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]

Core Insights - The FlexShares International Quality Dividend ETF (IQDF) debuted on April 12, 2013, and provides broad exposure to the World ETFs category [1] - IQDF is managed by Flexshares and has accumulated over $766.5 million in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The fund aims to match the performance of the Northern Trust International Quality Dividend Index, focusing on high-quality, income-oriented international securities [6] Fund Characteristics - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.47%, positioning it as one of the cheaper options in the market [7] - IQDF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 6.09% [7] - The fund's top 10 holdings account for approximately 17.46% of its total assets, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd being the largest holding at 2.63% [8][9] Performance Metrics - As of July 25, 2025, IQDF has a return of approximately 23.19% and has increased by about 20.83% year-to-date [10] - The ETF has traded between $22.10 and $28.22 over the past 52 weeks [10] - IQDF has a beta of 0.74 and a standard deviation of 15.10% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [11] Alternatives and Market Position - IQDF is a viable option for investors looking to outperform the World ETFs segment, but there are alternatives such as the FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic ETF (IQDY) with an expense ratio of 0.45% [12] - Traditional market cap weighted ETFs are suggested for investors seeking lower-cost and lower-risk options [13]

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 First Trust Small Cap Growth AlphaDEX ETF (FYC) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Small Cap Growth segment of the US equity market, with a focus on growth stocks that have higher potential but also higher risks [1][2][3]. Fund Overview - Launched on April 19, 2011, FYC has accumulated assets exceeding $462.95 million, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [1]. - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.71%, which is considered high compared to other funds in the space [4]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Financials sector, comprising approximately 22.10% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Healthcare [5]. - Sezzle Inc. (SEZL) is the largest individual holding at about 2.86% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for roughly 12.34% of total assets under management [6]. Performance Metrics - FYC aims to match the performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Small Cap Growth Index, with a year-to-date return of approximately 4.59% and a one-year return of about 16.76% as of July 25, 2025 [7]. - The ETF has a beta of 1.16 and a standard deviation of 22.36% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a higher risk profile [8]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include the iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO) with $11.90 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.24%, and the Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) with $19.60 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.07% [11]. Conclusion - FYC is a viable option for long-term investors seeking exposure to small-cap growth stocks, benefiting from low costs, transparency, and tax efficiency typical of passively managed ETFs [12].

Core Viewpoint - The TCW Transform 500 ETF (VOTE) is a passively managed ETF that aims to provide broad exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, with significant assets under management and low expense ratios [1][3]. Group 1: Fund Overview - The TCW Transform 500 ETF was launched on June 22, 2021, and has accumulated over $843.86 million in assets, positioning it as one of the larger ETFs in its category [1]. - The fund targets large cap companies, typically those with market capitalizations above $10 billion, which are known for their stability and predictable cash flows [2]. Group 2: Costs and Performance - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.05%, making it one of the least expensive options available [3]. - It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.10% [3]. - As of July 25, 2025, the ETF has gained approximately 9.19% year-to-date and 19.39% over the past year, with a trading range between $58.20 and $74.71 in the last 52 weeks [6]. Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising about 33.40% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Consumer Discretionary [4]. - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) is the largest holding at approximately 6.87% of total assets, with Microsoft Corp (MSFT) and Apple Inc (AAPL) also among the top holdings [5]. - The top 10 holdings account for about 35.56% of total assets under management [5]. Group 4: Risk and Alternatives - The ETF seeks to match the performance of the Morningstar US Large Cap Select Index, which tracks the 500 largest US companies [6]. - It has a beta of 1.01 and a standard deviation of 16.99% over the trailing three-year period, indicating effective diversification of company-specific risk with around 509 holdings [7]. - The TCW Transform 500 ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting it is a strong option for investors looking for exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment [8]. Group 5: Market Context - Other ETFs in the same space include the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), with assets of $653.02 billion and $701.38 billion respectively, and expense ratios of 0.09% and 0.03% [9]. - 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 [10].

Core Insights - The Direxion NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Shares (QQQE) is a passively managed ETF launched on March 21, 2012, designed to provide broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $1.26 billion [1] - Large cap companies typically have market capitalizations above $10 billion, characterized by stability and predictable cash flows, making them less volatile compared to mid and small cap companies [2] - Growth stocks, which QQQE primarily invests in, exhibit higher sales and earnings growth rates but also come with higher valuations and volatility [3] Costs - The annual operating expenses for QQQE are 0.35%, which is competitive within its peer group, and it has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.60% [4] Sector Exposure and Top Holdings - QQQE has a significant allocation of approximately 40.10% to the Information Technology sector, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Telecom [5] - The top 10 holdings represent about 10.69% of total assets, with Datadog Inc - Class A (DDOG) accounting for around 1.16% of total assets [6] Performance and Risk - QQQE aims to match the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial securities listed on NASDAQ [7] - The ETF has returned approximately 11.52% year-to-date and 12.01% over the past year, with a trading range between $76.98 and $99.91 in the last 52 weeks [8] - With a beta of 1.07 and a standard deviation of 19.85% over the trailing three-year period, QQQE is considered a medium risk investment [8] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), with VUG having $179.21 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.04%, while QQQ has $358.16 billion in assets and charges 0.20% [11] Bottom-Line - Passively managed ETFs like QQQE 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 [12]