Stevens Capital's ETF Surge
Stevens Capital Partners Significantly Increases Holdings in Five Diverse ETFs During Q1
Key Points
In addition to the 14.4% rise to 287,423 SCHA shares, Stevens Capital Partners' Schwab US Small-Cap ETF position accounts for about 2.0% of its portfolio and is the 15th-largest holding.
Stevens Capital Partners' stake in State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) represents about 0.9% of its portfolio and ranks as its 27th-largest holding; the firm added 39,497 shares this quarter for a total of 50,962 shares (~$3.90 million).
In SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF (SPMD), Stevens Capital Partners increased its stake 26.7% to 51,189 shares, with an additional 10,775 shares purchased in the quarter.
Stevens Capital Partners’ Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF (DFAS) position rose 34.0% to 24,587 shares, valued at about $1.75 million; several other hedge funds also increased DFAS exposure in Q1, including Coston McIsaac & Partners (to 5,975 shares), Foundations Investment Advisors (to 7,746), Smithfield Trust Co (to 5,955), Montis Financial LLC (to 4,734), and VSM Wealth Advisory LLC (to 20,621).
Stevens Capital Partners’ stake in SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) jumped 174.8% to 31,262 shares, about $1.47 million; the report notes other notable moves in SPEM, including AQR Capital Management increasing by 80.2% to 31,388 shares and Goldman Sachs lifting to 104,799 shares, with Brighton Jones LLC opening a new position.
Stevens Capital Partners made sweeping moves in its ETF portfolio during the first quarter of 2026, dramatically expanding positions across small-cap, mid-cap, and emerging market funds. The biggest jump was in State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM), where the firm boosted its stake by 344.5% to 50,962 shares worth about $3.9 million, according to Watchlist News.
The moves come at a notable moment for SPYM. On July 1, 2026, the U.S. Treasury selected SPYM as the default investment vehicle for the new "Trump Accounts" savings program — tax-advantaged accounts seeded with $1,000 in federal funds for every American child born between 2025 and 2028.
Stevens Capital Floods Small-Cap and Mid-Cap ETFs With Cash
The firm's largest single holding in this group remains the Schwab US Small-Cap ETF (SCHA). Stevens Capital added 36,252 shares this quarter, lifting its total to 287,423 shares worth roughly $8.36 million — about 2% of its entire portfolio, according to Watchlist News. That makes SCHA its 15th-largest holding.
Stevens Capital also grew its stake in the SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF (SPMD) by 26.7%, adding 10,775 shares to reach 51,189 total shares worth about $3.03 million. Its position in Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF (DFAS) rose 34% to 24,587 shares, valued near $1.75 million. The firm is building a clear tilt toward smaller U.S. companies alongside its large-cap core.
SPYM Stake Soars as Trump Accounts Choose It as Default Fund
Stevens Capital's 344.5% surge in SPYM — adding 39,497 shares in a single quarter — is the most striking move in its 13F filing. The position is now worth $3.9 million and ranks as its 27th-largest holding. SPYM tracks the S&P 500 and charges just 0.02% per year, undercutting rivals like Vanguard's VOO and BlackRock's IVV, both at 0.03%.
State Street rebranded the fund from ticker SPLG to SPYM in October 2025 to align it with its flagship SPY brand. The Treasury's July 1 selection of SPYM as the Trump Accounts default fund could send billions in new capital into the ETF. If all 6 million accounts opened so far receive a $1,000 average contribution, SPYM's assets could grow by $6 billion.
Emerging Markets Bet Jumps 175% as Peers Follow Suit
Stevens Capital's position in SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) jumped 174.8% to 31,262 shares worth about $1.47 million. The firm added 19,886 shares in just one quarter. That is a sharp pivot toward international exposure at a time when many U.S. advisors are keeping money at home.
Other big names are moving in the same direction. AQR Capital Management raised its SPEM stake by 80.2% to 31,388 shares. Goldman Sachs lifted its position to 104,799 shares. Brighton Jones LLC opened a brand-new stake. On the small-cap side, several firms also added DFAS, including VSM Wealth Advisory (20,621 shares) and Foundations Investment Advisors (7,746 shares).
What Stevens Capital's Moves Signal for Advisor Strategy
Stevens Capital's trades point to a broader playbook gaining traction among registered investment advisors (RIAs). The firm is pairing a cheap, passive large-cap core — SPYM at 0.02% annual cost — with targeted bets on small-cap and emerging market funds. This "core plus factor" approach aims to capture extra returns without taking on dramatic risk.
State Street CEO Yie-Hsin Hung said the Trump Accounts initiative gives children "a straightforward entry point into investing" through low-cost, long-term exposure. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted the program makes it "easier for philanthropists to help American children build long-term financial security." With over 6 million accounts already opened, the policy tailwind behind SPYM is only growing.
Sentiment
Mostly PositivePublishers
33
Articles
9
Reach
42
