ETF Evaluator:
Harbor Alpha Layering ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Aug 24)
Best Performing in Systematic Trend Over the Last Year
| 35.2% | American Beacon AHL Trend ETF (AHLT) |
| 31.5% | Cambria Chesapeake Pure Trend ETF (MFUT) |
| 28.1% | Blueprint Chesapeake Multi-Asst Trnd ETF (TFPN) |
| 27.5% | iMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF (DBMF) |
| 22.1% | Fidelity Managed Futures ETF (FFUT) |
Risk
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Risk
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ETF Details
Harbor Alpha Layering ETF Overview
Harbor Alpha Layering ETF (HOLD) is an actively managed Alternative Systematic Trend exchange-traded fund (ETF). Harbor Capital Advisors Inc launched the ETF in 2025.
The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation.
The fund’s subadvisor, employs a quantitative approach that “layers” an active, trend-following managed futures strategy on top of a passive position that is intended to replicate the returns of the S&P 500 Index. One dollar invested in the fund provides a total exposure of approximately one dollar and fifty cents (150% total exposure), which is allocated 75% to the long passive U.S. equity strategy and 75% to the managed futures strategy. The fund is non-diversified.
About Harbor Alpha Layering ETF (HOLD)
There are 4 members of the management team with an average tenure of 0.96 years: Bryan Belton (2025), Edward Qian (2025), Jonathon Beaulieu (2025) and Vic Malla (2025). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
Harbor Alpha Layering ETF has 15 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 34.5% 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.
Harbor Alpha Layering ETF is part of the Alternative Strategies global asset class and is within the Alternative ETF group. Harbor Alpha Layering ETF has 0.2% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 27.7% There is 0.2% 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). Harbor Alpha Layering ETF has 65.5% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $8 million in total assets, which is below the $487 million average for the Systematic Trend 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.
HOLD 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 Harbor Alpha Layering ETF expense ratio is above average compared to funds in the Systematic Trend category. Harbor Alpha Layering ETF has an expense ratio of 0.70%, which is 15% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a A. 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. Harbor Alpha Layering ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 20%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.1 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 57% for the Systematic Trend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Harbor Alpha Layering ETF returned -0.2%, which earned it a grade of F, as the Systematic Trend category had an average return of 1.4%. 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.
Harbor Alpha Layering ETF has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below the 2.42% 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.
Harbor Alpha Layering ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 5.4%, 4.1 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of F.
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HOLD 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 |
|
| HOLD Return (NAV) | -0.2% | -1.9% | na | na | na | na |
| HOLD Return (Price) | -0.1% | -3.4% | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | -0.082% | 1.406% | na | na | na | na |
| Systematic Trend Avg | 1.4% | -1.4% | 20.5% | 6.5% | 6.1% | 3.0% |
| HOLD Grade (NAV) | F | D | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | -1.6% | -0.6% | na | na | na | na |
| HOLD Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | na | na | na | na |
HOLD Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| HOLD Return (NAV) | 5.4% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| HOLD Return (Price) | 2.1% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.609% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Systematic Trend Avg | 9.5% | 5.1% | 7.3% | -0.4% | 13.3% | 7.6% | 2.4% | -3.6% | -1.4% | -0.7% | -2.6% |
| HOLD Grade (NAV) | F | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | -4.1% | 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: | $ 8 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 8 Mil |
| Turnover: | 20.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.70% |
| Index Fund: | No |
| Index Tracked: | N/A |
| Index Weighting: | 150% |
| Leveraged: | Yes |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 4 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 1.0 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 1.0 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Belton Bryan (2025), Qian Edward (2025), Beaulieu Jonathon (2025), Malla Vic (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 4/23/26)
| # of Holdings: | 15 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 34.5% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 0.2% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 27.7% |
| Foreign Stock: | 0.2% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 6.6% |
| Cash: | 65.5% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | Harbor Capital Advisors Inc |
| Phone Number: | 800-422-1050 |
| Website: | |
| Inception Date: | August 13, 2025 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.70% (Rating: Above Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.83% |
