Should iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) Be on Your Investing Radar?

Looking for broad exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market? You should consider the iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on October 18, 2011.The fund is sponsored by Blackrock. It has amassed assets over $23.47 billion, making it one of the largest ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.Why Large Cap BlendCompanies that fall in the large cap category tend to have a market capitalization above $10 billion. They tend to be stable companies with predictable cash flows and are usually less volatile than mid and small cap companies.Typically holding a combination of both growth and value stocks, blend ETFs also demonstrate qualities seen in value and growth investments. CostsCost 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 0.15%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.57%.Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsWhile 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 26.1% of the portfolio. Financials and Healthcare round out the top three.Looking at individual holdings, Microsoft Corp (MSFT) accounts for about 1.75% of total assets, followed by Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) and Motorola Solutions Inc (MSI).The top 10 holdings account for about 15.95% of total assets under management.Performance and RiskUSMV seeks to match the performance of the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index before fees and expenses. The MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) Index is composed of U.S. equities that, in the aggregate, have lower volatility characteristics relative to the broader U.S. equity market.The ETF return is roughly 6.68% so far this year and was up about 6.97% in the last one year (as of 09/09/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $85.42 and $94.58.The ETF has a beta of 0.71 and standard deviation of 11.91% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 181 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.AlternativesiShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, USMV is an excellent option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well. The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) track a similar index. While iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has $665.49 billion in assets, Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has $729.15 billion. IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% and VOO charges 0.03%.Bottom-LineRetail and institutional investors increasingly turn to passively managed ETFs because they offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; these kind of funds are also 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.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 MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV): 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