Should WisdomTree U.S. Earnings 500 Fund (EPS) Be on Your Investing Radar?
Launched on 02/23/2007, the WisdomTree U.S. Earnings 500 Fund (EPS) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.
The fund is sponsored by Wisdomtree. It has amassed assets over $221.60 M, making it one of the average sized ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.
Why Large Cap Value
Companies that find themselves in the large cap category typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion. Overall, they are usually a stable option, with less risk and more sure-fire cash flows than mid and small cap companies.
Value stocks are known for their lower than average price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, but investors should also note their lower than average sales and earnings growth rates. While value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in nearly all markets when you consider long-term performance, growth stocks are more likely to outpace value stocks in strong bull markets.
Costs
Since cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.28%, putting it on par with most peer products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.57%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
ETFs offer a diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk but it is still important to delve into a fund's holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Information Technology sector--about 25.10% of the portfolio. Financials and Healthcare round out the top three.
Looking at individual holdings, Apple Inc (AAPL) accounts for about 5.90% of total assets, followed by Microsoft Corp (MSFT) and Jpmorgan Chase & Co (JPM).
The top 10 holdings account for about 23.35% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
EPS seeks to match the performance of the WisdomTree U.S. Earnings 500 Index before fees and expenses. The WisdomTree U.S. Earnings 500 Index is a fundamentally weighted index that measures the performance of earnings-generating companies within the large-capitalization segment of the U.S. Stock Market.
The ETF has added about 6.46% so far this year and was up about 15.36% in the last one year (as of 09/19/2018). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $28.79 and $33.10.
The ETF has a beta of 1.04 and standard deviation of 12.11% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 497 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
Alternatives
WisdomTree U.S. Earnings 500 Fund carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, EPS is a sufficient option for those seeking exposure to the Large Cap ETFs area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.
The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) and the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) track a similar index. While iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF has $38.26 B in assets, Vanguard Value ETF has $44.24 B. IWD has an expense ratio of 0.20% and VTV charges 0.05%.
Bottom-Line
Passively 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.
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
WISTR-US ERN500 (EPS): ETF Research Reports
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Apple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
VIPERS-VALUE (VTV): ETF Research Reports
ISHARS-RS 1K VL (IWD): ETF Research Reports
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research
