal weighting rather than market capitalization [1][5]. Fund Overview - EDOW was launched on August 8, 2017, and is managed by First Trust Advisors [1][5]. - The fund has accumulated over $217.92 million in assets, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in its segment [5]. - It aims to match the performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average Equal Weight Index, which is a price-neutral version of the price-weighted DJIA [5]. Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for EDOW are 0.50%, which is competitive within its peer group [6]. - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.41% [6]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Information Technology sector, comprising approximately 20.7% of the portfolio [7]. - The top three sectors also include Financials and Consumer Discretionary [7]. - Nike, Inc. (class B) (NKE) is the largest holding at about 3.86% of total assets, followed by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) and Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) [8]. - The top 10 holdings represent around 35.29% of total assets under management [8]. Performance Metrics - As of August 12, 2025, EDOW has increased by approximately 6.75% year-to-date and 16.88% over the past year [10]. - The fund has traded between $32.19 and $39.21 in the last 52 weeks [10]. - EDOW has a beta of 0.90 and a standard deviation of 14.37% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a more concentrated exposure compared to its peers with about 31 holdings [10]. Alternatives - EDOW is positioned as a strong option for investors looking to outperform the large-cap blend segment, with alternatives such as SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) also available [11]. - SPY has $651.18 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.09%, while VOO has $715.48 billion with a lower expense ratio of 0.03% [11].

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector ETF (QTEC) is a smart beta ETF designed to provide broad exposure to the technology sector, with a focus on outperforming traditional market cap weighted indexes [1][5]. Fund Overview - QTEC was launched on April 19, 2006, and is managed by First Trust Advisors, accumulating over $2.67 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in the technology sector [1][5]. - The fund aims to match the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector Index, which is an equal-weighted index based on technology securities from the NASDAQ-100 Index [5]. Cost Structure - QTEC has annual operating expenses of 0.55%, which is competitive within its peer group [6]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Information Technology sector, comprising approximately 86.6% of the portfolio, with Telecom and Consumer Discretionary as the next largest sectors [7]. - Datadog, Inc. (class A) (DDOG) is the largest holding at about 2.57% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 23.9% of total assets under management [8]. Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, QTEC has returned roughly 12.71%, and it is up approximately 19.06% over the last 12 months as of August 11, 2025 [10]. - The ETF has traded between $149.56 and $218.81 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 1.25 and a standard deviation of 28.20% over the trailing three-year period, indicating higher risk compared to peers [10]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the technology sector include the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) and the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT), which have significantly larger asset bases of $84.79 billion and $99.8 billion, respectively [12]. - XLK has a lower expense ratio of 0.08%, while VGT charges 0.09% [12].

Core Insights - The First Trust Cloud Computing ETF (SKYY) launched on May 27, 2011, offers broad exposure to the Technology ETFs category, with a focus on cloud computing [1] - SKYY is managed by First Trust Advisors and aims to match the performance of the ISE Cloud Computing Index, which tracks companies in the cloud computing industry [5] Fund Characteristics - SKYY has accumulated over $3.45 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in the Technology sector [5] - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.60% and a trailing dividend yield of 0.00% [6] - The fund's portfolio is heavily weighted in the Information Technology sector, comprising approximately 84.4% of its assets [7] Holdings and Performance - Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the largest holding at about 5.4%, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 40.42% of total assets [8] - As of August 6, 2025, SKYY has returned roughly 1.04% year-to-date and is up approximately 39.23% over the past year [10] - The ETF has a beta of 1.23 and a standard deviation of 28.45% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the cloud computing space include Global X Cloud Computing ETF (CLOU) and WisdomTree Cloud Computing ETF (WCLD), with assets of $311.28 million and $345.29 million respectively [12] - CLOU has an expense ratio of 0.68% while WCLD has a lower expense ratio of 0.45% [12]

Core Insights - The iShares U.S. Equity Factor ETF (LRGF) is a smart beta ETF launched on April 28, 2015, providing broad exposure to the Style Box - All Cap Value category [1] - LRGF is managed by Blackrock and has accumulated over $2.69 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in its category [5] - The fund aims to match the performance of the MSCI USA Diversified Multiple-Factor Index, focusing on U.S. large and mid-cap stocks with favorable exposure to target style factors [5] Fund Characteristics - LRGF has an annual operating expense of 0.08%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in the ETF space [6] - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 1.18% [6] - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Information Technology sector, comprising about 34.5% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Consumer Discretionary [7] Holdings and Performance - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) is the largest holding, accounting for approximately 6.85% of total assets, with Microsoft Corp (MSFT) and Apple Inc (AAPL) also among the top holdings [8] - The top 10 holdings represent about 32.73% of LRGF's total assets under management [8] - As of August 5, 2025, LRGF has returned roughly 9.13% year-to-date and approximately 21.66% over the past year, with a trading range between $51.37 and $66.01 in the last 52 weeks [10] Risk Profile - LRGF has a beta of 0.96 and a standard deviation of 17.10% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10] - The fund consists of about 289 holdings, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include Fidelity High Dividend ETF (FDVV) and iShares Core S&P U.S. Value ETF (IUSV), with FDVV having $6.17 billion in assets and IUSV at $21 billion [12] - FDVV has an expense ratio of 0.16%, while IUSV has a lower expense ratio of 0.04% [12]