Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF
AESL - ETF AI Analysis
Top Page
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF (AESL)
AESL, the Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF, has a solid overall rating that reflects a portfolio anchored by strong regional bank holdings like United Bankshares (UBSI) and Old National Bancorp (ONB), which show healthy financial performance, supportive technical trends, and shareholder-friendly actions such as dividends and buybacks. Other names like First Bancorp Puerto Rico (FBP) and Home Bancshares (HOMB) further boost the fund’s quality through robust growth and attractive valuations, while weaker spots such as Apple Hospitality REIT (APLE), with revenue and cash flow challenges, and Essent Group (ESNT), facing margin pressure and higher default rates, modestly weigh on the score. The main risk factor is the fund’s meaningful exposure to financials and related credit trends, which can make performance sensitive to economic conditions and interest-rate changes.
AESL vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
- AUM
- 2.47M
- Region
- North America
- Expense Ratio
- 0.40%
- Beta
- 0.63
- Issuer
- Harbor
- Inception Date
- Aug 26, 2026
- Dividend Yield
- N/A
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Index Tracked
- No Underlying Index
AESL Summary
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF (AESL) focuses on smaller U.S. companies that appear undervalued, aiming for long-term growth as their prices catch up to their business results. It doesn’t track a traditional index, but follows a “small-cap value” theme and spreads investments across many sectors like financials, real estate, health care, and technology. Well-known holdings include United Bankshares and Apple Hospitality REIT. Investors might consider AESL to diversify beyond large, well-known stocks and tap into the potential growth of overlooked smaller companies. However, small-cap value stocks can be more volatile and may go up and down sharply with market conditions.
How much will it cost me?
AESL has an expense ratio of 0.40%, which means you’ll pay about $4 per year for every $1,000 invested. This cost is a bit higher than the average index ETF because AESL is actively managed, focusing on small-cap value stocks and charging more for that specialized, research-driven strategy.
What would affect this ETF?
This U.S.-focused small-cap value ETF could benefit if the economy grows steadily, interest rates eventually ease, and investors rotate into undervalued financial, real estate, and industrial companies like its bank and REIT holdings. On the downside, higher-for-longer interest rates, a U.S. recession, or stress in regional banks and property markets could hurt many of its top holdings and make the fund’s already higher short-term volatility more pronounced.
AESL Top 10 Holdings
AESL is leaning heavily into U.S. small-cap financials, with regional banks and insurers setting the tone. United Bankshares, Bread Financial, and First Bancorp Puerto Rico have been steady to rising, acting as key engines for the fund, while Slide Insurance has been a standout climber, giving performance an extra push. On the flip side, Essent Group and Old National Bancorp look a bit tired lately, slightly dragging on results despite decent fundamentals. Apple Hospitality REIT adds a real estate flavor, but overall this is a domestically focused, small-cap value play dominated by financial names.
| Name | Company Name | Weight % | Market Value | Market Cap | Yearly Gain | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 APLE | Apple Hospitality REIT | 3.67% | $89.70K | $4.67B | 65.28% | 64Neutral |
 UBSI | United Bankshares | 3.51% | $85.72K | $6.48B | 30.66% | 80Outperform |
 CATY | Cathay General Bancorp | 3.46% | $84.52K | $4.32B | 39.29% | 72Outperform |
 FBP | First Bancorp Puerto Rico | 3.22% | $78.84K | $3.92B | 27.77% | 76Outperform |
 BFH | Bread Financial Holdings | 3.10% | $75.88K | $3.71B | 53.08% | 72Outperform |
 HOMB | Home Bancshares | 2.92% | $71.37K | $6.00B | 9.65% | 77Outperform |
 ESNT | Essent Group | 2.55% | $62.23K | $5.70B | 5.50% | 73Outperform |
 EBF | Ennis | 2.26% | $55.16K | $533.70M | 25.83% | 73Outperform |
 VCTR | Victory Capital Holdings | 2.17% | $53.01K | $7.77B | 95.81% | 80Outperform |
 DRH | Diamondrock | 1.60% | $39.00K | $3.01B | 58.02% | 65Neutral |
AESL Technical Analysis
Price Trends
Market Momentum
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AESL, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 19.57 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 19.90, below the 50-day MA of 19.74, and compared to the 200-day MA of , indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.03 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 44.55 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 37.70 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for AESL.
AESL Peer Comparison
Comparison Results
| Name | Price | Price Target | AUM | Expense Ratio | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AESL | $19.57 | $21.50(9.88% Upside) | $2.47M | 0.40% | 66Neutral |
 SQLV | $52.47 | $62.67(19.44% Upside) | $39.61M | 0.60% | 66Neutral |
 JPSV | $70.56 | $80.57(14.18% Upside) | $29.09M | 0.55% | 66Neutral |
 ACSV | $48.42 | $58.85(21.52% Upside) | $25.66M | 0.49% | 70Neutral |
 FSEV | $26.06 | $32.36(24.14% Upside) | $7.86M | 0.28% | 65Neutral |
 FESC | $23.03 | $28.51(23.80% Upside) | $5.10M | 0.55% | 65Neutral |
Performance Comparison
| Show on chart | Ticker | Company Name | Price | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AESL | Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF | 19.57 | -0.47 | -2.34% | |
| SQLV | Legg Mason Small-Cap Quality Value ETF | 52.47 | 11.45 | 27.92% | |
| JPSV | JPMorgan Active Small Cap Value ETF | 70.56 | 14.34 | 25.50% | |
| ACSV | American Century Small Cap Value Insights ETF | 48.42 | 9.34 | 23.90% | |
| FSEV | Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap Value ETF | 26.06 | 1.04 | 4.18% | |
| FESC | First Eagle Small Cap Equity ETF | 23.03 | -1.72 | -6.95% |
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.