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NUSC

Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC)

Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:$53.00â–²(7.22% Upside)

NUSC, the Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF, earns a solid overall rating thanks to several strong core holdings like East West Bancorp, Medpace Holdings, and NEXTracker, which show robust financial performance, healthy growth, and supportive technical trends. At the same time, weaker names such as Viatris and CoStar Group, with profitability and momentum challenges, modestly weigh on the fund’s score. The main risk factor is that some holdings show signs of overbought technical conditions or high valuations, which could increase volatility if market sentiment shifts.

Positive Factors
Strong Overall PerformanceThe ETF has delivered strong year-to-date returns, showing solid momentum in the current market.
Leading Holdings With Strong GainsSeveral of the largest positions, such as ATI, nVent Electric, TD SYNNEX, and Sterling Infrastructure, have shown strong performance, helping drive the fund’s results.
Broad Sector DiversificationThe fund is spread across many sectors, including technology, industrials, financials, health care, and consumer-related industries, which helps reduce the impact of weakness in any single area.
Negative Factors
Single-Country ConcentrationAlmost all of the ETF’s holdings are in U.S. companies, which means limited diversification across different global markets.
Exposure to Lagging HoldingAGNC Investment, one of the top holdings, has shown flat performance year-to-date, which does not contribute to the fund’s recent gains.
Moderate Expense RatioThe ETF’s expense ratio is not especially low, so fees may slightly reduce the net returns compared with some cheaper index funds.

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

AUM
1.24B
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.31%
Beta
0.96
Issuer
Nuveen
Inception Date
Dec 13, 2016
Dividend Yield
0.95%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
MSCI Nuveen ESG USA Small Cap

NUSC Summary

NUSC is the Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF, which tracks the MSCI Nuveen ESG USA Small Cap index. It invests in many smaller U.S. companies that meet certain environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. The fund spreads money across sectors like technology, industrials, and financials, and holds names such as East West Bancorp and Host Hotels & Resorts. Someone might invest in NUSC to seek long-term growth from smaller companies while aligning with sustainable business practices. A key risk is that small-cap stocks can be more volatile, so the ETF’s value can rise and fall more sharply than the overall market.

How much will it cost me?

The Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) has an expense ratio of 0.31%, meaning you’ll pay $3.10 per year for every $1,000 invested. This is slightly higher than average for ETFs because it is actively managed to select small-cap companies that meet strict ESG criteria, which requires more research and oversight.

What would affect this ETF?

The Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) could benefit from increased investor interest in ESG-focused funds and the growth potential of small-cap companies, particularly in sectors like technology and industrials, which are heavily weighted in the fund. However, it may face challenges from economic downturns, rising interest rates, or regulatory changes that could negatively impact small-cap stocks or specific sectors like financials and real estate. Its focus on U.S.-based companies also makes it sensitive to domestic economic conditions and policy shifts.

NUSC Top 10 Holdings

NUSC leans into a diverse mix of U.S. small caps, with a few standout names steering the ship. TD SYNNEX has been a key engine, rising steadily this year and giving the fund a tech-flavored boost, while Medpace and Royal Gold add momentum from health care and materials. Viatris is also climbing, though its financial footing is still a bit shaky. On the flip side, AGNC Investment and Nextpower are lagging, acting as small anchors on performance. Overall, the ETF spreads its bets across sectors, avoiding heavy concentration in any single theme.

NUSC top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
VTRSVTRSViatris1.20%$14.89M$20.97B80.89%60Neutral
RNRRNRRenaissancere Holdings1.13%$13.97M$14.61B42.51%78Outperform
HSTHSTHost Hotels & Resorts1.12%$13.91M$16.57B50.39%77Outperform
EWBCEWBCEast West Bancorp1.06%$13.20M$17.19B30.46%79Outperform
CSGPCSGPCoStar Group0.98%$12.19M$12.89B-55.91%61Neutral
PFGCPFGCPerformance Food Group0.93%$11.54M$15.10B-3.56%65Neutral
SNXSNXTD SYNNEX Corporation0.95%$11.76M$19.83B60.14%73Outperform
NXTNXTNextpower Inc0.90%$11.15M$12.09B-11.02%78Outperform
SCISCIService International0.87%$10.79M$11.01B0.60%67Neutral
AVTRAVTRAvantor0.87%$10.77M$11.02B9.49%48Neutral

NUSC Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNegative
Last Price49.43

Price Trends

50DMA50.44Negative
100DMA50.75Negative
200DMA49.04Negative

Market Momentum

MACD-0.39Negative
RSI41.61Neutral
STOCH40.88Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NUSC, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 49.43 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 49.08, below the 50-day MA of 50.44, and above the 200-day MA of 49.04, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.39 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 41.61 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 40.88 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for NUSC.

NUSC Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

NUSC against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
NUSCNUSC$49.43$53.00(7.22% Upside)$1.24B0.31%67Neutral
FNDAFNDA$35.66$43.09(20.84% Upside)$8.71B0.25%67Neutral
FESMFESM$45.17$58.47(29.44% Upside)$6.47B0.28%64Neutral
SMLFSMLF$84.64$106.14(25.40% Upside)$4.09B0.15%66Neutral
VIOOVIOO$128.14$159.17(24.21% Upside)$4.00B0.07%66Neutral
CALFCALF$57.27$64.21(12.11% Upside)$3.68B0.59%65Neutral

Performance Comparison

0%10%20%30%NUSCFNDAFESMSMLFVIOOCALFNov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
NUSC and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
NUSCNuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF49.435.7113.07%
FNDASchwab Fundamental US Small Co. Index ETF35.665.1216.76%
FESMFidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF45.178.8324.31%
SMLFiShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Multifactor ETF84.6411.7616.14%
VIOOVanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF128.1419.0817.49%
CALFPacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF57.2714.4733.80%
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.