Amplius Wealth Advisors, LLC disclosed a purchase of the VictoryShares Short-Term Bond ETF (USTB) valued at an estimated $4.6 million, according to an SEC filing released on Tuesday.
What Happened
Pennsylvania-based Amplius Wealth Advisors reported purchasing 90,135 shares of the VictoryShares Short-Term Bond ETF (USTB 0.03%) in its 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the period ended September 30, filed on Tuesday. The estimated transaction value was $4.6 million, bringing the fund’s total holding to 762,893 shares valued at $38.0 million as of quarter-end.
What Else to Know
USTB’s share of reportable AUM was 3.4% as of September 30, placing it outside the fund’s top five positions.
Top holdings after the filing:
- CBOE:AAAA: $234.5 million (20.3% of AUM)
- NYSEMKT:PVAL: $85.7 million (7.4% of AUM)
- NYSEMKT:RECS: $64.6 million (5.6% of AUM)
- NYSEMKT:TMFC: $63.6 million (5.5% of AUM)
- NYSEMKT:STIP: $48.5 million (4.2% of AUM)
As of Monday, USTB shares were priced at $50.96, down 1% over the past year.
ETF Overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| AUM | $1.6 billion |
| Price (as of Monday afternoon) | $50.96 |
| 1-year total return | 5.1% |
ETF Snapshot
- USTB's investment strategy centers on maintaining at least 80% exposure to short-term debt securities and related derivatives, with a focus on a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of three years or less.
- Its underlying holdings primarily consist of U.S. and foreign fixed income securities, with up to 20% allocation to non-U.S. dollar-denominated and emerging market bonds.
- Structured as an exchange-traded fund, the fund offers a competitive yield and diversified bond exposure.
The VictoryShares USAA Core Short-Term Bond ETF (USTB) is a short-duration fixed income ETF that primarily invests in debt securities with a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of three years or less.
Foolish Take
Amplius Wealth Advisors’ third-quarter move into the VictoryShares Short-Term Bond ETF (USTB) suggests a calculated tilt toward stability after calibrating several growth-heavy positions. The Pennsylvania-based firm bought about 90,000 shares worth an estimated $4.6 million, lifting its total stake to more than 760,000 shares valued at $38 million as of September 30.
USTB, which carries a 4.48% 30-day SEC yield and an effective duration of just 1.74 years, gives Amplius near-term yield potential with limited interest-rate sensitivity. The ETF has outperformed its passive benchmark on a rolling three- and five-year basis, according to Victory Capital.
Amplius’ strategy aligns with its disciplined approach to risk-managed, tax-efficient portfolios. Rather than abandoning equities, the firm appears to be anchoring portfolios with shorter-duration bonds that help smooth volatility after a strong year for growth stocks. For long-term investors, this move reinforces the case for pairing equity exposure with high-quality fixed income during uncertain rate environments.
Glossary
13F filing: A quarterly report required by the SEC from institutional investment managers detailing their equity holdings.
AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of assets an investment manager handles on behalf of clients.
ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund): An investment fund traded on stock exchanges, holding a basket of assets like stocks or bonds.
Short-term bond: A bond with a maturity of typically three years or less, offering lower risk and yield than longer-term bonds.
Dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity: The average time until bonds in a portfolio mature, weighted by each bond's value.
Fixed income securities: Investments that pay regular interest, such as bonds, providing predictable income streams.
Dividend yield: The annual dividend income expressed as a percentage of the investment's current price.
Total return: The investment's price change plus all dividends and distributions, assuming those payouts are reinvested.
Emerging market bonds: Bonds issued by governments or companies in developing countries, often with higher risk and yield.
Reportable AUM: The portion of total assets under management that must be disclosed in regulatory filings.
Derivatives: Financial contracts whose value is based on the performance of underlying assets, such as bonds or interest rates.
TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.
