ETF Evaluator: ARS Core Equity ETF () Follow This ETF

ARS Core Equity ETF Overview

ARS Core Equity ETF (ACEP) is an actively managed U.S. Equity Large Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). ARS Investment Partners, LLC launched the ETF in 2025.

The investment seeks to achieve long-term growth of capital and generate current income. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities or ETFs that provide exposure to equity securities. For purposes of the fund’s 80% policy, the managers define equity securities as common stock or securities with similar characteristics, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The fund is non-diversified.

About ARS Core Equity ETF (ACEP)

There are 5 members of the management team with an average tenure of 0.62 years: Arnold Schmeidler (2025), Andrew Schmeidler (2025), P. Ross Taylor (2025), Sean Lawless (2025) and Anthony Young (2026). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.

ARS Core Equity ETF has 38 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 38.7% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The ETF is considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.

ARS Core Equity ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the U.S. Equity ETF group. ARS Core Equity ETF has 12.4% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 83.2% There is 12.4% 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). ARS Core Equity ETF has 4.3% of the portfolio in cash.

Assets Under Management

The fund has $99 million 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.

ACEP 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 ARS Core Equity ETF expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Large Blend category. ARS Core Equity ETF has an expense ratio of 0.45%, which is 9% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a C. 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. ARS Core Equity ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 0%, which indicates that it holds its assets around /years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 158% for the Large Blend category.

Recently, in the month of July 2026, ARS Core Equity ETF returned 0.6%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Large Blend category had an average return of -0.8%. 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.

ARS Core Equity ETF has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below the 1.16% 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.

ARS Core Equity ETF Grades

Year to date, the ETF has returned 21.9%, 12.3 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A.

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