Core Viewpoint - The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) is a leading passively managed ETF that offers broad exposure to the Technology sector, making it an attractive option for both institutional and retail investors due to its low costs and tax efficiency [1][3]. Group 1: ETF Overview - Launched on January 26, 2004, VGT aims to match the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology 25/50 Index [1][3]. - VGT has accumulated over $100.82 billion in assets, making it the largest ETF in the Technology - Broad segment [3]. - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.09%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in the market [5]. Group 2: Sector Exposure and Holdings - VGT is heavily concentrated in the Information Technology sector, with approximately 99.9% of its portfolio allocated to this sector [6]. - The top holdings include Nvidia Corp (NVDA) at about 16.75%, followed by Microsoft Corp (MSFT) and Apple Inc (AAPL) [7]. Group 3: Performance Metrics - As of August 13, 2025, VGT has gained approximately 13.78% year-to-date and 31.72% over the past year [8]. - The ETF has traded between $470.37 and $706.07 in the last 52 weeks, indicating significant price movement [8]. - VGT has a beta of 1.25 and a standard deviation of 24.78% over the trailing three-year period, categorizing it as a medium-risk investment [8]. Group 4: Alternatives and Rankings - VGT holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong expected performance based on various factors [9]. - Other alternatives in the technology ETF space include iShares U.S. Technology ETF (IYW) and Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK), with respective assets of $23.33 billion and $85.64 billion [10].

Core Viewpoint - The Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF (XMMO) is a significant player in the Mid Cap Growth segment of the US equity market, with over $4.16 billion in assets, providing investors with a diversified investment option in this sector [1][10]. Group 1: Mid Cap Growth Characteristics - Mid cap companies, with market capitalizations between $2 billion and $10 billion, typically exhibit higher growth prospects compared to large cap companies while being less volatile than small cap companies, offering a balance of stability and growth potential [2]. - Growth stocks generally have higher sales and earnings growth rates, expected to outpace the wider market, but they also come with higher valuations and volatility, performing well in strong bull markets but struggling in other market conditions [3]. Group 2: Costs and Performance - The Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.39% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.67%, which is competitive within its peer group [4]. - The ETF aims to match the performance of the S&P MIDCAP 400 MOMENTUM INDEX, achieving a return of approximately 5.34% year-to-date and 15.38% over the past year, with a trading range between $101.93 and $136.30 in the last 52 weeks [7]. Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Financials sector, comprising about 27.6% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Consumer Staples [5]. - The top holding, Interactive Brokers Group Inc (IBKR), represents about 5.18% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 29.67% of total assets under management [6]. Group 4: Risk and Alternatives - The ETF has a beta of 1.03 and a standard deviation of 20.44% over the trailing three-year period, indicating effective diversification of company-specific risk with around 79 holdings [8]. - Alternatives in the Mid Cap Growth ETF space include the Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF (VOT) with $17.34 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.07%, and the iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (IWP) with $19.77 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.23% [11]. Group 5: 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].

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 Schwab Fundamental International Small Company Index ETF (FNDC) debuted on August 13, 2013, and provides broad exposure to the Foreign Small/Mid Value ETF category [1] - FNDC is managed by Charles Schwab and aims to match the performance of the Russell RAFI Developed ex-U.S. Small Co. Index [5] Fund Overview - FNDC has accumulated over $2.99 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The fund has an annual operating expense of 0.39% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.70% [6] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, FNDC has increased by approximately 26.46%, and it is up about 29.98% over the last 12 months as of August 7, 2025 [9] - The fund has a beta of 0.80 and a standard deviation of 15.68% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a low-risk profile [10] Holdings and Sector Exposure - FNDC's top 10 holdings account for about 1.56% of its total assets, with Celestica Inc (CLS) being the largest at approximately 0.23% [7][8] - The fund holds around 1727 different stocks, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [10] Alternatives in the Market - Other ETFs in the Foreign Small/Mid Value segment include Invesco RAFI Developed Markets ex-U.S. Small-Mid ETF (PDN) and WisdomTree Dynamic International SmallCap Equity Fund (DDLS), with assets of $365.06 million and $438.6 million respectively [12] - PDN has an expense ratio of 0.47%, while DDLS has an expense ratio of 0.48% [12]

Core Viewpoint - The iShares MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF (CRBN) is a smart beta ETF that aims to provide broad exposure to the global market while focusing on low carbon emissions [1][5]. Fund Overview - Launched on December 8, 2014, CRBN has accumulated over $1.03 billion in assets, positioning it as one of the larger ETFs in the World ETFs category [1][5]. - The fund is sponsored by Blackrock and seeks to match the performance of the MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target Index, which addresses carbon emissions and potential emissions from fossil fuel reserves [5]. Cost and Performance - CRBN has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.20%, making it one of the least expensive options in its category [6]. - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 1.86% [6]. - As of August 5, 2025, CRBN has returned approximately 11.36% and is up about 20.97% year-to-date [9]. Holdings and Sector Exposure - The top 10 holdings of CRBN account for about 23.1% of its total assets, with Nvidia Corp (NVDA) making up approximately 4.68% of the fund [7][8]. - The fund holds around 1020 different stocks, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [10]. Risk Profile - CRBN has a beta of 0.94 and a standard deviation of 15.70% over the trailing three-year period, indicating it is a low-risk choice within its category [10].

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]

Core Insights - The Invesco Fundamental High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (PHB) debuted on November 15, 2007, and provides broad exposure to the High-Yield/Junk Bond ETFs category [1] - The ETF industry has been traditionally dominated by market capitalization weighted indexes, but smart beta funds offer non-cap weighted strategies for investors seeking to outperform the market [2][3] - PHB is managed by Invesco and has accumulated over $348.46 million in assets, aiming to match the performance of the RAFI Bonds US High Yield 1-10 Index [5][6] Fund Details - The annual operating expenses for PHB are 0.50%, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 5.70% [7] - The fund's top holdings include Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (1.61% of total assets), Albertsons Cos Inc, and Synchrony Financial, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 10.76% of total assets [9] - As of July 31, 2025, PHB has returned approximately 4.79% year-to-date and 6.87% over the past year, with a trading range between $17.50 and $18.61 in the last 52 weeks [11] Alternatives and Market Position - Other ETFs in the high-yield space include iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) and iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY), with assets of $16.91 billion and $25.18 billion respectively [13] - Investors seeking lower-cost options may consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the High-Yield/Junk Bond ETFs [14]

Core Insights - The Inspire Corporate Bond ETF (IBD) is a smart beta ETF launched on July 10, 2017, aimed at providing broad exposure to the Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETFs category [1] - IBD has accumulated assets of over $391.96 million, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - The fund seeks to match the performance of the Inspire Corporate Bond Impact Equal Weight Index, which consists of 250 investment-grade corporate bonds from large-cap blue-chip companies in the U.S. [6] Fund Management and Costs - The fund is managed by Inspire and has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.43%, making it one of the more expensive options in the market [7] - IBD's 12-month trailing dividend yield stands at 4.20% [7] Holdings and Sector Exposure - The top holding, Trimble Inc, constitutes approximately 1.86% of the fund's total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 18.24% of total assets [8][9] - The ETF provides diversified exposure, which helps minimize single stock risk [8] Performance Metrics - As of July 29, 2025, IBD has gained approximately 4.14% year-to-date and 5.9% over the past year, with trading prices ranging between $23.28 and $24.29 in the last 52 weeks [10] - The fund has a beta of 0.19 and a standard deviation of 6.13% over the trailing three-year period, indicating effective diversification of company-specific risk [11] Alternatives and Market Position - IBD may not be suitable for investors looking to outperform the Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETFs segment, with other ETFs available that may offer better performance [12] - Comparatively, the Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF and iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios, suggesting alternatives for cost-conscious investors [13]

Core Insights - The Franklin U.S. Large Cap Multifactor Index ETF (FLQL) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $1.56 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs in this category [1] Group 1: Fund Overview - FLQL is a passively managed ETF launched on April 26, 2017, sponsored by Franklin Templeton Investments [1] - The fund targets companies with market capitalizations above $10 billion, typically offering more stability and reliable cash flows compared to mid and small cap companies [2] Group 2: Costs and Performance - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.15%, positioning it as one of the cheaper options in the market, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.16% [3] - FLQL has achieved a return of approximately 10.89% year-to-date and 18.52% over the past year, with a trading range between $50.10 and $64.69 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 34.40% of the portfolio, followed by Healthcare and Telecom [4] - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) is the largest holding at approximately 6.42% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 34.29% of total assets under management [5] Group 4: Investment Strategy - FLQL aims to match the performance of the LibertyQ US Large Cap Equity Index, which seeks lower risk and higher risk-adjusted performance compared to the Russell 1000 Index through a multi-factor selection process [6] Group 5: Alternatives and Market Position - FLQL holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong potential based on expected returns, expense ratio, and momentum [9] - Other ETFs in the same space include the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), which have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [10]

Core Viewpoint - Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VYM) has approximately $75 billion in assets, indicating its popularity among investors, but it may not be the best dividend ETF available [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index ETF is an exchange-traded fund that pools investors' money for management [2] - The ETF aims to track the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which includes companies with high dividend yields and a history of above-average dividend payments [4][5] Group 2: Investment Strategy - The FTSE High Dividend Yield Index identifies dividend-paying companies on U.S. exchanges and selects the top 50% with the highest yields [5] - The ETF holds around 580 stocks, providing wide diversification across dividend stocks [7] Group 3: Performance Metrics - The current dividend yield of the ETF is 2.6%, which is better than the S&P 500 index but lower than some other dividend-focused ETFs [8] - The expense ratio of the ETF is low at 0.06%, comparable to other higher-yielding dividend ETFs [8] Group 4: Selection Process Concerns - The ETF's selection process does not differentiate between well-managed and troubled companies, focusing solely on yield [9] - This could result in a portfolio that includes both high-quality and poor-performing companies [9] Group 5: Alternatives - Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is presented as a better alternative, offering a yield of approximately 3.8%, notable diversification, and a focus on financially strong companies, with a similar expense ratio of 0.06% [11]