Should SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS) Be on Your Investing Radar?

The SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS) was launched on April 15, 2015, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.The fund is sponsored by State Street Investment Management. It has amassed assets over $1.54 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.Why Large Cap BlendCompanies that find themselves in the large cap category typically 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.Blend ETFs usually hold a mix of growth and value stocks as well as stocks that exhibit both value and growth characteristics. CostsInvestors should also pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain 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 1.36%.Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsEven though ETFs offer diversified exposure that minimizes single stock risk, investors should also look at the actual holdings inside the fund. Luckily, 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 26.8% of the portfolio. Financials and Healthcare round out the top three.Looking at individual holdings, Microsoft Corp (MSFT) accounts for about 3.15% of total assets, followed by Apple Inc (AAPL) and Nvidia Corp (NVDA).The top 10 holdings account for about 22.01% of total assets under management.Performance and RiskQUS seeks to match the performance of the MSCI USA Factor Mix A-Series Index before fees and expenses. The MSCI USA Factor Mix A-Series Capped Index seeks to measure the equity market performance of large and mid-cap companies across the U.S. equity market.The ETF has added about 11.72% so far this year and is up about 11.37% in the last one year (as of 10/06/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $140.84 and $172.00.The ETF has a beta of 0.89 and standard deviation of 13.34% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 546 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.AlternativesSPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors 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, QUS 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) and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) track a similar index. While iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has $704.62 billion in assets, Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has $762.82 billion. IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% and VOO charges 0.03%.Bottom-LinePassively 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.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 SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS): 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