First National Trust Co has recently made headlines with a significant strategic move, substantially increasing its stake in the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS) during the first quarter. This notable surge of 15.3% in holdings, meticulously detailed in their latest 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, underscores a growing confidence in international small-cap markets and signals intriguing shifts in institutional investment strategies.
The firm’s bolstered portfolio now includes 2,044 shares of the VSS stock, a direct result of acquiring an additional 271 shares within the period. This expansion elevates First National Trust Co’s total holdings in the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF to an impressive valuation of $236,000 at the close of the most recent financial quarter, indicating a clear commitment to this specific ETF investment.
Beyond First National Trust Co, a broader trend of institutional interest in the VSS ETF is evident from recent filings. GAMMA Investing LLC, for instance, dramatically amplified its exposure to Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF by an astonishing 11,460.1% during the first quarter. This aggressive accumulation positions GAMMA Investing LLC with 22,311 shares, valued at $2,579,000, showcasing a robust conviction in the fund’s potential within the global small-cap landscape.
Similarly, M&T Bank Corp also demonstrated increased appetite for the VSS ETF, boosting its stake by 25.9% in the same quarter. Their acquisition of an additional 1,356 shares brought their total holdings to 6,587 shares, representing a substantial value of $761,000. Such movements reflect a diversified interest in international equities among major institutional players, further highlighting the attractiveness of this small-cap fund.
Further emphasizing this institutional trend, Alliancebernstein L.P. incrementally increased its stake in the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF by 8.2% during the fourth quarter. Their strategic acquisition of 3,041 additional shares has expanded their ownership to 40,288 shares, now valued at $4,612,000, reinforcing the consistent long-term interest in the VSS fund’s performance and stability.
Other prominent firms, including Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and Northern Trust Corp, have also made adjustments to their VSS holdings. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. saw a 2.0% increase, bringing their total to 9,652 shares valued at $1,116,000, while Northern Trust Corp slightly increased their stake by 3.3% in the fourth quarter, reaching 12,661 shares worth $1,449,000. These widespread institutional holdings underscore the fund’s prominence in a diversified portfolio strategy.
From a market performance perspective, shares of the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF opened at $133.68 on a recent Friday. The fund has experienced significant price fluctuations, with a fifty-two week low of $102.76 and a fifty-two week high of $138.29. Its current market metrics, including a 50-day moving average price of $132.53, a 200-day moving average price of $122.49, a market cap of $9.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.03, and a beta of 0.99, provide crucial data for investors conducting a thorough stock analysis.
The Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF is structured as an open-end investment company, primarily focusing on securities of foreign issuers. Its core investment objective is to meticulously track the performance of the FTSE Global Small Cap ex US Index, which serves as a benchmark for measuring the investment return of stocks from international small-cap companies. This objective ensures that the fund remains a vital component for those seeking exposure to diverse global markets.
Leave a Reply