ETF Education Report: ALLSPRING SMID CORE ETF (ASCE)

What this ETF is trying to do

The ALLSPRING SMID CORE ETF (ticker: ASCE) is an exchange-traded fund listed on the NYSE. While the specific investment goal isn't detailed in the data, it holds a variety of different companies. Based on its top holdings, it includes companies in sectors like healthcare, energy, and consumer goods.

What the numbers show

The current price of ASCE is $33.47. We can look at how the share price has changed over different periods:

• Year-to-Date (YTD) Price Return: The share price has increased by approximately 24.75% since the start of the year.

• One-Year Price Return: The share price has increased by approximately 26.16% over the last year.

• Estimated Price Comparison: An estimated price from roughly one year ago was $26.53.

It is important to know the difference between price return and total return. Price return only tracks how much the share price moves. Total return includes both the price movement and any cash distributions paid out to investors. For ASCE, the one-year total return was approximately 26.42%, which is slightly higher than the price return alone.

Income and distribution explanation

Some investors look for ETFs that pay out cash, known as distributions. ASCE has a distribution yield of approximately 0.17%. The data shows that distributions for this ETF are "irregular" or "less frequent," with only one payout recorded in the last 12 months.

NAV erosion explanation

"NAV erosion" refers to a situation where the value of the underlying assets in the fund decreases significantly. StockValueFinder uses an "erosion-risk score" to help monitor this. For ASCE, the erosion score is 100, and the label indicates "No price erosion detected." There is no severe erosion-risk flag for this ETF.

Top Holdings

The following are the top holdings in the portfolio (note that this is a partial list):

• CORCEPT THERAPEUTICS INC (3.71%)

• ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT INC (2.91%)

• AMNEAL PHARMACEUTICALS INC (2.83%)

• VIRTU FINANCIAL INC CLASS A (2.76%)

• EXELIXIS INC (2.63%)

• TEEKAY CORP LTD (2.56%)

• SHARKNINJA INC (2.55%)

• CHORD ENERGY CORP (2.50%)

• COEUR MINING INC (2.46%)

• EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS INC (2.41%)

*Holdings can change over time.*

Pros

• The ETF has shown positive price returns both year-to-date and over the last year.

• The erosion-risk measurement is rated as "good."

Cons

• The distribution yield is very low (0.17%).

• Distributions are irregular and do not happen on a frequent schedule.

Beginner takeaway

ASCE has recently seen its share price grow. While it does pay some distributions, they are not frequent and the yield is quite small. Investors should remember that a rising share price is different from the total return, which also accounts for any cash paid out.