Wealth Advisors of Iowa, an independent financial planning company, disclosed a substantial increase in its stake in the Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF (USMC 0.69%) during the third quarter, adding 144,585 shares, according to an SEC filing dated November 14.

What Happened

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dated November 14, Wealth Advisors of Iowa increased its stake in the Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF (USMC 0.69%) by 144,585 shares. The total position value rose to $14.16 million, up from the prior quarter, with the stake now representing 4.82% of the fund’s reportable U.S. equity assets.

What Else to Know

Top holdings after the filing: 

• NASDAQ: JEPQ: $34.37 million (11.7% of AUM)
• NYSEMKT: RSP: $28.30 million (9.6% of AUM)
• NYSEMKT: EFAV: $26.19 million (8.9% of AUM)
• NYSEMKT: SPYM: $25.13 million (8.6% of AUM)
• NYSEMKT: SPYV: $21.13 million (7.2% of AUM)

As of Friday, shares of USMC were priced at $67.77, up about 13% over the past year and slightly underperforming the S&P 500, which is up about 16.5% in the same period.

ETF Overview

ETF Snapshot

• USMCv's investment strategy focuses on allocating at least 80% of assets to equity securities of U.S. mega-cap companies, targeting firms in the top 50th percentile of the S&P 500 by market capitalization.
• The portfolio is composed primarily of large, established U.S. companies, providing broad exposure to the mega-cap segment of the U.S. equity market.
• The fund operates as an exchange-traded fund (ETF) aiming for efficient access to large-cap equity performance.

The Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF (USMC) offers investors diversified exposure to the largest U.S. companies by market capitalization, leveraging a rules-based approach to portfolio construction. The fund's strategy is designed to capture the performance of established industry leaders within the S&P 500, appealing to investors seeking stability and growth potential from mega-cap equities. With a significant asset base and a focus on liquidity and transparency, USMC is positioned as a core holding for institutional and long-term investors targeting the U.S. mega-cap segment.

Foolish Take

In a market where returns have become increasingly concentrated, incremental dollars flowing into mega-caps suggest advisors are prioritizing durability over drama. This ETF is designed to do exactly that: overweight the largest U.S. companies while dampening risk through diversification and balance-sheet quality.

As of the third quarter, the fund held roughly $3.6 billion in net assets and carried a five-star Morningstar overall rating among large-blend funds, reflecting strong risk-adjusted returns over multiple periods. Its expense ratio sits at just 0.12%, making it a cost-efficient way to gain exposure to companies that already dominate earnings, margins, and free cash flow generation. Over the past year, the ETF delivered a total return north of 20%, modestly ahead of the S&P 500 on a risk-adjusted basis, according to fund materials.

For long-term investors, the takeaway is less about chasing upside and more about controlling downside. Mega-caps may not always lead rallies, but they tend to hold up when liquidity tightens or narratives break. In a portfolio stacked with factor ETFs and income strategies, this kind of allocation reads less like a bold call and more like a prudent one.

Glossary

Assets Under Management (AUM): The total market value of assets a fund or investment firm manages on behalf of clients.
13F Reportable Assets: Securities holdings that institutional investment managers must disclose quarterly to the SEC via Form 13F.
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF): An investment fund traded on stock exchanges, holding a basket of assets like stocks or bonds.
Mega-cap: Companies with extremely large market capitalizations, typically among the largest in the market.
Position: The amount of a particular security or asset held by an investor or fund.
Stake: The ownership interest or amount of investment a party holds in a company or fund.
Dividend Yield: A financial ratio showing how much a company pays out in dividends each year relative to its share price.
Portfolio Construction: The process of selecting and managing a mix of investments to achieve specific objectives.
Rules-based Approach: An investment strategy that follows predefined, systematic criteria for selecting and weighting assets.
Liquidity: The ease with which an asset can be quickly bought or sold without affecting its price.
Total Return: The investment's price change plus all dividends and distributions, assuming those payouts are reinvested.