Is the State Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS) a Strong ETF Right Now?

The exchange‑traded fund QUS, formally the SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF, is designed to give investors broad exposure to large‑ and mid‑cap U.S. equities through a “smart beta” strategy, rather than traditional market‑cap weighting. It tracks the MSCI USA Factor Mix A‑Series Capped Index, which blends value, quality and low‑volatility factors. Launched on April 15 2015, the fund is managed by State Street Global Advisors and currently holds assets exceeding US $1.5 billion, placing it amongst the larger funds in its category. Its expense ratio is a low 0.15% annually — favorable compared to many active funds. Sector‑wise, QUS has its largest allocation in Information Technology at roughly 25–26%. Healthcare and Financials make up significant portions as well. The fund’s top ten holdings represent around 21–22% of its assets, with names like Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. among its largest exposures. In terms of performance, the fund has generated about +10.86% so far this year and roughly +9.05% over the past year (as of November 18 2025). It has a 3‑year trailing beta of about 0.88—indicating slightly less volatility than the market benchmark—and a standard deviation of 12.46%, putting it in the “medium risk” camp. Bottom line: QUS represents a solid option for investors looking to go beyond standard market‑cap exposure, tapping factor‑based strategies in a relatively low‑cost package. That said, traditional large‑blend market‑cap ETFs, such as IVV or VOO, still offer lower expense ratios (around 0.03%) and broader market coverage — making them worthy comparisons for cost‑ and risk‑sensitive investors. #ETFs #SmartBeta #QUS #USLargeCap #SlimScan #GrowthStocks #CANSLIM