Is iShares Paris-Aligned Climate MSCI USA ETF (PABU) a Strong ETF Right Now?

A smart beta exchange traded fund, the iShares Paris-Aligned Climate MSCI USA ETF (PABU) debuted on 04/08/2022, and offers broad exposure to the Style Box - All Cap Blend category of the market.What Are Smart Beta ETFs?The ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by products based on market capitalization weighted indexes that are designed to represent the market or a particular segment of the market.Market cap weighted indexes offer a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns, and are a good option for investors who believe in market efficiency.If you're the kind of investor who would rather try and beat the market through good stock selection, then smart beta funds are your best choice; this fund class is known for tracking non-cap weighted strategies.By attempting to pick stocks that have a better chance of risk-return performance, non-cap weighted indexes are based on certain fundamental characteristics, or a combination of such.The smart beta space gives investors many different choices, from equal-weighting, one of the simplest strategies, to more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting. However, not all of these methodologies have been able to deliver remarkable returns.Fund Sponsor & IndexPABU is managed by Blackrock, and this fund has amassed over $2.25 billion, which makes it one of the larger ETFs in the Style Box - All Cap Blend. This particular fund seeks to match the performance of the MSCI USA CLMT PARIS ALGN BNC EXT SLCT ID before fees and expenses.The MSCI USA Climate Paris Aligned Benchmark Extended Select Index composed of U.S. large & mid-capitalization stocks designed to be compatible with the objectives of the Paris Agreement by following a decarbonization trajectory, reducing exposure to climate-related transition & physical risks & increasing exposure to companies favourably positioned for the transition to a low-carbon economy.Cost & Other ExpensesFor ETF investors, expense ratios are an important factor when considering a fund's return; in the long-term, cheaper funds actually have the ability to outperform their more expensive cousins if all other things remain the same.Operating expenses on an annual basis are 0.10% for this ETF, which makes it one of the least expensive products in the space.PABU's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 0.86%.Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsIt is important to delve into an ETF's holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.Representing 39.8% of the portfolio, the fund has heaviest allocation to the Information Technology sector; Financials and Healthcare round out the top three.Looking at individual holdings, Nvidia Corp (NVDA) accounts for about 10.8% of total assets, followed by Microsoft Corp (MSFT) and Apple Inc (AAPL).Its top 10 holdings account for approximately 47.47% of PABU's total assets under management.Performance and RiskSo far this year, PABU has gained about 11.15%, and is up roughly 10.89% in the last one year (as of 11/25/2025). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $53.19 and $74.50.PABU has a beta of 1.05 and standard deviation of 16.48% for the trailing three-year period. With about 179 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .AlternativesiShares Paris-Aligned Climate MSCI USA ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Style Box - All Cap Blend segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (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 has $11.55 billion in assets, iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF has $14.91 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 - All Cap BlendBottom LineTo 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.Boost Your Portfolio with Our Top ETF InsightsZacks' exclusive Fund Newsletter delivers actionable information, top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, straight to your inbox every week.Don’t miss out on this valuable resource. It’s free!Get it now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report iShares Paris-Aligned Climate MSCI USA ETF (PABU): ETF Research ReportsThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks