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Should JPMorgan Diversified Return U.S. Equity ETF (JPUS) Be on Your Investing Radar?

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If you're interested in broad exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, look no further than the JPMorgan Diversified Return U.S. Equity ETF (JPUS - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 09/29/2015.

The fund is sponsored by J.P. Morgan. It has amassed assets over $672.28 million, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.

Why Large Cap Blend

Companies that find themselves in the large cap category typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion. Considered a more stable option, large cap companies boast more predictable cash flows and are less volatile than their mid and small cap counterparts.

Blend ETFs are aptly named, since they tend to hold a mix of growth and value stocks, as well as show characteristics of both kinds of equities.

Costs

Cost is an important factor in selecting the right ETF, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts if all other fundamentals are the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.18%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.53%.

Sector Exposure and Top Holdings

While ETFs offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, a deep look into a fund's holdings is a valuable exercise. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Information Technology sector--about 13% of the portfolio. Consumer Staples and Healthcare round out the top three.

Looking at individual holdings, Coterra Energy Inc (CTRA - Free Report) accounts for about 0.77% of total assets, followed by Devon Energy Corp Common (DVN - Free Report) and Marathon Oil Corp Common (MRO - Free Report) .

The top 10 holdings account for about 5.27% of total assets under management.

Performance and Risk

JPUS seeks to match the performance of the Russell 1000 Diversified Factor Index before fees and expenses. The Russell 1000 Diversified Factor Index comprises of U.S. equity securities selected to represent a diversified set of factor characteristics, originally developed by the adviser.

The ETF return is roughly 24.37% so far this year and is up about 24.02% in the last one year (as of 12/07/2021). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $82.39 and $104.39.

The ETF has a beta of 0.99 and standard deviation of 22.78% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 364 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.

Alternatives

JPMorgan Diversified Return U.S. Equity ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, JPUS is a good option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.

The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV - Free Report) and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY - Free Report) track a similar index. While iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has $322.66 billion in assets, SPDR S&P 500 ETF has $417 billion. IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% and SPY charges 0.09%.

Bottom-Line

Passively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.

To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

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