ETF Evaluator:
AQE Core ETF ()
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(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Large Blend Over the Last Year
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ETF Details
AQE Core ETF Overview
AQE Core ETF (AQEC) is an actively managed U.S. Equity Large Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). ARLINGTON PARTNERS LLC launched the ETF in 2025.
The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation.
The fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets in high-quality equity securities that the advisor believes have the potential for long-term growth. A guiding principle of the fund’s investment process is the consideration of each holding as an ownership interest in an underlying business. The fund is non-diversified.
About AQE Core ETF (AQEC)
There are 3 members of the management team with an average tenure of 0.70 years: Kenneth H. Polk (2025), Jordan E. Cherry (2025), William A. (Bill) Levant and III. (2025). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
AQE Core ETF has 68 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 19.4% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
AQE Core ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the U.S. Equity ETF group. AQE Core ETF has 21.0% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 79.0% There is 21.0% 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). AQE Core ETF has 0.1% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $811 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.
AQEC 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 AQE Core ETF expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Large Blend category. AQE Core ETF has an expense ratio of 0.49%, which is 18% 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. AQE Core ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 22%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 158% for the Large Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, AQE Core ETF returned 5.9%, which earned it a grade of A, 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.
AQE Core ETF has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below the 1.16% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income quarterly 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.
AQE Core ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned -1.3%, 10.9 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of F.
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AQEC Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| AQEC Return (NAV) | 5.9% | 4.5% | na | na | na | na |
| AQEC Return (Price) | 6.0% | 4.4% | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | -0.130% | 0.030% | na | na | na | na |
| Large Blend Avg | -0.8% | 3.7% | 17.5% | 17.4% | 11.2% | 13.6% |
| AQEC Grade (NAV) | A | C | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 6.7% | 0.7% | na | na | na | na |
| AQEC Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | na | na | na | na |
AQEC Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| AQEC Return (NAV) | -1.3% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| AQEC Return (Price) | -1.3% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.002% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Large Blend Avg | 9.5% | 15.3% | 21.9% | 22.9% | -17.1% | 26.9% | 18.3% | 29.6% | -5.1% | 21.5% | 11.4% |
| AQEC Grade (NAV) | F | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | -10.9% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | na |
| R-Squared: | na |
| Standard Deviation: | na |
| Category Risk Index: | na |
| Category Risk Rating: | |
| Total Risk Index: | na |
| Total Risk Rating: | |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | -- |
| Total Assets: | $ 811 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 811 Mil |
| Turnover: | 22.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.49% |
| Index Fund: | No |
| Index Tracked: | N/A |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Quarterly |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 3 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 0.7 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 0.7 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Polk Kenneth H. (2025), Cherry Jordan E. (2025), Levant, III. William A. (Bill) (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 68 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 19.4% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 21.0% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 79.0% |
| Foreign Stock: | 21.0% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | -0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.1% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | ARLINGTON PARTNERS LLC |
| Phone Number: | 888-688-4045 |
| Website: | |
| Inception Date: | November 17, 2025 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.49% (Rating: Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.41% |
