Core Viewpoint - The JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (BBSC) is a passively managed fund targeting the Small Cap Value segment of the U.S. equity market, launched on November 16, 2020, with assets exceeding $556.46 million [1] Group 1: Small Cap Value Characteristics - Small cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations below $2 billion, are considered high-potential stocks but carry higher risks compared to larger counterparts [2] - Value stocks typically exhibit lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, but they also show lower sales and earnings growth rates. Historically, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in most markets, although they may underperform during strong bull markets [3] Group 2: Cost Structure - The BBSC ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.09%, making it one of the least expensive options in its category. It also offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.24% [4] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Financials sector, comprising approximately 18.8% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Information Technology [5] - The top holdings include Jpmorgan Us Govt Mmkt Fun at 0.87% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 4.63% of total assets under management [6] Group 4: Performance Metrics - BBSC aims to match the performance of the Morningstar US Small Cap Target Market Exposure Extended Index. As of August 5, 2025, the ETF has lost about 0.57% year-to-date but is up approximately 8.26% over the past year. The 52-week trading range has been between $52.57 and $74.87 [7] - The ETF has a beta of 1.14 and a standard deviation of 23.02% over the trailing three-year period, indicating effective diversification with around 754 holdings [8] Group 5: Alternatives - BBSC holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating favorable expected returns based on various factors. Other similar ETFs include the iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) with $10.76 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.24%, and the Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) with $29.85 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.07% [9][10] Group 6: Investment Appeal - Passively managed ETFs like BBSC 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 [11]

Core Viewpoint - Small-cap stocks are experiencing significant growth, with the Russell 2000 Index rising nearly 9% in July 2025, outperforming larger indices like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite [1] Group 1: Market Dynamics - Renewed expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts due to cooling inflation and a slowing job market are driving small-cap stock performance, as lower rates reduce borrowing costs for these companies [3] - Small-cap stocks are trading at a substantial discount of approximately 55% compared to large-cap stocks based on P/E ratios, prompting institutional investors to shift their focus towards under-owned small-cap areas [4] - A rebound is observed in small-cap companies within the financials, industrials, and consumer discretionary sectors, which collectively represent over 50% of the Russell 2000, particularly benefiting regional banks and manufacturing stocks [5] Group 2: M&A Activity and Investor Sentiment - Increased M&A activity is noted among small and mid-sized firms in healthcare, biotech, and tech services, as large-cap companies seek growth through acquisitions, making small-caps attractive targets [6] - Retail investors are returning to small-cap stocks as recession fears diminish, with trading volumes in small-cap names and ETFs rising due to social media influence and AI-driven trading strategies [7] Group 3: Leading ETFs - Avantis U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (AVSC) has increased by 10.1%, focusing on a diverse group of 1,287 small-cap stocks, with $1.7 billion in assets under management [9] - Invesco S&P SmallCap Value with Momentum ETF (XSVM) is up 9.5%, tracking high momentum value stocks with a focus on financials, holding 122 stocks and $574.1 million in assets [10] - JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (BBSC) has risen by 9.4%, providing exposure to 749 small-cap stocks with $566.5 million in assets [11] - iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF (SVAL) is up 9%, focusing on 250 small-cap companies with a significant portion in financials, holding $140.8 million in assets [12] - WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Fund (EES) has increased by 8.7%, targeting 901 small-cap companies with $606.9 million in assets [13]