At a glance
WLDR charges 0.67% a year, above the 0.5% average of the 6 funds most like it (the 6th cheapest of 7). It has $91.3M in assets, the 7th largest of that group; it paid 7.14% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, quarterly. Over the past year it returned +35.0% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), the best of those 7 funds; over three years it returned +34.1% a year. At its worst it fell 23.8% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 9 months after the low. Its ten largest positions make up 35.8% of the fund, out of 112 in all.
The short version
Affinity World Leaders Equity ETF (WLDR) is an index fund that tracks the FTSE StarMine Affinity World Leaders Index. The index is a rules-based mix of large US and developed international stocks, scored on quality, rising earnings estimates, momentum and value. It costs 0.67% a year, more than the 0.50% average of similar funds. As of July 31, 2026, it leaned heavily on US tech hardware makers Dell, Micron and Seagate.
Price history
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WLDR +35.0% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WLDR official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +30.76% | — | +16.58% | — | +9.97% |
| FTSE Star Mine Affinity World Leaders Total Return Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) index, same period | — | +33.73% | — | +18.39% | — | +11.49% |
| MSCI World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) index, same period | — | +21.09% | — | +12.15% | — | +11.05% |
| WLDR price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +29.4% | +35.0% | +34.1% | +18.3% | — | +20.5% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, WLDR returned +35.0%, 1st of 7 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +18.3%.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-10.5%); its best was 2025 (+31.4%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 23.8% (Jan 12, 2022 to Sep 30, 2022), recovered by Jul 13, 2023.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +29.4% | — |
| 2025 | +31.4% | +30.76% |
| 2024 | +22.8% | +22.97% |
| 2023 | +18.9% | +18.67% |
| 2022 | -10.5% | -10.25% |
| 2021 | +26.7% | +25.75% |
| 2020 | — | -2.20% |
| 2019 | — | +21.32% |
| 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 | Not in the price data, which starts Jun 2, 2020 |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 21.3% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 23.8%, back to its old high 9.4 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.3600 | |
| 2025 | $3.2100 | -22.5% |
| 2024 | $4.1400 | +567.7% |
| 2023 | $0.6200 | +29.2% |
| 2022 | $0.4800 | -76.5% |
| 2021 | $2.0400 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 112 securities; the ten largest made up 35.79% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| DELL TECHNOLOGIES INC | 6.69% | |
| MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC | 6.24% | |
| SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS PLC | 5.32% | |
| HP INC | 4.32% | |
| JABIL INC | 3.06% | |
| VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC | 2.45% | |
| OMNICOM GROUP INC | 2.34% | |
| AT&T INC | 2.10% | |
| EBAY INC | 1.68% | |
| SS&C TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS INC | 1.58% | |
| TARGET CORP | 1.57% | |
| JOHNSON & JOHNSON | 1.52% | |
| APPLOVIN CORP | 1.49% | |
| DOLLAR GENERAL CORP | 1.46% | |
| TAPESTRY INC | 1.38% |
By country
United States 65.68%Japan 9.1%Ireland 6.34%United Kingdom 4.15%Spain 3.12%By asset type
Stocks 99.08%By sector
Sectors of the companies held, for the 45.9% 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 added a net $11.2M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +12.26%, +1.62%, -1.49%.
How it works
WLDR tries to match the FTSE StarMine Affinity World Leaders Index, before fees. The index starts with the FTSE Russell Global Developed Index, excluding Greece and South Korea. It keeps the companies that make up the top 85% of that index's market value and splits them into US and international groups. Within each group, it scores stocks on earnings quality, improving analyst estimates, price momentum and valuation. The scores combine into an "Affinity Score" built by Affinity, the fund's sub-adviser. Stocks in the top 10% can be bought. Stocks that fall out of the top 25% are typically sold.
A risk overlay then keeps sector weights in line with the starting index and spreads bets about evenly within each sector. It also limits how far country weights can drift. The index is rebuilt twice a year. Affinity decides what the index holds and in what amounts. FTSE Russell co-sponsors the index and publishes its value. As of December 31, 2025, the index held 115 companies worth $14.5 billion to $498.6 billion each.
The fund owns the stocks directly. It may also hold depositary receipts, which are certificates that trade in the US and represent foreign shares. It does not move to cash when markets fall. Portfolio turnover was 112%, so the fund replaced roughly its whole portfolio within a year, which adds trading costs.
What it really costs
- WLDR charges 0.67% a year, versus an average of 0.5% for the similar funds below (6th of 7, cheapest first).
- Of that, 0.47% is the management fee; the rest covers other fund expenses.
- The fee includes a 0.38% waiver from the adviser, which may end.
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $68 in the first year and $1,248 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WLDR | $68 | $296 | $542 | $1,248 |
In a retirement portfolio
Its proprietary stock scoring, heavy weighting in a few US tech hardware names, small size and above-average cost suit it better to a smaller add-on role than to a portfolio's foundation.
WLDR could add a global, factor-driven slice alongside a broader core fund, but its swings have been real. The fund launched in 2018, so it has no record through 2008. It lost 28.99% in the first quarter of 2020 but finished 2020 down just 2.2%. Its worst calendar year was 2022, at -10.25%. From January 12 to September 30, 2022, its price fell 23.8%. It took until July 13, 2023, about 9.4 months, to recover. Anyone forced to sell shares during a slump like that would lock in losses. The trailing 12-month yield was 7.14% as of October 27, 2026, paid quarterly, but that reflects past payouts and may not repeat. Under the SEC's standard $10,000 example, costs come to $1,248 over 10 years. Past results don't predict the future, 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 one fund mixing US and developed international stocks chosen on quality, earnings-revision, momentum and value scores.
- Holders who are comfortable with a top 10 worth 35.8% of assets as of July 31, 2026, led by Dell, Micron and Seagate.
- Those drawn to its five-year average annual return of 16.58% through December 31, 2025, against 12.15% for the MSCI World Index.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-focused investors: 0.67% a year is above the 0.50% peer average and well above VYM's 0.06% or RSP's 0.20%.
- Anyone who needs steady, predictable income. The 7.14% trailing yield as of October 27, 2026 reflects past payouts and may not continue.
- Investors uneasy with a small fund ($91.3 million as of July 31, 2026), 112% turnover, or a 23.8% drop in 2022.
Close alternatives
Matched by closest holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports (no similar fund shares 20% or more of its holdings).
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WLDR this fund | — | 0.67% | $91.3M | +35.0% | +34.1% |
| CLSE Convergence Long/Short Equity ETF | 18% | 1.44% | $900.5M | +27.4% | +29.4% |
| GMOV GMO US Value ETF | 17% | 0.5% | $107.1M | +25.5% | — |
| QLC FlexShares US Quality Large Cap Index Fund | 16% | 0.25% | $1.01B | +15.1% | +27.0% |
| AFLG First Trust Active Factor Large Cap ETF | 14% | 0.55% | $761.1M | +14.8% | +24.7% |
| VYM Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index ETF | 11% | 0.06% | $99.19B | +19.1% | +21.2% |
| RSP Invesco S&P 500® Equal Weight ETF | 11% | 0.2% | $96.47B | +18.9% | +18.3% |
Questions investors ask
Does WLDR pay dividends?
Yes. WLDR pays distributions quarterly. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $3.26 per share, a trailing yield of 7.14%. That is high for a stock fund. It reflects past payouts, which may not stay at that level. In a taxable account, distributions are generally taxable in the year they are paid, even if they are reinvested.
What is WLDR's expense ratio?
WLDR's expense ratio is 0.67% a year, according to its prospectus filed February 27, 2026. The SEC's standard example assumes $10,000 invested with a 5% annual return. On that basis, costs come to about $68 after one year, $296 after three, $542 after five and $1,248 after ten. Similar funds average 0.50%, and WLDR ranks 6th of 7 on cost.
Is WLDR good for a retirement portfolio?
WLDR may fit a retirement portfolio as a smaller satellite holding rather than the core. Its holdings come from a proprietary scoring system and lean toward a few US tech hardware stocks. It fell 23.8% during 2022 and took about 9.4 months to recover by July 13, 2023. It also costs 0.67% a year. Past returns don't guarantee future results.
What's the difference between WLDR and AFLG?
Both pick large stocks using several factors, but they overlap little, sharing about 14% of holdings. WLDR also holds developed international stocks, such as Japan at 9.1% as of July 31, 2026. AFLG, the First Trust Active Factor Large Cap ETF, charges 0.55% against WLDR's 0.67%. As of October 27, 2026, WLDR returned 35% over one year versus AFLG's 14.8%. No similar fund shares 20% or more of WLDR's holdings.
How has WLDR performed compared with the MSCI World Index?
WLDR has beaten the MSCI World Index over shorter periods but trails it since launch. Through December 31, 2025, the fund returned 30.76% over one year versus 21.09% for the index. Its five-year average was 16.58% a year versus 12.15%. Since inception, it averaged 9.97% a year versus 11.05%. It also lagged its own index, partly because of fees and trading costs.