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AESB

Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Core ETF (AESB)

Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:$21.00▲(8.35% Upside)

AESB, the Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Core ETF, earns a solid overall rating thanks to several strong financial and growth-focused holdings like Victory Capital Holdings and OFG Bancorp, which combine robust performance with attractive valuations and dividends. Additional support comes from names such as First Bancorp Puerto Rico and LiveRamp Holdings, where strong earnings and strategic growth initiatives help lift the fund’s quality, though high valuations and leverage in some holdings, plus exposure to specific sectors like financials and hospitality, introduce risk that can limit the rating. Overall, the mix of profitable, well-valued companies with a few more leveraged or economically sensitive names shapes AESB’s balanced but not top-tier profile.

Positive Factors
Strong Top Holdings PerformanceSeveral of the largest positions have delivered strong gains so far this year, helping offset broader small-cap weakness.
Broad Sector DiversificationThe fund spreads its investments across many sectors, which can reduce the impact if any one industry runs into trouble.
Moderate Expense Ratio for Active Small-Cap StrategyThe ETF’s fee is reasonable for an actively managed small-cap fund, allowing investors to access professional stock selection without very high costs.
Negative Factors
Negative Year-to-Date PerformanceDespite some strong individual stocks, the fund’s overall return this year has been weak, which may concern performance-focused investors.
Very Heavy U.S. ConcentrationAlmost all assets are invested in U.S. companies, offering little geographic diversification if the U.S. market struggles.
Small Asset BaseThe fund manages a relatively low level of assets, which can sometimes lead to higher trading spreads and a greater risk the ETF could be closed in the future.

AESB vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

AUM
1.98M
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.38%
Beta
0.56
Issuer
Harbor
Inception Date
Aug 26, 2026
Dividend Yield
N/A
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
No Underlying Index

AESB Summary

Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Core ETF (AESB) is an exchange-traded fund that focuses on smaller U.S. companies across many industries, including health care, financials, technology, and real estate. It doesn’t track a single index, but instead follows a small-cap core theme, aiming for long-term growth from a wide mix of smaller firms. Some of its holdings include Bread Financial Holdings and Apple Hospitality REIT. Investors might consider AESB to diversify beyond large, well-known stocks and tap into the growth potential of small companies. A key risk is that small-cap stocks can be more volatile, so the ETF’s value can move up and down sharply with the market.

How much will it cost me?

This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.38%, which means you’ll pay about $3.80 per year for every $1,000 invested. That’s a bit higher than the average index ETF because it’s actively managed, aiming to add extra return by carefully selecting small-cap stocks.

What would affect this ETF?

This U.S. small‑cap ETF could benefit if the American economy stays healthy, interest rates eventually ease, and sectors like financials, health care, and technology continue to grow, helping many of its smaller bank, biotech, and software holdings. On the downside, a weaker U.S. economy, higher-for-longer interest rates, tighter financial or health care regulations, or a broad drop in risk appetite could hurt small-cap stocks more than large companies and make this fund more volatile.

AESB Top 10 Holdings

AESB is leaning heavily into U.S. financials, with Bread Financial, First Bancorp Puerto Rico, and Cathay General Bancorp acting as key engines for the fund’s performance—mostly steady to rising, though bank names have seen some mixed stretches lately. Apple Hospitality REIT adds a real estate flavor but has been more of a slow climber, while LiveRamp brings a tech‑driven growth story that’s rising but bumping into valuation nerves. Overall, this is a domestically focused, small‑cap mix where financials and select tech names set the tone.

AESB top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
APLEAPLEApple Hospitality REIT3.53%$69.93K$4.37B62.46%64Neutral
BFHBFHBread Financial Holdings3.14%$62.34K$3.93B67.03%72Outperform
FBPFBPFirst Bancorp Puerto Rico3.04%$60.26K$3.95B34.39%76Outperform
CATYCATYCathay General Bancorp2.65%$52.61K$4.26B41.45%72Outperform
RAMPRAMPLiveRamp Holdings2.44%$48.44K$2.34B40.87%75Outperform
SLDESLDESlide Insurance Holdings, Inc.2.29%$45.30K$3.25B75.17%73Outperform
VCTRVCTRVictory Capital Holdings1.66%$32.89K$6.85B78.77%80Outperform
CAKECAKECheesecake Factory1.63%$32.35K$5.61B129.36%66Neutral
OFGOFGOFG Bancorp1.61%$31.85K$2.11B30.88%78Outperform
EBFEBFEnnis1.59%$31.44K$541.29M29.18%73Outperform

AESB Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNegative
Last Price19.38

Price Trends

Market Momentum

MACD-0.00Negative
RSI45.96Neutral
STOCH70.39Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AESB, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 19.38 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 19.51, compared to the 50-day MA of , and compared to the 200-day MA of , indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.00 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 45.96 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 70.39 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for AESB.

AESB Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

AESB against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
AESBAESB$19.38$21.00(8.35% Upside)$1.98M0.38%67Neutral
RUSCRUSC$36.75$50.00(36.04% Upside)$85.25M0.64%64Neutral
AIMSAIMS$26.93$34.54(28.30% Upside)$84.74M0.75%65Neutral
SYZSYZ$29.36$36.87(25.58% Upside)$63.23M0.61%66Neutral
ESSCESSC$28.85$38.16(32.29% Upside)$34.73M0.49%66Neutral
FTKIFTKI$19.52$23.45(20.12% Upside)$25.61M0.86%63Neutral

Performance Comparison

0%10%20%AESBRUSCAIMSSYZESSCFTKISep '26Oct '26
AESB and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
AESBHarbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Core ETF19.38-0.68-3.38%
RUSCUS Small Cap Equity Active ETF36.756.3220.75%
AIMSAcuitas Small Cap Active ETF26.931.756.93%
SYZLazard US Systematic Small Cap Equity ETF29.365.0820.93%
ESSCEventide Small Cap ETF28.853.7715.02%
FTKIFirst Trust Small Cap BuyWrite Income ETF19.523.1819.45%
Glossary
BuyAn ETF rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldAn ETF rated as a "Hold" s expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the ETF is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellAn ETF rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF may deliver lower returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer

This AI Analyst ETF Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in ETFs carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.