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SMOT

VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF (SMOT)

Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:$43.00â–²(5.89% Upside)

SMOT, the VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF, earns a solid overall rating largely because several key holdings like Devon Energy, Veralto, Elevance Health, and GE Healthcare show strong financial performance, positive earnings commentary, and generally favorable momentum, which support the fund’s quality. However, weaker names such as Lamb Weston and Estée Lauder, which face margin pressure, leverage concerns, and profitability challenges, slightly weigh on the rating. A main risk factor is that some top holdings appear overvalued or have mixed short‑term technical trends, which could increase volatility for investors.

Positive Factors
Solid Recent PerformanceThe ETF has shown strong gains so far this year and in recent months, indicating positive momentum.
Broad Sector DiversificationHoldings spread across many sectors like health care, industrials, consumer stocks, and materials help reduce the impact of weakness in any single industry.
Generally Strong Top HoldingsMost of the largest positions have delivered steady to strong performance, supporting the fund’s overall returns.
Negative Factors
Higher-Than-Average FeesThe expense ratio is on the higher side for an ETF, which can slightly reduce the net returns investors receive over time.
Single-Country ConcentrationAlmost all assets are invested in U.S. companies, offering little geographic diversification if the U.S. market struggles.
Some Lagging Top HoldingsA few key positions, such as TransUnion, have shown weak performance, which can drag on the fund’s overall results.

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

AUM
322.75M
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.49%
Beta
0.82
Issuer
VanEck
Inception Date
Oct 04, 2022
Dividend Yield
1.23%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
Morningstar US Small-Mid Cap Moat Focus

SMOT Summary

SMOT is the VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF, which follows the Morningstar US Small-Mid Cap Moat Focus Index. It invests in U.S. small and mid-sized companies that Morningstar believes have strong, lasting business advantages. The fund spreads money across many sectors, including health care, industrials, and consumer goods, and holds well-known names like Becton Dickinson and Estée Lauder. Someone might invest in SMOT to seek long-term growth and diversify beyond the usual large-company funds. A key risk is that smaller and mid-sized stocks can be more volatile, so the ETF’s value can go up and down sharply with the market.

How much will it cost me?

This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.49%, which means you’ll pay about $4.90 per year for every $1,000 you invest. That’s higher than the average low-cost index ETF because this fund is more actively managed, using Morningstar’s moat-focused research to pick specific small- and mid-cap stocks.

What would affect this ETF?

SMOT could benefit if the U.S. economy grows steadily, supporting small and mid-sized companies in health care, industrials, and consumer sectors, and if its moat-focused holdings like Becton Dickinson and Elevance Health continue to strengthen their competitive positions. On the downside, higher interest rates, an economic slowdown that hits smaller companies harder, or sector-specific challenges in areas like consumer goods and energy could weigh on the ETF’s future performance.

SMOT Top 10 Holdings

SMOT leans heavily into U.S. health care and consumer names, and that’s where much of the story sits. Becton Dickinson and GE Healthcare are steady-to-rising anchors, helping drive returns from the fund’s sizable health care sleeve. On the consumer side, Lamb Weston has been a quiet overachiever, while Estée Lauder looks more like a comeback story in progress than a clear winner. Devon Energy adds a rising cyclical kick, but its smaller weight keeps it from steering the ship. Overall, performance is driven by a mix of resilient moaty growers with a few laggards still finding their footing.

SMOT top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
BDXBDXBecton Dickinson1.58%$5.10M$53.90B10.31%67Neutral
ELELThe Estée Lauder Companies1.51%$4.86M$39.58B11.90%56Neutral
MASMASMasco1.50%$4.83M$15.54B24.08%53Neutral
LWLWLamb Weston Holdings1.49%$4.81M$7.45B-13.04%61Neutral
VLTOVLTOVeralto Corporation1.49%$4.81M$27.09B10.68%76Outperform
GEHCGEHCGE Healthcare Technologies Inc1.48%$4.78M$34.62B2.09%78Outperform
AMCRAMCRAmcor1.47%$4.74M$21.91B20.74%73Outperform
DVNDVNDevon Energy1.46%$4.72M$57.37B62.92%79Outperform
GPNGPNGlobal Payments1.45%$4.69M$25.63B23.07%70Outperform
HIIHIIHuntington Ingalls1.42%$4.57M$12.49B-0.69%69Neutral

SMOT Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price40.61

Price Trends

50DMA39.22Positive
100DMA39.37Positive
200DMA38.09Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.44Negative
RSI68.94Neutral
STOCH85.57Negative

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SMOT, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 40.61 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 39.07, above the 50-day MA of 39.22, and above the 200-day MA of 38.09, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.44 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 68.94 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 85.57 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for SMOT.

SMOT Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

SMOT against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
SMOTSMOT$40.61$43.00(5.89% Upside)$322.75M0.49%68Neutral
RSMCRSMC$27.31$34.56(26.54% Upside)$737.68M0.75%69Neutral
MSSMMSSM$57.94$73.09(26.15% Upside)$708.38M0.62%64Neutral
GRNJGRNJ$25.97$39.48(52.01% Upside)$466.02M0.75%69Neutral
ASCEASCE$32.42$42.14(29.98% Upside)$354.77M0.38%71Outperform
ISMDISMD$46.88$60.04(28.08% Upside)$335.23M0.53%65Neutral

Performance Comparison

0%10%20%30%SMOTRSMCMSSMGRNJASCEISMDDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
SMOT and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
SMOTVanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF40.615.3515.18%
RSMCRockefeller U.S. Small-Mid Cap ETF27.311.817.09%
MSSMMorgan Stanley Pathway Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF57.948.2016.49%
GRNJFundstrat Granny Shots US Small- & Mid-Cap ETF25.971.676.87%
ASCEAllspring SMID Core ETF32.426.3924.52%
ISMDInspire Small/Mid Cap Impact ETF46.889.4425.20%
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.