Associated Banc's Portfolio Adjustments
Associated Banc Corp Boosts ETF Holdings, Trims Ameriprise in Portfolio Shift
Key Points
In VBK, beyond Associated Banc’s 4,085-share increase to 24,898, several other institutions opened new stakes in Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF during the fourth quarter: Simplex Trading LLC (~$27,000), Birchbrook Inc. (~$29,000), Acumen Wealth Advisors LLC (~$39,000), MV Capital Management Inc. (~$41,000) and Eagle Bay Advisors LLC (~$47,000).
For iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), Associated Banc’s stake rose 6.5% to 39,392 shares with an additional 2,421 shares; IWM traded down $1.25 to $295.99 on Friday, with a volume of 15,882,220 shares.
In Fiserv (FISV), Associated Banc increased its holding by 16,852 shares in the quarter, bringing total to 173,192 shares, valued at about $9.664 million; institutional ownership of Fiserv stands at roughly 90.98%.
In IEFA, Associated Banc added 16,871 shares to reach 280,427, valued at about $25.39 million; IEFA was trading at $97.22 with about 10,850,588 shares traded.
Regarding Ameriprise Financial (AMP), Associated Banc reduced its stake by 1,002 shares to 45,367, a position valued at about $20.16 million; AMP stock has high institutional ownership, with hedge funds and other institutions holding roughly 83.95%.
Associated Banc Corp made several notable moves in its investment portfolio last quarter, adding shares across multiple ETFs while trimming one position. The bank's biggest addition came in the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF, where it added 16,871 shares to reach 280,427 shares worth about $25.39 million, according to Ticker Report.
At the same time, the bank cut its stake in Ameriprise Financial by 1,002 shares, bringing that holding to 45,367 shares valued at roughly $20.16 million. The move points to selective rebalancing rather than a broad retreat from equities.
Small-Cap ETFs Get the Biggest Boosts
Associated Banc raised its stake in the Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF by 19.6%, adding 4,085 shares to reach 24,898 shares. That position is now worth about $7.53 million. The move shows the bank leaning into smaller, faster-growing companies, according to Ticker Report.
The bank also grew its iShares Russell 2000 ETF position by 6.5%, adding 2,421 shares to hit 39,392 shares worth roughly $9.77 million. The Russell 2000 ETF, which tracks small U.S. companies, closed Friday at $295.99, down $1.25 on volume of over 15.8 million shares.
Fiserv Stake Grows as Institutions Circle the Stock
Associated Banc added 16,852 shares of Fiserv during the quarter, bringing its total to 173,192 shares valued at about $9.66 million. That is a 10.8% increase in the position. Fiserv is a financial technology company that handles payment processing and banking software.
Associated Banc is far from alone in its interest. Institutional investors now hold roughly 90.98% of Fiserv's total shares outstanding, according to Ticker Report. That level of institutional ownership signals broad confidence in the stock among professional money managers.
Ameriprise Trim Signals Careful Portfolio Pruning
The one position Associated Banc cut was Ameriprise Financial. The bank sold 1,002 shares, leaving it with 45,367 shares worth about $20.16 million. That is a modest 2.2% reduction — a trim, not an exit.
Ameriprise remains heavily owned by big investors. Hedge funds and other institutions hold about 83.95% of AMP shares, according to Ticker Report. That suggests Associated Banc's small cut reflects internal rebalancing rather than a broader loss of confidence in the wealth management firm.
Other Firms Also Piled Into Vanguard Small-Cap Fund
Associated Banc was not the only firm buying the Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF last quarter. Several smaller institutions opened brand-new positions in the fund. Simplex Trading LLC put in about $27,000, while Birchbrook Inc. added roughly $29,000 and Acumen Wealth Advisors LLC bought about $39,000 worth, according to Ticker Report.
MV Capital Management Inc. added about $41,000 and Eagle Bay Advisors LLC put in roughly $47,000. These are small amounts, but the pattern is clear. Multiple firms moved into the same small-cap growth fund at the same time, suggesting shared optimism about smaller U.S. growth stocks heading into the new year.
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