Thanks to our global coverage, we've ramped up our global macro commentary on our marketplace service here on Seeking Alpha, The Value Lab . We focus on long-only value ideas, where we try to find international mispriced equities and target a portfolio yield of about 4% . We've done really well for ourselves over the last 5 years, but it took getting our hands dirty in international markets. If you are a value-investor, serious about protecting your wealth, us at the Value Lab might be of inspiration.The iS ...

Core Viewpoint - The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is a significant player in the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, with over $23.81 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in this category [1]. Group 1: Fund Overview - USMV is a passively managed ETF launched on October 18, 2011, and is sponsored by Blackrock [1]. - The fund targets large cap companies, typically with market capitalizations above $10 billion, offering 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 a cost-effective option in the market [3]. - It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.57% [3]. - USMV has increased by approximately 6.30% year-to-date and is up about 13.33% over the past year, with a trading range between $84.95 and $94.57 in the last 52 weeks [6]. Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation of about 27.30% to the Information Technology sector, followed by Financials and Healthcare [4]. - International Business Machines Co (IBM) constitutes around 1.60% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings making up about 15.26% of total assets under management [5]. Group 4: Risk Profile - USMV aims to match the performance of the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index, which includes U.S. equities with lower volatility characteristics [6]. - The ETF has a beta of 0.70 and a standard deviation of 12.27% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [7]. Group 5: Alternatives - USMV holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating favorable expected returns and momentum [8]. - Other comparable ETFs include the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), with assets of $641.52 billion and $688.84 billion respectively, and lower expense ratios of 0.09% for SPY and 0.03% for VOO [9]. Group 6: 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 [10].