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SQLV

Legg Mason Small-Cap Quality Value ETF (SQLV)

Rating:66Neutral
Price Target:$56.00â–²(5.53% Upside)
Positive Factors
Strong Overall PerformanceThe ETF has delivered strong year-to-date returns, showing solid momentum in its small-cap value strategy.
Broad Sector DiversificationHoldings spread across many sectors, including health care, financials, technology, and consumer-related industries, help reduce the impact of weakness in any single area.
Several Strong-Performing Top HoldingsSome of the largest positions, such as SM Energy, Qualys, Kohl's, and H&R Block, have shown strong gains, supporting the fund’s recent results.
Negative Factors
Higher Expense RatioThe fund’s expense ratio is on the higher side for an ETF, which means more of the returns are used to cover fees.
U.S.-Only Geographic ExposureAlmost all assets are invested in U.S. companies, offering little geographic diversification if the U.S. market faces a downturn.
Several Weak Top HoldingsSome key positions, including Embecta, Kyndryl, Everforth, and Vistance Networks, have shown weak performance, which can drag on the fund’s future returns.

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

-10%0%10%20%30%40%SPY+14.30%SQLV+32.28%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
AUM
39.61M
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.60%
Beta
0.89
Issuer
Franklin
Inception Date
Jul 12, 2017
Dividend Yield
1.02%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
No Underlying Index

SQLV Summary

SQLV is the Legg Mason Small-Cap Quality Value ETF, focused on smaller U.S. companies that are considered high quality but currently priced cheaply. It doesn’t track a specific index, but instead selects stocks across many sectors like health care, finance, and technology. Well-known holdings include Kohl’s and H&R Block. Investors might consider SQLV if they want growth potential from small companies while spreading their money across many industries. However, small-cap stocks can be more volatile than larger, well-known companies, so the value of this ETF can go up and down sharply with the market.

How much will it cost me?

This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.60%, which means you’ll pay about $6 per year for every $1,000 you invest. That’s higher than the average ETF because it’s actively managed, with professionals selecting small-cap value stocks rather than just tracking a simple index.

What would affect this ETF?

SQLV could benefit if the U.S. economy stays healthy, supporting small-cap companies in sectors like health care, financials, and technology, and if investor interest in undervalued stocks grows, helping its value-focused holdings such as DXC Technology and SM Energy. On the downside, rising interest rates, an economic slowdown that hits smaller U.S. businesses harder, or sector-specific challenges in areas like consumer cyclical and energy could weigh on the ETF’s performance.

SQLV Top 10 Holdings

SQLV is a U.S.-focused small-cap value fund where a handful of names are doing the heavy lifting while a few stragglers slow the pace. Cybersecurity player Qualys has been a clear bright spot, rising steadily and giving the tech sleeve some welcome momentum, while SM Energy and Crescent Energy have been powering ahead from the energy corner. On the flip side, Embecta and Kyndryl are lagging, acting like sandbags on performance. Overall, the fund is spread across health care, financials, tech, and energy rather than betting on a single sector or star stock.

SQLV top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
DXCDXCDXC Technology1.25%$499.57K$2.38B12.94%62Neutral
KDKDKyndryl Holdings Incorporation1.00%$397.83K$3.76B-33.29%64Neutral
EMBCEMBCEmbecta Corporation0.90%$359.29K$364.32M-54.08%52Neutral
HRBHRBH&R Block0.82%$326.78K$6.25B7.24%63Neutral
KSSKSSKohl's0.89%$355.92K$2.81B37.10%68Neutral
FHIFHIFederated Hermes0.82%$327.94K$4.84B29.55%72Outperform
QLYSQLYSQualys0.72%$287.37K$6.11B18.78%78Outperform
CRCTCRCTCricut Inc0.73%$289.93K$1.81B85.00%75Outperform
VNTVNTVontier0.73%$291.71K$5.73B17.34%67Neutral

SQLV Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price53.06

Price Trends

50DMA52.53Positive
100DMA52.86Positive
200DMA49.61Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.15Positive
RSI51.50Neutral
STOCH38.06Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SQLV, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 53.06 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 53.04, above the 50-day MA of 52.53, and above the 200-day MA of 49.61, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.15 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 51.50 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 38.06 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for SQLV.

SQLV Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

SQLV against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
SQLVSQLV$53.06$56.00(5.53% Upside)$39.61M0.60%66Neutral
JPSVJPSV$71.17$80.67(13.36% Upside)$29.09M0.55%66Neutral
ACSVACSV$48.88$59.37(21.46% Upside)$25.50M0.49%70Neutral
FSEVFSEV$26.38$32.36(22.63% Upside)$7.86M0.28%65Neutral
FESCFESC$23.30$28.53(22.46% Upside)$5.10M0.55%65Neutral
AESLAESL$19.77$22.95(16.10% Upside)$2.46M0.40%66Neutral

Performance Comparison

-10%0%10%20%30%SQLVJPSVACSVFSEVFESCAESLDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
SQLV and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
SQLVLegg Mason Small-Cap Quality Value ETF53.0612.0429.36%
JPSVJPMorgan Active Small Cap Value ETF71.1714.9426.58%
ACSVAmerican Century Small Cap Value Insights ETF48.889.8025.06%
FSEVFidelity Enhanced Small Cap Value ETF26.381.375.46%
FESCFirst Eagle Small Cap Equity ETF23.30-1.45-5.86%
AESLHarbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF19.77-0.27-1.34%
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.