Ashford Advisors Boosts Stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF

Ashford Advisors LLC significantly increased its investment in the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA: IJR) by 338.9% during the third quarter, according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired an additional 4,372 shares, bringing its total to 5,662 shares, which are now valued at approximately $673,000. This investment constitutes about 0.1% of Ashford Advisors’ overall portfolio, making IJR its 14th largest holding.

Other institutional investors have also made notable adjustments to their stakes in the iShares ETF. For instance, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings by 5.8% in the second quarter, now owning 41,302,922 shares valued at around $4.51 billion after acquiring 2,252,323 shares. Similarly, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC dramatically raised its position by 11,144.8%, owning 13,728,611 shares worth approximately $1.5 billion after adding 13,606,522 shares.

In addition, First Command Advisory Services Inc. bolstered its holdings by 2.4%, resulting in ownership of 9,171,730 shares valued at about $1.002 billion. Ameriprise Financial Inc. also expanded its position by 2.1%, now holding 5,507,552 shares worth approximately $601.8 million. Truist Financial Corp increased its stake by 30.0% in the third quarter, now owning 4,074,572 shares valued at around $484.2 million.

Institutional investors collectively own 66.92% of the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, reflecting a strong interest in the fund among large financial entities.

On the trading front, shares of the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF experienced a slight decline of 0.4%, opening at $127.66 on Wednesday. The ETF boasts a market capitalization of $93.85 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.52 and a beta of 1.08. Its performance over the past year has shown a low of $89.22 and a high of $131.64.

The iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, formerly known as the iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund, aims to mirror the performance of the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index. This index serves as a benchmark for publicly traded securities in the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity market, with its component stocks weighted according to their total float-adjusted market value.

For those interested in tracking the holdings of the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, resources such as HoldingsChannel.com provide up-to-date information on institutional investments and insider trading related to the fund.