ETF Evaluator:
Kovitz Core Equity ETF (EQTY)
Follow This ETF
(as of Jul 31)
Best Performing in Large Blend Over the Last Year
| 82.8% | ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF (AFOS) |
| 75.3% | Mohr Company Nav ETF (CNAV) |
| 44.9% | Invesco S&P 500® Momentum ETF (SPMO) |
| 43.7% | iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) |
| 41.7% | Inspire 100 ETF (BIBL) |
Risk
Index
Risk
Index
ETF Details
Kovitz Core Equity ETF Overview
Kovitz Core Equity ETF (EQTY) is an actively managed U.S. Equity Large Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). kovitzetf launched the ETF in 2011.
The investment seeks long- term capital appreciation.
The fund invests primarily in equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies. Equity securities in which the fund may invest include common stocks and common stock equivalents (such as rights or warrants, which give the fund the ability to purchase the common stock, and convertible securities, which are securities that are convertible into the common stock). The fund may invest in companies of any market capitalization, including small- and mid-capitalization companies.
About Kovitz Core Equity ETF (EQTY)
There are 1 members of the management team with an average tenure of 2.08 years: Matt Hayner (2024). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 1 primary benchmark: S&P 500 (TR) (1970) index with a weighting of 100%. Kovitz Core Equity ETF has 43 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 38.9% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Kovitz Core Equity ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the U.S. Equity ETF group. Kovitz Core Equity ETF has 5.2% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 92.9% There is 5.2% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Kovitz Core Equity ETF has 1.9% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $1 billion in total assets, which is below the $13 billion average for the Large Blend category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
EQTY Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The Kovitz Core Equity ETF expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Large Blend category. Kovitz Core Equity ETF has an expense ratio of 0.99%, which is 136% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a F. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. Kovitz Core Equity ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 36%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 162% for the Large Blend category.
Recently, in the month of June 2026, Kovitz Core Equity ETF returned 0.4%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Large Blend category had an average return of -0.0%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
Kovitz Core Equity ETF has a trailing yield of 0.02%, which is below the 1.12% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
Kovitz Core Equity ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 3.6%, 6.7 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of F. The fund has returned 11.6% over the past year (grade of F), 14.7% over the past three years (grade of F) and 8.4% per year over the past five years (grade of F) and 12.5% per year over the past 10 years (grade of D).
For more ETF grades, analysis and screening tools to help your investment discovery, join AAII for a $2, full-access trial. Learn more here: https://invest.aaii.com/membership.
Otherwise, for more information about Kovitz Core Equity ETF, including its riskiness, submit your email to unlock the rest of the article.
Gain access to exclusive AAII member-only content.
EQTY Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 6/30/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| EQTY Return (NAV) | 0.4% | 9.9% | 11.6% | 14.7% | 8.4% | 12.5% |
| EQTY Return (Price) | 0.4% | 9.8% | 11.6% | 14.8% | 8.4% | 12.5% |
| NAV +/- Price Return | -0.038% | 0.084% | -0.002% | -0.021% | -0.001% | -0.000% |
| Large Blend Avg | -0.0% | 14.5% | 20.9% | 18.8% | 11.8% | 14.1% |
| EQTY Grade (NAV) | B | F | F | F | F | D |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 0.4% | -4.6% | -9.2% | -4.1% | -3.4% | -1.5% |
| EQTY Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.0% | 0.1% | 1.9% | 1.7% |
EQTY Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 6/30/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| EQTY Return (NAV) | 3.6% | 13.5% | 19.9% | 26.9% | -22.7% | 29.9% | 13.5% | 27.0% | -10.7% | 17.1% | 19.8% |
| EQTY Return (Price) | 3.5% | 13.6% | 19.9% | 27.0% | -22.8% | 29.9% | 13.5% | 27.0% | -10.7% | 17.1% | 19.8% |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.025% | 0.011% | -0.000% | 0.004% | 0.004% | 0.000% | 0.000% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Large Blend Avg | 10.3% | 15.4% | 21.8% | 22.9% | -17.1% | 26.9% | 18.6% | 29.7% | -5.0% | 21.6% | 11.2% |
| EQTY Grade (NAV) | F | D | D | B | F | A | D | F | F | F | A |
| +/- Category | -6.7% | -1.9% | -1.9% | 4.0% | -5.7% | 3.0% | -5.1% | -2.7% | -5.7% | -4.5% | 8.6% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 0.90 |
| R-Squared: | 83% |
| Standard Deviation: | 12.9% |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.96 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Below Average |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.06 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Average |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 0.0% |
| Total Assets: | $ 1,390 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 1,390 Mil |
| Turnover: | 36.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.99% |
| Index Fund: | No |
| Index Tracked: | S&P 500 (TR) (1970) |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 1 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 2.1 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 2.1 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Hayner Matt (2024) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/29/26)
| # of Holdings: | 43 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 38.9% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 5.2% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 92.9% |
| Foreign Stock: | 5.2% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 1.9% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | kovitzetf |
| Phone Number: | 877-714-2327 |
| Website: | |
| Inception Date: | December 28, 2011 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.99% (Rating: High) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.42% |
