ETF Evaluator:
Optimize Strategy Index ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Mid-Cap Blend Over the Last Year
| 58.8% | Castellan Targeted Equity ETF (CTEF) |
| 53.8% | Invesco S&P Spin-Off ETF (CSD) |
| 43.0% | Counterpoint Quantitative Equity ETF (CPAI) |
| 40.8% | Optimize Strategy Index ETF (OPTZ) |
| 37.3% | Tema U.S. Manufacturing & Reshoring ETF (WELD) |
Risk
Index
Risk
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ETF Details
Optimize Strategy Index ETF Overview
Optimize Strategy Index ETF (OPTZ) is a passively managed U.S. Equity Mid-Cap Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). Optimize Financial Inc launched the ETF in 2024.
The investment seeks to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the Optimize Strategy Index.
The fund is an ETF that employs a “passive management” investment approach designed to track the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the index. The index seeks to generate returns that exceed the broader U.S. equity market over a full economic cycle as measured by the Optimize Broad Market Index, which is also owned and administered by the Sub-Adviser.
About Optimize Strategy Index ETF (OPTZ)
There are 1 members of the management team with an average tenure of 2.27 years: Casey Witters (2024). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: S&P 500 (TR) index with a weighting of 100% and Optimize Strategy TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Optimize Strategy Index ETF has 340 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 22.3% 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.
Optimize Strategy Index ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the U.S. Equity ETF group. Optimize Strategy Index ETF has 3.6% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 95.5% There is 3.6% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.1% 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). Optimize Strategy Index ETF has 0.9% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $258 million in total assets, which is below the $4 billion average for the Mid-Cap 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.
OPTZ 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 Optimize Strategy Index ETF expense ratio is below average compared to funds in the Mid-Cap Blend category. Optimize Strategy Index ETF has an expense ratio of 0.25%, which is 44% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a B. 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. Optimize Strategy Index ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 130%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 84% for the Mid-Cap Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Optimize Strategy Index ETF returned -9.9%, which earned it a grade of F, as the Mid-Cap Blend category had an average return of -1.6%. 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.
Optimize Strategy Index ETF has a trailing yield of 0.47%, which is below the 0.85% 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.
Optimize Strategy Index ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 24.4%, 10.4 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A. The fund has returned 40.8% over the past year (grade of A).
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OPTZ 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 |
|
| OPTZ Return (NAV) | -9.9% | 6.9% | 40.8% | na | na | na |
| OPTZ Return (Price) | -9.9% | 7.0% | 41.1% | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | -0.037% | -0.092% | -0.315% | na | na | na |
| Mid-Cap Blend Avg | -1.6% | 4.4% | 20.8% | 14.8% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| OPTZ Grade (NAV) | F | A | A | na | na | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | -8.3% | 2.6% | 20.0% | na | na | na |
| OPTZ Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.2% | na | na | na |
OPTZ Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| OPTZ Return (NAV) | 24.4% | 22.8% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| OPTZ Return (Price) | 24.5% | 22.8% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | 0.003% | 0.002% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Mid-Cap Blend Avg | 14.0% | 10.6% | 16.1% | 16.9% | -14.4% | 23.3% | 15.6% | 27.4% | -9.1% | 19.1% | 14.8% |
| OPTZ Grade (NAV) | A | A | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | 10.4% | 12.1% | 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: | 0.5% |
| Total Assets: | $ 259 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 259 Mil |
| Turnover: | 130.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.25% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | S&P 500 (TR) |
| 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: 2.3 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 2.3 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Witters Casey (2024) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 340 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 22.3% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 3.6% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 95.5% |
| Foreign Stock: | 3.6% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.1% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | -0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.9% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | Optimize Financial Inc |
| Phone Number: | 800-617-0004 |
| Website: | |
| Inception Date: | April 22, 2024 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.25% (Rating: Below Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.45% |
