Core Viewpoint - The WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend ETF (DES) is a passively managed fund aimed at providing broad exposure to the Small Cap Value segment of the US equity market, with assets exceeding $1.90 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs in this category [1]. Group 1: Fund Overview - The fund was launched on June 16, 2006, and is sponsored by WisdomTree [1]. - It targets small cap companies with market capitalizations below $2 billion, which are considered high-potential stocks but come with higher risks compared to larger counterparts [2]. Group 2: Investment Characteristics - Value stocks, which the fund focuses on, typically have lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, as well as lower sales and earnings growth rates [3]. - Historically, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in nearly all markets, although growth stocks tend to perform better in strong bull markets [3]. Group 3: Costs and Performance - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.38% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.67% [4]. - As of September 1, 2025, the ETF has gained approximately 0.89% year-to-date and 2.67% over the past year, with a trading range between $28.02 and $37.69 in the past 52 weeks [7]. Group 4: Risk and Diversification - The ETF has a beta of 0.99 and a standard deviation of 20.39% over the trailing three-year period, categorizing it as a medium-risk investment [8]. - With around 576 holdings, the fund effectively diversifies company-specific risk [8]. Group 5: Alternatives and Market Position - The WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a sufficient option for investors seeking exposure to the Small Cap Value area [9]. - Other comparable ETFs include the iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) with $11.74 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.24%, and the Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) with $31.35 billion in assets and a lower expense ratio of 0.07% [10]. Group 6: Investor Appeal - Passively managed ETFs like DES are increasingly favored by 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 - The WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend ETF (DES) is a smart beta ETF that aims to provide broad exposure to the small-cap value segment of the market, with a focus on dividend-paying stocks [1][5]. Fund Overview - DES was launched on June 16, 2006, and has accumulated over $1.85 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [1][5]. - The fund is managed by WisdomTree and seeks to match the performance of the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Index, which is fundamentally weighted [5]. Cost and Performance - The annual operating expense ratio for DES is 0.38%, which is competitive within its peer group [6]. - The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.86% [6]. - Year-to-date, DES has experienced a loss of approximately -2.94%, while it has gained about 2.52% over the past year as of August 18, 2025 [9]. Holdings and Risk - DES's top 10 holdings account for about 108.85% of its total assets, indicating a concentration in its top positions [8]. - The fund has a beta of 0.99 and a standard deviation of 20.39% over the trailing three-year period, categorizing it as a medium-risk investment [9]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the small-cap value space include the iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) with $11.26 billion in assets and the Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) with $30.56 billion [12]. - IWN has an expense ratio of 0.24%, while VBR has a lower expense ratio of 0.07%, making them potentially more attractive options for cost-conscious investors [12].