Kestra Expands ETFs
Kestra Advisory Services Expands ETF Holdings Across Diverse Funds in First Quarter
Key Points
VGIT: In addition to Kestra's 6.2% increase to 761,864 shares, other hedge funds increased VGIT stakes in Q1, including Geneos Wealth Management (up 85.3% to 1,132 shares), NewEdge Advisors (up 170.0% to 129,303 shares), Diversify Advisory Services (up 47.7% to 22,791 shares), and Cresset Asset Management (up 96.4% to 13,723 shares), with Brighton Jones opening a new stake worth about $287,000.
IAU: Institutional ownership of iShares Gold Trust is substantial, with about 59.67% of the fund's shares held by institutions according to the 13F-related reporting.
SCHG: Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF opened at $34.54 and has a 52-week range of $27.96–$35.42, along with a 50-day moving average of $33.98 and a 200-day moving average of $32.26; it has a market cap around $60.32 billion, a P/E of 34.24, and a beta of 1.19.
AGG: Institutional ownership is high at about 83.63% for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, reflecting broad participation by institutions.
PAVE: Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF opened at $56.42, with Kestra owning 875,996 shares valued at roughly $44.509 million.
Kestra Advisory Services LLC made broad moves across five ETFs in the first quarter, adding shares in bonds, gold, large-cap growth stocks, and infrastructure funds. The firm's total purchases spanned hundreds of millions in market value, according to Watchlist News.
The biggest percentage jump came in Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF (PAVE), where Kestra grew its stake by 16.9% to 875,996 shares, worth about $44.5 million. It also lifted its iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) position by 13.0%, reaching 609,012 shares valued at roughly $60.5 million.
Kestra Grows Gold and Treasury Holdings in Q1
Kestra raised its iShares Gold Trust (IAU) stake by 5.5% to 592,810 shares, worth around $52.3 million, according to Watchlist News. Gold ETFs have drawn heavy institutional interest. About 59.67% of IAU's total shares are now held by institutions.
On the fixed-income side, Kestra grew its Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT) position by 6.2% to 761,864 shares, valued at about $45.4 million. VGIT holds U.S. Treasury bonds with medium-length maturities, making it a common safe-harbor pick during uncertain markets.
Large-Cap Growth ETF SCHG Sees a 12% Stake Boost
Kestra added 12.4% to its Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) position, bringing total shares to 2,375,619 worth roughly $69.2 million. SCHG is the firm's largest single ETF holding by dollar value among the five funds, according to Watchlist News.
SCHG opened at $34.54 and sits in a 52-week range of $27.96 to $35.42. The fund carries a market cap of about $60.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.24, and a beta of 1.19. A beta above 1.0 means the fund tends to move more than the broader market.
Other Firms Also Piled Into VGIT During Q1
Kestra was not alone in buying Vanguard's Treasury ETF. Several other advisors also raised their VGIT stakes in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors jumped 170.0% to 129,303 shares. Cresset Asset Management nearly doubled its position, up 96.4% to 13,723 shares. Geneos Wealth Management climbed 85.3% to 1,132 shares, according to Watchlist News.
Diversify Advisory Services added 47.7% to reach 22,791 shares. Brighton Jones opened a brand-new stake worth about $287,000. The wave of buying suggests broad institutional demand for medium-term U.S. Treasury exposure heading into the second quarter.
AGG and PAVE Round Out a Diversified Allocation Shift
Kestra's 13.0% boost in AGG — the iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF — brought its stake to 609,012 shares valued at about $60.5 million. AGG tracks the broad U.S. investment-grade bond market. About 83.63% of AGG shares are held by institutions, one of the highest ownership rates among major bond ETFs, according to Watchlist News.
PAVE, which focuses on U.S. infrastructure companies, saw a 16.9% increase to 875,996 shares worth roughly $44.5 million. The ETF opened at $56.42. Taken together, Kestra's Q1 moves show a push toward diversification — spreading risk across bonds, gold, growth stocks, and infrastructure all at once.
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