Actively Managed ETFs Are Giving In to the Price War—To the Benefit of Investors

The value proposition of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has long been simple: pay a very modest fee for the ease of a ready-to-buy portfolio of stocks that are accessible with a single trade and that are rebalanced and maintained by someone else.

MarketBeat • Oct 26, 2026

More Signs Of Growth Across AI And Europe

Europe shows tentative signs of improvement, but the recovery remains uneven. AI investment is increasingly influencing U.S. capital spending and trade.

Seeking Alpha • Aug 29, 2026

CIO Weekly: SpaceX-Led IPO Boom Forces Governance Into Focus

The $85 billion listing last month of SpaceX, Elon Musk's aerospace, satellite communications and artificial intelligence company, was an important market event. The company's dual-class share structure, conferring disproportionate voting power on its founder, could be expected to serve as a template for the next wave of high-profile IPOs, with OpenAI and Anthropic expected to follow suit in the coming quarters.

Seeking Alpha • Jul 13, 2026

Why U.S. And International Dividend Strategies Are Working Again

Despite continued concentration in mega-cap technology stocks, US dividend-focused strategies have generally remained competitive and historically experienced more shallow drawdowns than broader equity markets. Last year, US companies paid a record US$704.8 billion in dividends - the 15th consecutive annual record. Concurrently, dividend growth accelerated across several international markets, highlighting the continued strength of shareholder-return trends.

Seeking Alpha • Jun 7, 2026

Advisor Boosts $14 Million Bet on U.S. Mega-Cap ETF as Markets Lean Back Into Giants

Wealth Advisors of Iowa increased its USMC holding by 144,585 shares during the third quarter. The overall position increased by an estimated $10.21 million in value.

The Motley Fool • Jan 2, 2026

Principal Securities Loads Up 373,000 Principal US Mega-Cap ETF Shares

Added 373,083 shares, raising the position value by $47.92 million Transaction represented a 0.2% percentage-point change relative to 13F reportable assets under management Post-trade holding: 4,379,501 shares, valued at $298.56 million These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›

The Motley Fool • Dec 11, 2025

Elevation Capital Advisory Loads Up Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF Shares in Q3

The firm initiated a new position with 128,122 shares acquired. The fund's transaction represents 3.5% of reported 13F assets under management.

The Motley Fool • Nov 3, 2025

USMC: A Concentrated Exposure To The U.S. Largest Companies

The Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF has outperformed the S&P 500 and peers, benefiting from a strong mega-cap focus and lower volatility. USMC's portfolio is concentrated in 25 holdings, heavily weighted towards technology, financial services, and communication services, with a higher valuation than the S&P 500. Despite high interest rates and trade uncertainties, USMC's quality profile makes it a solid choice for exposure to mega-cap stocks.

Seeking Alpha • Feb 17, 2025

USMC: Why This Top Quality Mega-Cap ETF Disappoints

Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF provides concentrated, actively managed exposure to a select number of U.S. mega-caps. Fees are low at 0.12%, and the ETF has $2.35 billion in assets under management. Unlike market-cap-weighted alternatives like XLG, USMC assigns substantially different weights to its 42 holdings. Magnificent Seven exposure is 33% compared to 53% for XLG. The fund's prospectus indicates managers assign greater weight to stocks expected to be less volatile, but my analysis found little evidence this was the case. USMC's five-year beta is 1.03.

Seeking Alpha • May 28, 2024

USMC: Active Large Caps That Perform Like Passive

Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF is an actively managed fund that primarily invests in U.S. mega-cap companies. The USMC ETF's active, rules-based framework provides durability and stability during market volatility. The fund's heavy concentration in the technology sector could pose a risk if the sector underperforms.

Seeking Alpha • Dec 18, 2023