Quality-screened, equal-weight, sector-optimized strategy celebrates its third anniversary with $265 million in assets and a 21.29% annualized NAV return since inception
NEW YORK — Astoria Investment Management today announced the three-year anniversary of the Astoria US Equal Weight Quality Kings ETF (NASDAQ: ROE), an actively managed ETF that invests in 100 high-quality US large-cap and mid-cap stocks in an equally weighted, sector-optimized fashion. ROE was built as an alternative to Traditionally Equally Weighted Indexes which can have substantial and unintended sector bets and can often dramatically differ in performance from their capitalization-weighted brethren.
Since its launch on July 31, 2023, ROE has grown to $265.05 million in assets under management [update as of publication date] and has delivered an annualized NAV return of 21.29% since inception and 33.90% over the trailing one-year period (as of 8/11/2026). Over the same periods, the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index returned 11.47% annualized since the Fund’s inception and 17.06% over the trailing year, putting ROE ahead of the traditional equal-weight benchmark by 8.78 and 14.75 percentage points, respectively.
ROE was built on three core beliefs: there are potential pitfalls to market-cap weighting, the quality factor has historically outperformed the broader market, and equal-weighted, quantitative stock selection can be utilized to generate alpha. The strategy screens stocks using sector-relative quality metrics — emphasizing return on equity (ROE) and return on invested capital (ROIC) alongside valuation, dividend potential and growth. From this screen, it selects 100 names, equally weighted at each quarterly rebalance, with sector exposures anchored to the broad US equity market.
“Three years in, ROE has done exactly what we designed it to do: deliver core US equity exposure without the concentration risk of the mega-caps, while letting quality stock selection drive the differentiation,” said John Davi, CEO, CIO, and Founder of Astoria Investment Management and Lead Portfolio Manager of the Fund.” ROE has performed well by mining for alpha within beta”
“Not all equal weight strategies are created equal. By anchoring sector weights to the broad market, ROE has avoided the unintended sector tilts that traditional equal-weight indices carry,” added Nicholas Cerbone, CFA, Co-Portfolio Manager and VP of Quantitative Strategy.
Astoria has utilized quality as the keystone of its core equity exposure in its ETF model portfolios since the firm’s founding in 2017.
Standardized Performance (as of 6/30/2026)
| 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | Since Inception (annualized) | |
| NAV | 20.44% | 21.33% | 21.33% | 33.90% | 21.29% |
| Market Price | 20.56% | 21.46% | 21.46% | 33.91% | 21.29% |
Fund inception: 7/31/2023. Expense ratio: 0.49%. Returns are average annualized total returns, except those for periods of less than one year, which are cumulative. The performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month end, please call 215.330.4476 or visit astoriaadvisorsetfs.com.
About Astoria Investment Management
Astoria Investment Management is a leading asset management firm and ETF sponsor specializing in high-conviction, macro, and quantitative portfolio management strategies. The firm delivers portfolio solutions, research, and sub-advisory services to advisors, corporations, and institutional clients.
Media Contact: Onon Amgalan | info@astoriaim.com | 500 7th Ave, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10018
Important Information
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the Fund, please call 215.330.4476 or visit astoriaadvisorsetfs.com. Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.
Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and may not meet its investment objective based on the Adviser’s or Sub Adviser’s success or failure to implement investment strategies for the Fund.
Large-Capitalization Stock Risk. Large-capitalization stocks may trail the returns of the overall stock market. Large capitalization stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better- or worse- than the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years
Mid-Capitalization Stock Risk. Investing in stocks of mid-capitalization companies involves greater risk than customarily is associated with investing in larger, more established companies. These companies’ securities may be more volatile and less liquid than those of more established companies. Often mid capitalization companies and the industries in which they focus are still evolving and, as a result, they may be more sensitive to changing market conditions
Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and may not meet its investment objective based on the Adviser’s or Sub Adviser’s success or failure to implement investment strategies for the Fund. Large
Capitalization Stock Risk. Large-capitalization stocks may trail the returns of the overall stock market. Large capitalization stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better- or worse- than the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years
Mid-Capitalization Stock Risk. Investing in stocks of mid-capitalization companies involves greater risk than customarily is associated with investing in larger, more established companies. These companies’ securities may be more volatile and less liquid than those of more established companies. Often mid capitalization companies and the industries in which they focus are still evolving and, as a result, they may be more sensitive to changing market conditions
Alpha– Alpha is a measure of an investment’s performance that indicates its ability to generate returns in excess of its benchmark.
Beta– Beta is a widely used indicator of a stock’s price volatility or the level of risk relative to the broader market. Investments involve risk. Principal loss is possible. Unlike mutual funds, ETFs may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Not FDIC/NCUA
Insured | Not a Deposit | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee.
The Fund is distributed by PINE Distributors LLC. The Fund’s investment advisor is Empowered Funds, LLC, which is doing business as ETF Architect. Astoria Portfolio Advisors, LLC serves as the Sub-adviser to the Fund. PINE Distributors LLC is not affiliated with ETF Architect or Astoria Portfolio Advisors, LLC