Davis Select U.S. Equity ETF retains a Hold rating, as its growth-light factor mix and soft past performance do not support an upgrade. DUSA's portfolio is underweight in growth and GARP factors, while overweight in low volatility and value, limiting its upside potential versus IVV amid de-escalation. Despite the YTD outperformance, DUSA's total return since inception in 2017 is still approximately 60% weaker than IVV's.
In a recent webcast, Dodd Kittsley, director of ETF strategy at Davis Advisors, sat down with Cinthia Murphy, director of research at VettaFi, to unpack how active management is evolving — and where the Davis Select U.S. Equity ETF (DUSA) fits into that shift.
The Davis Select U.S. Equity ETF (DUSA) officially surpassed $1 billion in assets under management, marking a significant milestone for the active ETF. This achievement comes as the fund celebrates nine years of navigating the U.S. large-cap landscape with a high-conviction, benchmark-agnostic approach.
| Name | Quantity | Cost | Value | Profit ($) | Gain (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Davis Davis Selected Advisers | 3.4M | $88.48M | $197.18M | $108.69M | 122.84% |
Jeff Ameen Spire Wealth Management | 1,050 | $33,750.28 | $60,438 | $26,687.72 | 79.07% |
| CAL CoreCap Advisors LLC CoreCap Advisors LLC | 267 | $13,547.58 | $15,467.31 | $1,919.73 | 14.17% |
| LMJ Louis Melone Jr. Melone Private Wealth LLC | 327,833 | $16.48M | $18.98M | $2.5M | 15.17% |
Adam K. Wright Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. | 23,225 | $798,275.35 | $1.35M | $547,148.9 | 68.54% |
| BATS Exchange | US Country |
The provided company functions as an investment fund focused on equity securities primarily of U.S. companies. Operating under specific market circumstances, it dedicates at least 80% of its net assets, alongside any borrowed funds for investment purposes, to equities issued by U.S. entities. Its investment portfolio comprises an array of 15 to 35 companies, featuring a mix of sectors, including a potential allocation in financial services businesses. Furthermore, it demonstrates flexibility in its investment approach by considering mid- and small-capitalization companies (those with market capitalizations under $10 billion) and permitting up to 20% of its net assets to be invested in non-U.S. companies. This fund is marked by its non-diversified status, indicating a potentially concentrated investment strategy.
This core investment focus involves the fund allocating the majority of its resources, specifically at least 80% of its net assets plus any potential leverage from borrowing, into equity securities. These equities are issued by companies based in the United States, spanning a variety of industries. This forms the cornerstone of the fund's investment philosophy and portfolio composition.
A portion of the fund’s assets may be strategically invested in companies within the financial services sector. This diversified approach allows the fund to potentially benefit from the sector's dynamic nature and its critical role in the economy. However, the specific portion allocated to this sector is subject to the fund manager's discretion and analysis of current market conditions.
The fund expresses a particular interest in mid- and small-cap companies, which are defined as those having a market capitalization of less than $10 billion. This dimension of the fund's strategy provides investors with exposure to the growth potential inherent in smaller companies, which may offer higher returns albeit with increased risk.
While primarily focused on U.S. equities, the fund also maintains a flexible stance allowing up to 20% of its net assets to be invested in companies outside of the United States. This segment of the fund’s portfolio aims to capture the growth potential and diversification benefits offered by international markets, enhancing the potential for improved risk-adjusted returns.