Lithia Motors

Carnival

Expedia

Live Nation

Block

Discover

Norwegian Cruise Line

DoorDash

LPL Financial Hlds

Carlyle Group

Vaneck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF

SMOT tracks an index made up of two equally-weighted sub-portfolios, comprised of small- and mid-cap companies believed to have durable competitive advantages and attractive valuations.

SMOT has an alluring concept, marrying up the resilience inherent in moaty players with the valuation benefits investors typically anticipate from smaller companies. VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF is approaching its one-year milestone with mixed results as it has underperformed the S&P 500 since my two previous notes. There is an interesting factor story in its recently recalibrated portfolio, with meaningful quality exposure, yet insufficient for a Buy rating.

SMOT: Do Not Set Expectations Too High

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF

While index ETFs are considered passive, they are not static. It pays to understand when a group of stocks are added or removed as part of a smart beta index ETF reconstitution.

Even Moats Need Reinforcements

Given the large small- and mid-cap stock universe and lack of analyst coverage, we believe a more selective approach may be a better choice than a broad-market exposure. We explore in this Q&A.

SMOT ETF: Question & Answer

By Brandon Rakszawski, Director of Product Management The strength of Morningstar's moat indexes lies in its forward-looking approach to selecting quality companies, as shown by its history of outperforming the S&P 500 over long holding periods. August was a volatile month for U.S. equity markets.

Charting the Moat Index's Long-Term Track Record

The first half of the year is officially complete, and this lopsided tech rally is possibly becoming one of the most hated bull markets in history. U.S. equities have refused to slow down despite debt ceiling angst, regional banking fears, continued tightening credit conditions, and a commercial real estate market teetering on the edge. In the face of these concerns, the Nasdaq registered its strongest first-half performance in 40 years with a gain of over 31%. Additionally, Apple, the world's most valuable company, closed above the $3 trillion market capitalization mark for the first time.

Half-Time Heroes: Moat Stocks Lead as Second Half Kicks Off

With the second half of 2023 just getting started, and with second-quarter earnings slated to kick off in earnest this week, now is an opportune time for registered investment advisors to consider fresh approaches to equity investing for client portfolios. Wide moat investing may just be what the doctor ordered.

Advisors: Time Is Now to Explore Wide Moat Investing

Kellogg

Medtronic

Tyler Technologies

U.S. Bancorp

With the right methodology, it's possible for advisors and investors to efficiently locate baskets of stocks  with the wide moat designation without the burden of paying up on valuation. Enter the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (MOAT) and the VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF (CBOE: SMOT).

Wide Moat Stocks Look Appealing on Valuation

Advisors looking to harness the potency of quality stocks should consider the benefits of wide moat investing. This style lends itself to an elevated quality profile.

Wide Moats Equal Big Quality

Owing in part to the asset class's compelling growth prospects, small- and mid-cap stocks have long lured investors looking for more rapid upside potential than is offered by large-caps. Of course, there's a trade-off: Smaller stocks are usually riskier and more volatile than their large-cap counterparts.

SMOT Could Be Small-Cap Risk-Reducer

The benefits of wide moat investing are not a large-cap-only phenomenon.

With Smaller Stocks, Moats Matter

Fidelity Total Bond ETF

Vanguard Total World Stock ETF

Veteran MarketWatch columnist Mark Hulbert recently revived the supposedly dead 60/40 portfolio. Once, the top ETFs for a balanced portfolio combined equities and fixed income in a 60/40 split.

The 3 Best ETFs to Buy to Balance Risk and Reward

By Coulter Regal, CFA Associate Product Manager The recent performance of small- and mid-cap stocks, often referred to as “SMID caps”, and why they might be poised for a comeback has become a topic of interest among investors.

Bucking the Trend: Why SMID Caps are Poised for a Comeback

SMOT is a comparatively novel investment vehicle targeting attractively valued small- and mid-sized U.S. stocks with narrow- and wide-moat characteristics. SMOT has underperformed the S&P 500 since the previous note.

As SMOT Stumbled After A Vigorous Start, A Fresh Review Is Necessary

Meta Platforms Takes Center Stage Among Moat Stocks

SMOT is a novel fund with an investment strategy centered on moaty names from the U.S. small- and mid-cap echelons. SMOT has demonstrated outstanding performance since its inception in October 2022.

SMOT: Outstanding Performance Since Inception Should Not Prompt Hasty Conclusions

Vaneck CLO ETF

Where is VanEck looking this year? One major area for the busy ETF shop is collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) according to VanEck director of product management Bill Sokol, available in the VanEck CLO ETF (CLOI).

VanEck's Sokol on Firm's “Unique” CLOI Arrangement

With 2022 drawing to a close, there's a growing course of market observers forecasting big things for small-cap stocks in 2023. More nuanced small-cap strategies could prove rewarding in the new year.

SMOT Could Be Smart Small-Cap Choice in 2023

VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF

VanEck Vectors Biotech ETF

VanEck Vectors Gaming ETF

VanEck Vectors Brazil Small-Cap ETF

VanEck Vectors Social Sentiment ETF

VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC SME-ChiNext ETF

VanEck Vectors Oil Refiners ETF

Vaneck Digital Asset Mining ETF

VanEck Vectors Digital Transformation ETF

Vaneck Digital India ETF

VanEck Vectors Egypt Index ETF

VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF

VanEck Vectors Environmental Services ETF 

VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF

VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF

VanEck Green Metals ETF

VanEck Vectors Natural Resource ETF

VanEck Vectors Indonesia Index ETF

VanEck Vectors Israel ETF

VanEck Vectors Agribusiness ETF

Vaneck Morningstar ESG Moat ETF

VanEck Morningstar Global Wide Moat ETF

VanEck Vectors Morningstar International Moat ETF

VanEck Vectors Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF

VanEck Vectors Oil Services ETF

VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF

Vaneck Green Infrastructure ETF

VanEck Vectors Russia ETF

VanEck Vectors Russia Small-Cap ETF

VanEck Vectors Retail ETF

VanEck Vectors Steel ETF

VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF

VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF

VanEck Vectors Vietnam ETF

VanEck Future of Food ETF

NEW YORK--( BUSINESS WIRE )--VanEck announced today the following 2022 annual distributions per share for its VanEck® equity exchange-traded funds.

VanEck Announces Yearend Distributions for VanEck Equity ETFs

SMOT: Question & Answer

Investors often associate companies sporting the wide moat designation as large-cap firms.

Big Opportunity Beckons With Smaller Moat Stocks

By Coulter Regal, CFA Associate Product Manager Instead of a broad approach to small– and mid–cap stocks, we believe a strategy using Morningstar's equity research to identify moat stocks in this space may be a better approach for investors. Small– and mid–cap (SMID) stocks are an attractive segment of the U.S.

Access SMID Cap Stocks with Confidence

Fund tracks index of companies with competitive advantages.

VanEck Rolls Out Latest 'Moat' ETF

VanEck today announced the launch of the VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF (CBOE: SMOT), the newest addition to the firm's lineup of “moat”-focused equity funds. SMOT is designed to provide investors with exposure to attractively priced U.S. small- and mid-cap (SMID-cap) companies that Morningstar believes possess long-term competitive advantages.

VanEck Expands Moat Investing Suite With Launch of SMOT

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VanEck adds SMOT to moat-focused ETF lineup at a time when small-/mid-cap valuations are at 20-year lows relative to large caps.

News for Vaneck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF ETF (SMOT)