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RAFE

PIMCO RAFI ESG U.S. ETF (RAFE)

Rating:72Outperform
Price Target:$56.00â–²(12.02% Upside)

RAFE, the PIMCO RAFI ESG U.S. ETF, has a solid overall rating, suggesting it holds generally strong, well-established companies with supportive fundamentals. High-quality leaders like Apple and Microsoft boost the fund’s appeal through strong financial performance and growth in areas like services, cloud, and AI, while defensive names such as Merck and Verizon add stability with attractive valuations and steady cash flows. The main risk is that some holdings, like AT&T, Procter & Gamble, and AbbVie, face issues such as high debt, weaker technical trends, or valuation and profitability concerns, which can weigh on the fund’s rating.

Positive Factors
Strong Overall PerformanceThe ETF has shown strong gains so far this year and solid recent momentum, which suggests its strategy has been working well in the current market.
Healthy Top HoldingsMany of the largest positions, especially in health care and consumer staples, have delivered strong or steady performance, helping support the fund’s returns.
Broad Sector DiversificationThe fund spreads its investments across several major sectors, which helps reduce the impact if any single industry experiences a downturn.
Negative Factors
Heavy U.S. ConcentrationAlmost all of the ETF’s assets are invested in U.S. companies, offering little protection if the U.S. market faces a prolonged slump.
Sector Tilts Toward Technology and Health CareLarge weights in technology and health care mean the fund’s performance is more sensitive to swings in these sectors than a more evenly balanced portfolio would be.
Mixed Results Among Top Tech HoldingOne of the major technology positions has shown weak performance this year, which can drag on returns if that stock continues to lag.

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

AUM
173.60M
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.29%
Beta
0.79
Issuer
PIMCO
Inception Date
Dec 18, 2019
Dividend Yield
1.48%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
RAFI ESG US Index

RAFE Summary

PIMCO RAFI ESG U.S. ETF (RAFE) is a fund that follows the RAFI ESG US Index, focusing on U.S. companies that score well on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. It invests across the whole U.S. stock market, including large, mid, and small companies, with big positions in well-known names like Apple and Microsoft, plus major health care and financial firms. Someone might invest in RAFE to get broad diversification in U.S. stocks while supporting more responsible business practices and seeking long-term growth. A key risk is that the value of the ETF can go up and down with the overall stock market.

How much will it cost me?

The PIMCO RAFI ESG U.S. ETF (RAFE) has an expense ratio of 0.29%, which means you’ll pay $2.90 per year for every $1,000 invested. This is slightly higher than average for ETFs because it is actively managed and incorporates ESG criteria, which require more research and oversight compared to passively managed funds. It’s a good option if you value sustainable investing and are comfortable with the slightly higher cost.

What would affect this ETF?

The PIMCO RAFI ESG U.S. ETF could benefit from growing interest in ESG investing and the strong performance of its top holdings in technology and healthcare, sectors that often thrive during innovation and demographic shifts. However, potential risks include regulatory changes affecting ESG criteria, economic downturns impacting consumer spending, or rising interest rates that could pressure financial and cyclical sectors. Its focus on U.S. equities also makes it sensitive to domestic economic conditions and policy changes.

RAFE Top 10 Holdings

RAFE leans heavily on U.S. blue chips, with Apple and Microsoft doing much of the heavy lifting thanks to rising or steady momentum tied to cloud, AI, and services. Health care is another key pillar: Merck and Johnson & Johnson have been climbing, giving the fund a defensive backbone. On the flip side, telecom names like Verizon and AT&T are dragging, with more mixed and lagging performance that dulls some of the shine. Overall, it’s a U.S.-centric, tech-and-health-care story with a few old-line telecoms acting as a speed bump.

RAFE top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
AAPLAAPLApple5.50%$9.54M$5.01T38.80%79Outperform
MSFTMSFTMicrosoft5.42%$9.40M$3.93T3.41%79Outperform
JNJJNJJohnson & Johnson2.84%$4.92M$615.87B33.02%78Outperform
UNHUNHUnitedHealth2.84%$4.93M$360.32B12.55%72Outperform
JPMJPMJPMorgan Chase2.41%$4.17M$903.04B13.79%72Outperform
MRKMRKMerck & Company2.12%$3.67M$360.08B73.92%80Outperform
PGPGProcter & Gamble1.93%$3.35M$370.12B6.52%69Neutral
VZVZVerizon1.85%$3.21M$186.09B10.98%81Outperform
ABBVABBVAbbVie1.76%$3.05M$504.37B25.81%66Neutral
TTAT&T1.76%$3.06M$160.62B-10.53%71Outperform

RAFE Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price49.99

Price Trends

50DMA49.76Positive
100DMA48.68Positive
200DMA45.74Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.10Negative
RSI56.21Neutral
STOCH85.20Negative

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For RAFE, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 49.99 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 49.56, above the 50-day MA of 49.76, and above the 200-day MA of 45.74, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.10 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 56.21 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 85.20 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for RAFE.

RAFE Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

RAFE against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
RAFERAFE$49.99$56.00(12.02% Upside)$173.60M0.29%72Outperform
SYLDSYLD$84.07$95.60(13.71% Upside)$1.00B0.59%69Neutral
HLALHLAL$73.33$90.49(23.40% Upside)$982.17M0.50%76Outperform
SEUSSEUS$25.75$30.73(19.34% Upside)$943.98M0.30%73Outperform
AUSFAUSF$50.63$57.71(13.97% Upside)$882.87M0.27%71Outperform
BGDVBGDV$30.92$36.96(19.54% Upside)$861.28M0.45%74Outperform

Performance Comparison

0%10%20%30%RAFESYLDHLALSEUSAUSFBGDVNov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
RAFE and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
RAFEPIMCO RAFI ESG U.S. ETF49.999.5123.50%
SYLDCambria Shareholder Yield ETF84.0717.5226.33%
HLALWahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF73.3313.0021.55%
SEUSSEI QiM U.S. Equity Factor Allocation Active ETF25.750.481.92%
AUSFGlobal X Adaptive U.S. Factor ETF50.635.9613.33%
BGDVBahl & Gaynor Dividend ETF30.924.3616.41%
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.