Citi Research 5 December 2025 US Equity Strategy Size & Style Chartbook Scott T ChronertAC Managing Director scott.t.chronert@citi.com +1 415-951-1771 Drew Pettit Director drew.pettit@citi.com +1 415-951-1621 Patrick Galvin, CFA Vice President patrick.galvin@citi.com +1 212-816-5373 See AppendixA-1 for AnalystCertification, Important Disclosures and ResearchAnalystAffiliations Citi Research is a division of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (the "Firm"), which does and seeks to do business with companies covere ...

Core Insights - The State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG) is a large-cap growth ETF with over $43.33 billion in assets, making it one of the largest in its category [1] - Large cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations above $10 billion, are considered more stable and less volatile compared to mid and small cap companies [2] - Growth stocks, while having higher sales and earnings growth rates, come with higher valuations and risks compared to value stocks [3] Costs - SPYG has an annual operating expense of 0.04%, making it one of the least expensive ETFs in the market [4] - The ETF offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.55% [4] Sector Exposure and Top Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation of approximately 43% to the Information Technology sector, followed by Telecom and Consumer Discretionary [5] - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) constitutes about 14.9% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings making up around 55.13% of total assets [6] Performance and Risk - SPYG aims to match the performance of the S&P 500 Growth Index and has gained about 17.17% year-to-date and approximately 19.54% over the past year [7] - The ETF has a beta of 1.11 and a standard deviation of 18.63% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [8] Alternatives - SPYG holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong potential for investors seeking large cap growth exposure [10] - Other alternatives include the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), with VUG having $193.69 billion in assets and QQQ at $386.22 billion [11] Bottom-Line - Passively managed ETFs like SPYG are gaining popularity due to their low cost, transparency, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investors [12]

Core Viewpoint - The iShares Nasdaq Top 30 Stocks ETF (QTOP) is a passively managed fund launched on October 24, 2024, aimed at providing broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market, sponsored by Blackrock, with assets exceeding $201.55 million [1] Group 1: Large Cap Growth Characteristics - Large cap companies typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion, offering more predictable cash flows and lower volatility compared to mid and small cap companies [2] - Growth stocks are characterized by higher than average sales and earnings growth rates, but they also carry higher valuations and risks compared to value stocks [3] Group 2: Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for QTOP are 0.2%, positioning it as one of the cheaper options in the ETF market, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.38% [4] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising about 54.8% of the portfolio, with Telecom and Consumer Discretionary as the next largest sectors [5] - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) represents approximately 12.29% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 67.77% of total assets under management [6] Group 4: Performance Metrics - QTOP aims to match the performance of the NASDAQ-100 TOP 30 INDEX, which includes the 30 largest companies by market capitalization within the Nasdaq 100 Index, and has achieved a return of about 20.97% so far [7] - The ETF has traded between $21.09 and $31.70 over the past 52 weeks, indicating a more concentrated exposure with about 35 holdings [7] Group 5: Alternatives and Market Position - QTOP holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong expected performance based on various factors, making it a suitable option for investors interested in the Large Cap Growth segment [8] - Other comparable ETFs include the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), with VUG having $197.34 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.04%, while QQQ has $391.85 billion in assets with a 0.2% expense ratio [9] Group 6: Industry Trends - Passively managed ETFs are gaining popularity among both institutional and retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them attractive vehicles for long-term investment [10]

Core Insights - The Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG) is a passively managed ETF launched on September 9, 2010, with over $20.05 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market [1] Group 1: Large Cap Growth Overview - Large cap companies typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion, offering a stable investment option with less risk and more reliable cash flows compared to mid and small cap companies [2] - Growth stocks are characterized by higher than average sales and earnings growth rates, but they also come with higher valuations and associated risks [3] Group 2: Costs and Performance - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.07%, making it one of the least expensive options in its category, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.49% [4] - VOOG aims to match the performance of the S&P 500 Growth Index and has gained approximately 17.4% year-to-date and about 30.01% over the past year, with a trading range between $299.15 and $428.71 in the last 52 weeks [7] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising about 42.1% of the portfolio, followed by Telecom and Consumer Discretionary [5] - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) represents approximately 14.89% of total assets, with Microsoft Corp (MSFT) and Meta Platforms Inc (META) also among the top holdings; the top 10 holdings account for about 41.77% of total assets [6] Group 4: Risk and Alternatives - VOOG has a beta of 1.11 and a standard deviation of 20.13% over the trailing three-year period, categorizing it as a medium risk investment with 217 holdings to diversify company-specific risk [8] - The ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong potential based on expected returns, expense ratio, and momentum; alternatives include Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ) [9][10] Group 5: Market Trends - Passively managed ETFs are gaining popularity among both institutional and retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [11]

Core Viewpoint - The Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (MGK) is a significant player in the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market, with over $28.92 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in this category [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - MGK is a passively managed ETF launched on December 17, 2007, sponsored by Vanguard [1] - The ETF aims to provide broad exposure to large cap growth companies, which typically have market capitalizations above $10 billion [2] Group 2: Growth Stock Characteristics - Growth stocks, which MGK primarily invests in, exhibit faster growth rates, higher valuations, and above-average sales and earnings growth compared to the broader market [3] - While growth stocks can outperform value stocks in strong bull markets, value stocks historically deliver better returns across various market conditions [3] Group 3: Cost Structure - MGK has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.07%, positioning it as one of the least expensive ETFs in its category [4] - The ETF offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.41% [4] Group 4: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising approximately 56.5% of the portfolio, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Telecom [5] - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) is the largest holding, accounting for about 14.47% of total assets, with Microsoft Corp (MSFT) and Apple Inc (AAPL) also among the top holdings [6] Group 5: Performance Metrics - MGK seeks to match the performance of the CRSP U.S. Mega Cap Growth Index, which measures the performance of mega-cap growth stocks [7] - The ETF has gained approximately 12.02% year-to-date and 23.77% over the past year, with a trading range between $273.67 and $389.51 in the last 52 weeks [7] Group 6: Risk Assessment - MGK has a beta of 1.19 and a standard deviation of 21.85% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [8] - The ETF holds about 71 different stocks, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [8] Group 7: Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), with VUG having $184.82 billion in assets and QQQ at $365.36 billion [11] - VUG has an expense ratio of 0.04%, while QQQ charges 0.2% [11] Group 8: Market 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 [12]

ETF Market Overview - ETF net flows are over $789 billion year to date [1] - Investors are slightly buying the dip on the Triple Q's following Nvidia earnings [2] ETF Inflows - Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund (VGIT) saw the top inflows this week [2] - iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), representing small caps, experienced significant inflows [2] - Investment grade corporate bond ETF (LQD) also saw substantial inflows [2] Active Management & JGRO ETF - JP Morgan suggests active management with the JGRO ETF, emphasizing bottoms-up research and individual stock valuation [3] - JGRO ETF focuses on large-cap growth, considered a suitable strategy in an environment driven by a few key stocks [3] - JGRO ETF is up double digits year to date, performing closely to the S&P 500 [4]

Core Insights - The First Trust Growth Strength ETF (FTGS) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market and has amassed over $1.23 billion in assets since its launch on October 25, 2022 [1] Group 1: Large Cap Growth Overview - Large cap companies typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion, offering a stable investment option with less risk and more reliable cash flows compared to mid and small cap companies [2] - Growth stocks are characterized by higher sales and earnings growth rates, but they also come with higher valuations and risks compared to other equity types [3] Group 2: Costs and Performance - The FTGS ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.6%, which is considered relatively high, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.33% [4] - The ETF has gained approximately 12.13% year-to-date and 14.89% over the past year, with a trading range between $26.62 and $35.51 in the last 52 weeks [7] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising about 30.6% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Financials [5] - Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) represents about 2.91% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 24.93% of total assets under management [6] Group 4: Risk and Alternatives - FTGS has a beta of 1.13 and a standard deviation of 17.78% over the trailing three-year period, indicating effective diversification of company-specific risk with about 51 holdings [8] - Alternatives to FTGS include the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), which have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [10]

Core Viewpoint - The Goldman Sachs MarketBeta Russell 1000 Growth Equity ETF (GGUS) is a newly launched passively managed ETF aimed at providing broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $295.45 million [1]. Group 1: Large Cap Growth Characteristics - Large cap companies typically have market capitalizations above $10 billion, characterized by stability and predictable cash flows, resulting in lower volatility compared to mid and small cap companies [2]. - Growth stocks are associated with higher sales and earnings growth rates, expected to outperform the market, but they come with higher valuations and risks [3]. Group 2: Cost Structure - GGUS has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.12%, making it one of the least expensive ETFs in its category, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.51% [4]. Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising approximately 46.8% of the portfolio, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Telecom [5]. - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) is the largest holding at about 11.61% of total assets, with Microsoft Corp (MSFT) and Apple Inc (AAPL) also among the top holdings; the top 10 holdings represent around 50% of total assets [6]. Group 4: Performance Metrics - GGUS aims to match the performance of the Russell 1000 Growth 40 Act Daily Capped Index, with a year-to-date return of approximately 10.95% and a one-year return of about 22.37% as of August 25, 2025 [7]. - The ETF has a beta of 1.16 and a standard deviation of 19.91% over the trailing three-year period, indicating effective diversification with around 380 holdings [8]. Group 5: Alternatives and Market Position - GGUS holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong potential based on expected returns, expense ratio, and momentum, making it a favorable option for investors in the Large Cap Growth segment [10]. - Other comparable ETFs include the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), with VUG having $184.39 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.04%, while QQQ has $369.27 billion in assets with a 0.2% expense ratio [11]. Group 6: Investment Appeal - Passively managed ETFs like GGUS are increasingly popular among retail and institutional investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [12].

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust Large Cap Growth AlphaDEX ETF (FTC) is a passively managed ETF designed to provide broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $1.20 billion [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - FTC was launched on May 8, 2007, and is sponsored by First Trust Advisors [1] - The ETF targets companies with a market capitalization above $10 billion, which are considered more stable and less volatile compared to mid and small cap companies [2] Group 2: Growth Stocks Characteristics - Growth stocks typically exhibit higher than average sales and earnings growth rates, but they also come with higher valuations and volatility [3] - While growth stocks may outperform value stocks in strong bull markets, value stocks have historically provided better returns across various market conditions [3] Group 3: Costs and Performance - The annual operating expenses for FTC are 0.58%, which is competitive within its peer group, and it has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.34% [4] - FTC aims to match the performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Large Cap Growth Index, having gained approximately 11.49% year-to-date and 22.59% over the past year as of August 22, 2025 [7] Group 4: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Financials sector, comprising about 21.2% of the portfolio, followed by Information Technology and Industrials [5] - Robinhood Markets, Inc. (class A) accounts for approximately 1.77% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings representing about 12.52% of total assets under management [6] Group 5: Risk and Alternatives - FTC has a beta of 1.11 and a standard deviation of 18.47% over the trailing three-year period, indicating it is a medium risk option [8] - The ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), making it a strong choice for investors interested in the Large Cap Growth segment [10] - Alternatives include the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), which have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [11] Group 6: Bottom Line - Passively managed ETFs like FTC are increasingly popular due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investors [12]

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted ETF (QQEW) offers broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $1.85 billion, making it a significant player in this category [1]. Group 1: Large Cap Growth Overview - Large cap companies typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion, providing a stable investment option with less risk and more reliable cash flows compared to mid and small cap companies [2]. - Growth stocks are characterized by higher sales and earnings growth rates, expected to outperform the wider market, but they come with higher valuations and volatility [3]. Group 2: Costs and Performance - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.55% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.41%, which is competitive within its peer group [4]. - QQEW aims to match the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index, having gained approximately 8.24% year-to-date and 8.72% over the past year, with a trading range of $106.81 to $139.57 in the last 52 weeks [7]. Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising about 39% of the portfolio, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Telecom [5]. - Datadog, Inc. (DDOG) represents about 1.15% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 10.69% of total assets under management [6]. Group 4: Risk Assessment - QQEW has a beta of 1.06 and a standard deviation of 19.68% over the trailing three-year period, categorizing it as a medium risk investment with effective diversification across 102 holdings [8]. Group 5: Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) with $181.63 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.04%, and Invesco QQQ (QQQ) with $362.77 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.2% [11].