Core Viewpoint - The S&P 500 index has shown impressive returns, generating a total return of 261% since August 2015, driven by low interest rates, economic growth, and passive investment flows [1][2]. Investment Strategy - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is recommended as a smart way to gain exposure to the S&P 500 index, which includes 500 large and profitable U.S. companies [4]. - The ETF provides instant equity diversification, allowing investors to benefit from the overall growth of the American economy without needing to pick individual stocks [6]. Performance Metrics - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has produced a total return of 260% over the past decade, translating to an annualized gain of 13.7%, meaning a $10,000 investment would be worth $36,000 today [7]. - The ETF's low expense ratio of 0.03% is highlighted as a significant advantage, with only $3 going to Vanguard annually from a hypothetical $10,000 investment [8]. Market Conditions - As of August 5, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF trades just 1% below its peak, indicating resilience in the market despite macroeconomic uncertainties [9]. - The article suggests that timing the market is challenging, and investors are encouraged to invest early and consistently to benefit from compounding over time [10]. Future Expectations - While the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is expected to perform well in the long term, there is a caution that annualized gains may revert toward the 10% long-term average [11].

Core Viewpoint - The Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth ETF (VTWG) provides broad exposure to the Small Cap Growth segment of the US equity market, with a focus on companies that typically have higher growth potential but also higher risk [1][2]. Group 1: Fund Overview - VTWG is a passively managed ETF launched on September 22, 2010, and is sponsored by Vanguard [1]. - The fund has accumulated over $1.01 billion in assets, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [1]. - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.1%, making it one of the least expensive options available [4]. Group 2: Investment Characteristics - Small cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations below $2 billion, are generally considered to have higher growth potential compared to larger companies, albeit with increased risk [2]. - Growth stocks, which VTWG primarily invests in, are characterized by faster growth rates, higher valuations, and above-average sales and earnings growth [3]. Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising about 22% of the portfolio, followed by Healthcare and Industrials [5]. - Individual holdings include Slbbh1142 at approximately 1.19% of total assets, with Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd (CRDO) and Fabrinet (FN) also among the top holdings [6]. Group 4: Performance Metrics - VTWG aims to match the performance of the Russell 2000 Growth Index, which includes companies with higher price/book ratios and growth rates [7]. - As of August 8, 2025, the ETF has gained about 1.32% year-to-date and approximately 14.35% over the past year, with a trading range between $163.60 and $229.76 in the last 52 weeks [7]. - The ETF has a beta of 1.15 and a standard deviation of 23.07% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a higher risk profile [8]. Group 5: Alternatives and Market Position - VTWG holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting it is a viable option for investors seeking exposure to the Small Cap Growth segment [9]. - Other comparable ETFs include the iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO) with $11.67 billion in assets and the Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) with $19.21 billion, each with different expense ratios [10]. Group 6: 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 Invesco S&P SmallCap Quality ETF (XSHQ) aims to provide broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, with a focus on high-potential small cap companies, while managing associated risks [1][2]. Group 1: Fund Overview - XSHQ was launched on April 6, 2017, and has accumulated assets exceeding $306.62 million, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in its segment [1]. - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.29%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.25% [3]. Group 2: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF's largest allocation is to the Industrials sector, comprising approximately 25.1% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Consumer Discretionary [4]. - Sterling Infrastructure Inc (STRL) represents about 2.44% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for around 20.69% of total assets under management [5]. Group 3: Performance Metrics - XSHQ seeks to replicate the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Quality Index, which includes 120 high-quality securities based on return on equity, accruals ratio, and financial leverage ratio [6]. - As of August 8, 2025, the ETF has experienced a year-to-date loss of approximately 1.19% but has gained about 6.69% over the past year, trading between $34.34 and $47.59 in the last 52 weeks [7]. Group 4: Alternatives and Market Position - The ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating it is a viable option for investors seeking exposure to the Small Cap Blend market segment [8]. - Comparable ETFs include the Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) with $63.09 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.05%, and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) with $80.19 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.06% [9]. Group 5: Investment Trends - 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 Viewpoint - The SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG) is a significant option for investors seeking exposure to the Small Cap Growth segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $3.37 billion and a low expense ratio of 0.15% [1][4]. Group 1: Fund Overview - SLYG is a passively managed ETF launched on September 25, 2000, sponsored by State Street Investment Management [1]. - The fund aims to match the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Growth Index, which includes small-cap companies with market capitalizations between $250 million and $1.2 billion [7]. Group 2: Investment Characteristics - Small cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations below $2 billion, are considered high-potential stocks but come with higher risks compared to larger counterparts [2]. - Growth stocks, which SLYG primarily invests in, typically exhibit higher sales and earnings growth rates but also have higher valuations and volatility [3]. Group 3: Costs and Performance - The ETF has an annual operating expense of 0.15% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.25% [4]. - As of August 8, 2025, SLYG has lost approximately 0.89% year-to-date but is up about 5.22% over the past year, with a trading range between $72.61 and $100.66 in the last 52 weeks [8]. Group 4: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Industrials sector, comprising about 23.9% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Information Technology [5]. - Aerovironment Inc (AVAV) is the largest individual holding at approximately 1.19% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 10.34% of total assets under management [6]. Group 5: Alternatives - Other ETFs in the small-cap growth space include the iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO) with $11.67 billion in assets and the Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) with $19.21 billion, with expense ratios of 0.24% and 0.07%, respectively [11].

Core Viewpoint - The WisdomTree U.S. MidCap ETF (EZM) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Mid Cap Value segment of the U.S. equity market, with assets exceeding $772 million, making it a mid-sized ETF in this category [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - Launched on February 23, 2007, EZM is a passively managed ETF sponsored by WisdomTree [1] - The ETF targets mid cap companies with market capitalizations between $2 billion and $10 billion, which are perceived to have higher growth prospects compared to large cap companies while being less risky than small cap firms [2] Group 2: Financial Metrics - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.38%, which is competitive within its peer group [4] - It offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.33% [4] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Energy sector, with the top three sectors being Energy, Industrials, and Materials [5] - The top 10 holdings account for approximately 107.03% of total assets under management, indicating a concentrated investment strategy [6] Group 4: Performance Analysis - EZM aims to match the performance of the WisdomTree U.S. MidCap Earnings Index, having gained about 0.7% year-to-date and 10.18% over the past year as of August 7, 2025 [7] - The ETF has traded between $51.81 and $68.19 in the past 52 weeks [7] - It has a beta of 1.07 and a standard deviation of 20.67% over the trailing three-year period, categorizing it as a medium risk investment [8] Group 5: Alternatives and Market Position - EZM holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a moderate outlook based on expected returns, expense ratios, and momentum [9] - Other comparable ETFs include the iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) with $13.43 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.23%, and the Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF (VOE) with $18.16 billion in assets and a lower expense ratio of 0.07% [10] Group 6: Investment Appeal - Passively managed ETFs like EZM 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 [11]

Core Insights - The Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (GSSC) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the U.S. equity market, launched on June 28, 2017, with assets exceeding $589.97 million [1] Group 1: Small Cap Blend Overview - Small cap companies are defined as those with market capitalizations below $2 billion, typically presenting higher potential but also higher risk compared to larger companies [2] - Blend ETFs hold a mix of growth and value stocks, exhibiting characteristics of both types of equities [2] Group 2: Costs and Performance - GSSC has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.2%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.33% [3] - The ETF has increased by approximately 0.82% year-to-date and has risen about 9.24% over the past year, with a trading range between $55.86 and $76.22 in the last 52 weeks [6] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF's largest allocation is to the Financials sector, comprising about 22.4% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Healthcare [4] - The top 10 holdings represent approximately 3.57% of total assets, with individual holdings like Sep 25 Cme Eminirus2k (RTYU25) accounting for about 0.55% [5] Group 4: Risk and Alternatives - GSSC aims to match the performance of the Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta U.S. Small Cap Equity Index, with a beta of 1.05 and a standard deviation of 21.23% over the trailing three years, indicating effective diversification with around 1365 holdings [6][7] - Alternatives in the small-cap ETF space include the Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR), which have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [9]

Core Insights - The Invesco Russell 1000 Dynamic Multifactor ETF (OMFL) is a smart beta ETF launched on November 8, 2017, providing broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth category [1] - OMFL has accumulated over $4.96 billion in assets, positioning it as one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The ETF aims to match the performance of the Russell 1000 Invesco Dynamic Multifactor Index, which selects equity securities from the 1,000 largest U.S. companies [6] Investment Strategy - Smart beta ETFs, like OMFL, utilize non-cap weighted strategies to potentially outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes [3] - OMFL employs a rules-based methodology to select stocks based on specific fundamental characteristics [4] Cost Structure - OMFL has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.29%, which is competitive within its peer group [7] - The ETF offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.70% [7] Sector Allocation and Holdings - The largest sector allocation for OMFL is Information Technology, comprising approximately 26.4% of the portfolio [8] - Top holdings include Apple Inc (7.58%), Microsoft Corp, and Meta Platforms Inc, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 41.49% of total assets [9] Performance Metrics - As of August 7, 2025, OMFL has gained approximately 8.25% year-to-date and 22.15% over the past year [11] - The ETF has a beta of 1.01 and a standard deviation of 15.93% over the trailing three-year period, indicating effective diversification of company-specific risk [11] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Large Cap Growth space include Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), with VUG having $182.33 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.04%, while QQQ has $362.46 billion and an expense ratio of 0.20% [12]

Core Viewpoint - The iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) is a significant player in the Mid Cap Value segment of the US equity market, with over $13.43 billion in assets, and aims to provide broad exposure to this sector [1]. Group 1: ETF Overview - IWS was launched on July 17, 2001, and is passively managed by Blackrock [1]. - The ETF targets mid-cap companies with market capitalizations between $2 billion and $10 billion, balancing stability and growth potential [2]. Group 2: Value Stocks Characteristics - Value stocks, which IWS focuses on, typically have lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, along with lower sales and earnings growth rates [3]. - Historically, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in long-term performance, although growth stocks may excel in strong bull markets [3]. Group 3: Costs and Performance - The annual operating expenses for IWS are 0.23%, which is competitive within its peer group, and it has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.57% [4]. - IWS aims to match the performance of the Russell MidCap Value Index, with a year-to-date return of approximately 4.18% and a one-year return of about 11.37% as of August 7, 2025 [7]. Group 4: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Industrials sector, comprising about 17.7% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Real Estate [5]. - Coinbase Global Inc Class A (COIN) represents about 0.72% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 6.08% of total assets under management [6]. Group 5: Risk and Alternatives - IWS has a beta of 1.00 and a standard deviation of 17.35% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [8]. - Alternatives to IWS include the First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY) and the Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF (VOE), with respective assets of $8.36 billion and $18.16 billion [10].

Core Insights - The ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF (SMDV) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Style Box - Small Cap Value category and was launched on February 3, 2015 [1] - The fund has accumulated over $643.67 million in assets, making it an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - SMDV seeks to match the performance of the Russell 2000 Dividend Growth Index, targeting companies that have increased dividend payments for at least 10 consecutive years [5] Fund Characteristics - The annual operating expenses for SMDV are 0.40%, which is competitive within its peer group [6] - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.68% [6] - The fund has a beta of 0.83 and a standard deviation of 19.57% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Sector Exposure - The ETF has the highest allocation in the Financials sector, comprising approximately 32% of the portfolio [7] - The top three sectors also include Industrials and Utilities [7] - Spartannash Co (SPTN) is the largest individual holding at about 1.31% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 9.4% of total assets [8] Performance Metrics - SMDV has experienced a loss of about -2.99% year-to-date and a gain of approximately 0.91% over the past year as of August 7, 2025 [10] - The fund has traded between $58.95 and $75.88 in the past 52 weeks [10] - With around 108 holdings, SMDV effectively diversifies company-specific risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG), with assets of $32.68 billion and $93.36 billion respectively [12] - DGRO has a lower expense ratio of 0.08% compared to SMDV, while VIG has an expense ratio of 0.05% [12]

Core Viewpoint - The ALPS (OUSA) is a smart beta ETF launched to provide broad exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value category, with a focus on outperforming traditional market cap weighted indexes [1][5]. Fund Overview - OUSA was launched on July 14, 2015, and is designed to match the performance of the FTSE US Qual / Vol / Yield Factor 5% Capped Index [1][5]. - The fund is managed by Alps and has accumulated over $810.22 million in assets, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in its segment [5]. Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for OUSA are 0.48%, which is competitive with most peer products in the same space [6]. - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.32% [6]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - OUSA has a significant allocation in the Financials sector, comprising approximately 26.6% of the portfolio, followed by Information Technology and Healthcare [7]. - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is the largest holding at about 5.74%, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 43.56% of total assets [8]. Performance Metrics - As of August 7, 2025, OUSA has gained about 3.13% year-to-date and 11.88% over the past year [10]. - The ETF has traded between $47.97 and $55.50 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.83 and a standard deviation of 13.53% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), with SCHD having $69.59 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.06%, while VTV has $138.9 billion and an expense ratio of 0.04% [12].