Hoxton Planning & Management LLC has reduced its position in the iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL) by 13.6% during the third quarter, according to data from HoldingsChannel.com. Following the sale of 4,054 shares, the firm now holds 25,672 shares, valued at approximately $4.99 million. This investment represents 1.6% of Hoxton’s overall portfolio, making it the firm’s 16th largest holding.
Several other institutional investors have also made adjustments to their stakes in the iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its position by 2.0% in the second quarter, acquiring an additional 624,581 shares. This brings their total holdings to 32,478,050 shares, valued at about $5.94 billion. Similarly, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake by 0.7%, now owning 7,012,339 shares worth approximately $1.28 billion after purchasing an additional 50,889 shares.
Cerity Partners LLC made a more significant move, boosting its holdings in the ETF by 39.6% during the same period. They now possess 3,755,880 shares, valued at around $686.91 million, following the acquisition of 1,065,946 shares. MML Investors Services LLC and CWM LLC also increased their stakes by 1.3% and 1.9%, respectively, further demonstrating the growing interest in the ETF among institutional investors.
The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF opened at $203.46 on Wednesday. Over the past year, the ETF has fluctuated between a low of $148.34 and a high of $187.26. It currently has a market capitalization of $58.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.59, and a beta of 1.05. The 50-day moving average stands at $198.02, while the 200-day moving average is at $192.64.
The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF, launched on July 18, 2013 and managed by BlackRock, is designed to track an index of large- and mid-cap U.S. stocks. This index is selected based on high return on equity, stable earnings growth, and low debt-to-equity ratios relative to peers in each sector.
As institutional interest in the iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF continues to grow, investors are advised to monitor the ongoing shifts in holdings. For those interested in detailed information on hedge fund positions, HoldingsChannel.com provides up-to-date data on 13F filings and insider trades related to the ETF.
