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Is Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG) a Strong ETF Right Now?
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A smart beta exchange traded fund, the Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG - Free Report) debuted on 12/13/2016, and offers broad exposure to the Style Box - Mid Cap Growth category of the market.
What Are Smart Beta ETFs?
Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.
Market cap weighted indexes work great for investors who believe in market efficiency. They provide a low-cost, convenient and transparent way of replicating market returns.
But, there are some investors who would rather invest in smart beta funds; these funds track non-cap weighted strategies, and are a strong option for those who prefer choosing great stocks in order to beat the market.
Non-cap weighted indexes try to choose stocks that have a better chance of risk-return performance, which is based on specific fundamental characteristics, or a mix of other such characteristics.
Methodologies like equal-weighting, one of the simplest options out there, fundamental weighting, and volatility/momentum based weighting are all choices offered to investors in this space, but not all of them can deliver superior returns.
Fund Sponsor & Index
The fund is managed by Nuveen, and has been able to amass over $345.44 million, which makes it one of the average sized ETFs in the Style Box - Mid Cap Growth. NUMG, before fees and expenses, seeks to match the performance of the TIAA ESG USA Mid-Cap Growth Index.
The Nuveen ESG USA Mid-Cap Growth Index composes of equity securities issued by mid-capitalization companies listed on U.S. exchanges.
Cost & Other Expenses
Since cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.31%, making it on par with most peer products in the space.
The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.01%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
Most ETFs are very transparent products, and disclose their holdings on a daily basis. ETFs also offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, though it's still important for investors to research a fund's holdings.
This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Information Technology sector - about 26.8% of the portfolio. Industrials and Healthcare round out the top three.
Taking into account individual holdings, Quanta Services Inc. (PWR) accounts for about 5.7% of the fund's total assets, followed by Grainger W.w. Inc. (GWW) and Comfort Systems Usa Inc (FIX).
Its top 10 holdings account for approximately 37.65% of NUMG's total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
The ETF has lost about -9.68% so far this year and is up roughly 6.78% in the last one year (as of 04/17/2026). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $39.26 and $49.54
NUMG has a beta of 1.18 and standard deviation of 19.43% for the trailing three-year period. With about 43 holdings, it has more concentrated exposure than peers .
Alternatives
Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF is an excellent option for investors seeking to outperform the Style Box - Mid Cap Growth segment of the market. There are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider as well.
Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF Shares (ESGV) tracks FTSE US ALL CAP CHOICE INDEX and the iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) tracks MSCI USA ESG Focus Index. Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF Shares has $12.17 billion in assets, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF has $16.07 billion. ESGV has an expense ratio of 0.09% and ESGU changes 0.15%.
Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Style Box - Mid Cap Growth
Bottom Line
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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Is Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG) a Strong ETF Right Now?
A smart beta exchange traded fund, the Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG - Free Report) debuted on 12/13/2016, and offers broad exposure to the Style Box - Mid Cap Growth category of the market.
What Are Smart Beta ETFs?
Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.
Market cap weighted indexes work great for investors who believe in market efficiency. They provide a low-cost, convenient and transparent way of replicating market returns.
But, there are some investors who would rather invest in smart beta funds; these funds track non-cap weighted strategies, and are a strong option for those who prefer choosing great stocks in order to beat the market.
Non-cap weighted indexes try to choose stocks that have a better chance of risk-return performance, which is based on specific fundamental characteristics, or a mix of other such characteristics.
Methodologies like equal-weighting, one of the simplest options out there, fundamental weighting, and volatility/momentum based weighting are all choices offered to investors in this space, but not all of them can deliver superior returns.
Fund Sponsor & Index
The fund is managed by Nuveen, and has been able to amass over $345.44 million, which makes it one of the average sized ETFs in the Style Box - Mid Cap Growth. NUMG, before fees and expenses, seeks to match the performance of the TIAA ESG USA Mid-Cap Growth Index.
The Nuveen ESG USA Mid-Cap Growth Index composes of equity securities issued by mid-capitalization companies listed on U.S. exchanges.
Cost & Other Expenses
Since cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.31%, making it on par with most peer products in the space.
The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.01%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
Most ETFs are very transparent products, and disclose their holdings on a daily basis. ETFs also offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, though it's still important for investors to research a fund's holdings.
This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Information Technology sector - about 26.8% of the portfolio. Industrials and Healthcare round out the top three.
Taking into account individual holdings, Quanta Services Inc. (PWR) accounts for about 5.7% of the fund's total assets, followed by Grainger W.w. Inc. (GWW) and Comfort Systems Usa Inc (FIX).
Its top 10 holdings account for approximately 37.65% of NUMG's total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
The ETF has lost about -9.68% so far this year and is up roughly 6.78% in the last one year (as of 04/17/2026). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $39.26 and $49.54
NUMG has a beta of 1.18 and standard deviation of 19.43% for the trailing three-year period. With about 43 holdings, it has more concentrated exposure than peers .
Alternatives
Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF is an excellent option for investors seeking to outperform the Style Box - Mid Cap Growth segment of the market. There are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider as well.
Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF Shares (ESGV) tracks FTSE US ALL CAP CHOICE INDEX and the iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) tracks MSCI USA ESG Focus Index. Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF Shares has $12.17 billion in assets, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF has $16.07 billion. ESGV has an expense ratio of 0.09% and ESGU changes 0.15%.
Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Style Box - Mid Cap Growth
Bottom Line
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.