Recent disclosures from the Securities and Exchange Commission reveal a dynamic landscape in the institutional ownership of the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS), signaling key portfolio adjustments by leading advisory firms. Certified Advisory Corp, for instance, significantly reduced its stake in VSS during the first quarter, shedding 1,094 shares, which led to a 3.9% decrease in its overall holdings. These movements, documented in mandatory 13F filings, offer critical insights into how major players are positioning themselves within the global small-cap market.
Following this reduction, Certified Advisory Corp’s revised portfolio indicated ownership of 26,734 shares of VSS, a position valued at an estimated $3,090,000 at the close of the most recent reporting period. This substantial holding, even after the partial divestment, underscores the firm’s continued, albeit slightly diminished, presence as a significant investor in this particular Vanguard ETF. Such strategic adjustments by institutional investors often reflect evolving market outlooks or rebalancing efforts within their broader investment strategy.
In stark contrast to Certified Advisory Corp’s reduction, GAMMA Investing LLC demonstrated a remarkably aggressive expansion of its VSS holdings during the same quarter. The firm dramatically increased its stake by an astounding 11,460.1%, acquiring an additional 22,118 shares. This substantial acquisition propelled GAMMA Investing LLC’s total ownership to 22,311 shares, valued at approximately $2,579,000, indicating a strong bullish sentiment towards the international small-cap sector.
Further diversifying the institutional activity surrounding VSS, M&T; Bank Corp reported a notable 25.9% increase in its position during the first quarter, adding 1,356 shares to hold a total of 6,587 shares, with a market value of $761,000. Similarly, Alliancebernstein L.P. also bolstered its investment in the fourth quarter, growing its holdings by 8.2% through the purchase of 3,041 additional shares, bringing their total to 40,288 shares valued at $4,612,000. These varied investment strategies highlight differing institutional perspectives on the ETF’s future performance.
Continuing the trend of institutional portfolio adjustments, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. modestly increased its stake in VSS by 2.0% during the first quarter, adding 185 shares to reach 9,652 shares, valued at $1,116,000. Northern Trust Corp also showed a positive adjustment, growing its position by 3.3% in the fourth quarter with an acquisition of 409 shares, resulting in a total of 12,661 shares worth $1,449,000. Such incremental changes reflect fine-tuning within larger, diversified investment portfolios.
From a market performance standpoint, shares of Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF opened at $133.68 on Friday. The ETF’s current trading metrics show a 50-day moving average price of $132.53 and a 200-day moving average price of $122.49, indicating recent upward momentum. With a significant market capitalization of $9.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.03, and a beta of 0.99, VSS demonstrates stability within the global small-cap market. The ETF’s 52-week trading range spans from a low of $102.76 to a high of $138.29.
As an open-end investment company, the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF is specifically designed to track the performance of the FTSE Global Small Cap ex US Index, focusing on the investment returns of international small-cap companies. The recent flux in institutional investment strategy, evidenced by these detailed 13F filings, provides a fascinating glimpse into how major financial entities are navigating and responding to shifts in the global small-cap market, offering valuable insights for individual investors tracking this particular Vanguard ETF and broader investment trends.
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