At a glance
ACVU charges 0.45% a year, above the 0.33% average of the 8 funds most like it (the 6th cheapest of 9). It has $180.3M in assets, the 8th largest of that group; it paid 1.66% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, annual. Over the past year it returned +22.5% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 6th of those 9 funds; over three years it returned +19.5% a year. Its ten largest positions make up 34.6% of the fund, out of 107 in all.
The short version
Hartford Alpha Capture Value ETF (ACVU) is an actively managed fund from The Hartford. It holds about 107 mostly large US stocks chosen by its sub-adviser, Wellington Management, which looks for undervalued, dividend-paying companies. It charges 0.45% a year, compared with 0.19% for the iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD). As of July 31, 2026, its largest holdings were Amazon, Microsoft and Apple, which are unusual top names for a value fund.
Price history
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ACVU +22.5% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACVU official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2024 | — | +10.03% | — | +8.07% | +8.19% | — |
| ACVU price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +18.7% | +22.5% | +19.5% | — | — | +17.2% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, ACVU returned +22.5%, 6th of 9 among similar funds.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2024 (+9.8%); its best was 2025 (+14.5%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 13.1% (Nov 29, 2024 to Apr 8, 2025), recovered by Sep 11, 2025.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +18.7% | — |
| 2025 | +14.5% | — |
| 2024 | +9.8% | +10.03% |
| 2023 | — | +7.02% |
| 2022 | — | -4.77% |
| 2021 | — | +28.05% |
| 2020 | — | +2.68% |
| 2019 | — | +29.88% |
| 2018 | — | -8.80% |
| 2017 | — | +11.71% |
| 2016 | — | +17.73% |
| 2015 | — | -4.35% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Before this security existed |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Before this security existed |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.5400 | -43.2% |
| 2024 | $0.9500 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 107 securities; the ten largest made up 34.65% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Inc | 7.12% | |
| Microsoft Corp | 6.67% | |
| Apple Inc | 4.04% | |
| ConocoPhillips | 3.67% | |
| Chubb Ltd | 3.09% | |
| Duke Energy Corp | 2.17% | |
| Johnson & Johnson | 2.08% | |
| AbbVie Inc | 2.02% | |
| Philip Morris International Inc | 1.99% | |
| Visa Inc | 1.79% | |
| Marsh & McLennan Cos Inc | 1.69% | |
| Cisco Systems Inc | 1.68% | |
| Merck & Co Inc | 1.67% | |
| Exelon Corp | 1.65% | |
| Roper Technologies Inc | 1.51% |
By country
United States 94.26%Switzerland 3.09%Ireland 1.28%Singapore 0.65%Netherlands 0.14%By asset type
Stocks 99.41%By sector
Sectors of the companies held, for the 78.8% of the fund in companies that have a stock page here; other holdings and cash aren't classified. Source: N-PORT holdings report as of Jul 31, 2026. Cash, money-market funds and derivatives are shown separately from the securities list.What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors withdrew a net $7.0M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +3.33%, +2.73%, +2.12%.
How it works
ACVU does not track an index. Wellington Management picks its stocks using fundamental research, which means studying each company's business, finances and prospects. It looks for high-quality companies that show a commitment to dividends and shareholders and whose operations are improving or holding steady. The process favors market leaders it considers undervalued, industries where supply and demand trends are improving, and out-of-favor companies that it believes carry less downside risk than the overall market.
The fund can own companies of any size. In practice it leans toward large companies similar to those in the Russell 1000 Value Index. That index is a reference point for company size, not a benchmark the fund copies. The fund aims to spread its money across many companies and industries, but it may focus on one or more sectors when market conditions point that way. As of July 31, 2026, it held 107 stocks, and the top 10 made up 34.65% of assets. Portfolio turnover was 31%, which means it replaced roughly a third of its holdings over a year.
There is no fixed rebalancing schedule. The manager buys and sells as its views change. The fund used no derivatives as of July 31, 2026. Like any ETF, its market price can drift slightly away from its net asset value (NAV), the per-share value of its holdings.
What it really costs
- ACVU charges 0.45% a year, versus an average of 0.33% for the similar funds below (6th of 9, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $46 in the first year and $567 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACVU | $46 | $144 | $252 | $567 |
In a retirement portfolio
Its value and dividend tilt, plus a one-year beta of 0.65 as of October 27, 2026, set it apart from a broad stock index fund, though it is still entirely stocks.
The prospectus shows returns back to 2015. ACVU lost 24.83% in the first quarter of 2020 but finished that year up 2.68%. It fell 4.77% in 2022. Its worst calendar year was 2018, at −8.8%. No record covers 2008. Over the past three years, its deepest price drop was 13.1%, from November 29, 2024 to April 8, 2025. It recovered by September 11, 2025, about five months later. Selling shares near a low like that would lock in the loss. The trailing yield was 1.66% as of October 27, 2026, and the fund pays only once a year. Fees are 0.45%, about $46 in the first year on $10,000 in the SEC's standard example. Past results don't predict future ones, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want Wellington Management picking dividend-minded value stocks, with less market sensitivity (beta of 0.65 over the year to October 27, 2026).
- Investors who prefer active stock picking and accept a 0.45% fee for a manager that seeks out-of-favor companies with less downside risk.
- Long-term holders who don't need regular income. The fund pays annually, with a 1.66% trailing yield as of October 27, 2026.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-focused investors. SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF (SPYV) charges 0.04% and iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) charges 0.19%, compared with 0.45% here.
- Retirees who need monthly or quarterly income. ACVU makes one payment a year.
- Investors who want a strict value fund. Amazon, Microsoft and Apple were its three largest holdings as of July 31, 2026.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACVU this fund | — | 0.45% | $180.3M | +22.5% | +19.5% |
| IWX iShares Russell Top 200 Value ETF | 41% | 0.2% | $3.56B | +28.4% | +24.5% |
| IWD iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF | 36% | 0.19% | $79.74B | +28.8% | +22.2% |
| TVAL T. Rowe Price Value ETF | 35% | 0.33% | $943.9M | +26.9% | +23.6% |
| FBCV Fidelity Blue Chip Value ETF | 35% | 0.59% | $177.0M | +27.6% | +20.5% |
| SPYV SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF | 30% | 0.04% | $35.30B | +16.8% | +17.8% |
| IVE iShares S&P 500 Value ETF | 30% | 0.18% | $47.74B | +16.7% | +17.7% |
| TDVG T. Rowe Price Dividend Growth ETF | 30% | 0.5% | $1.38B | +13.6% | +18.7% |
Questions investors ask
Is ACVU good for retirement?
It may suit retirees who want a value-tilted stock fund that swings less than the market, but it can still fall sharply. Its one-year beta, a measure of how much it moves with the market, was 0.65 as of October 27, 2026. It lost 24.83% in the first quarter of 2020. It pays income once a year, with a 1.66% trailing yield. Its 0.45% fee is above the 0.33% average for similar funds.
What's the difference between ACVU and IWX?
IWX is an iShares index fund that follows the Russell Top 200 Value Index. ACVU is actively managed by Wellington. IWX costs 0.20% a year, compared with 0.45% for ACVU. IWX had $3.6 billion in assets as of June 30, 2026, and ACVU had about $180 million as of July 31, 2026. About 41% of their holdings overlap. As of October 27, 2026, IWX returned 28.4% over one year and 24.5% a year over three years. ACVU returned 22.5% and 19.5%.
Does ACVU pay monthly dividends?
No. ACVU pays its distributions once a year. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid about $0.54 per share, a trailing yield of 1.66%. The prospectus warns that this income can change if the companies it owns cut or change their dividends. Investors who need a regular monthly check would have to rely on other holdings or sell shares.
What is ACVU's expense ratio?
ACVU's expense ratio is 0.45% a year, according to its prospectus filed November 26, 2025. All of it is the management fee, with no fee waiver. In the SEC's standard example, $10,000 earning 5% a year would cost about $46 after one year, $252 after five years and $567 after ten. That is above the 0.33% average for similar funds and ranks 6th of 9 on cost. IWD charges 0.19% and SPYV charges 0.04%.
Why does ACVU own Amazon and Microsoft if it's a value fund?
ACVU is actively managed, so it doesn't have to mirror a value index. Wellington uses company research to look for high-quality market leaders it considers undervalued, and the prospectus lets it focus on one or more sectors. As of July 31, 2026, Amazon (7.1%), Microsoft (6.7%) and Apple (4.0%) were its largest holdings. Technology was its biggest sector, at 16.2% of the assets that were classified by sector. Investors who want a strict value tilt may want to compare holdings closely.