Average Daily Volume
998K
Fund Overview
The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (MOAT) seeks to replicate the performance of the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index, which tracks U.S. companies identified as having sustainable competitive advantages ('wide moats'). These companies are selected based on Morningstar's equity research, focusing on firms with strong barriers to entry, pricing power, and long-term profitability potential. The ETF employs a rules-based, passive investment approach, holding approximately 40-60 stocks that are equally weighted and rebalanced quarterly. MOAT provides exposure to high-quality companies across various sectors, making it appealing for investors seeking long-term growth with lower volatility.
- Asset Class
-
Equity
- Industry
-
N/A
- Annual Dividend Rate
-
- Smart Beta
-
Yes
- Leveraged / Inverse
-
N/A / No
- Dividend Quality - Yield
-
- 1.53 %
- Currency Hedged
-
No
- Portfolio Turnover
-
55 %
- Dividend Date
-
Why Invest in the MOAT ETF?
Potential Benefits
- Focuses on high-quality U.S. companies with durable competitive advantages, which may lead to long-term outperformance.
- Equal-weighting reduces concentration risk compared to market-cap-weighted strategies.
- Low expense ratio (0.46%) compared to actively managed funds with similar objectives.
- Quarterly rebalancing helps maintain exposure to the most attractive 'wide moat' opportunities.
- Diversified across sectors, reducing reliance on any single industry.
Potential Risks
- Concentrated portfolio (40-60 stocks) may increase volatility compared to broader market ETFs.
- Equal-weighting can lead to higher turnover and associated transaction costs.
- Performance depends on Morningstar's moat rating methodology, which may not always predict future success.
- U.S.-focused, lacking international diversification, which could limit growth opportunities.
- May underperform during market cycles where 'wide moat' stocks are out of favor.
RSI data unavailable or insufficient history.
Monthly Returns (%)
| Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 2026 |
+1.1%
|
+2.1%
|
-9.6%
|
+3.8%
|
+3.3%
|
+0.2%
|
+4.0%
|
+5.9%
|
-7.6%
|
+0.5%
|
-
|
-
|
| 2025 |
+3.1%
|
-3.9%
|
-4.2%
|
-2.2%
|
+4.1%
|
+4.6%
|
+3.2%
|
+1.7%
|
+0.6%
|
+2.6%
|
+1.5%
|
+1.7%
|
| 2024 |
-1.8%
|
+4.1%
|
+3.6%
|
-5.0%
|
+1.4%
|
0.0%
|
+5.4%
|
+4.4%
|
+1.7%
|
-2.8%
|
+4.4%
|
-4.5%
|
| 2023 |
+11.8%
|
-2.9%
|
+4.7%
|
+1.0%
|
+0.3%
|
+6.6%
|
+4.4%
|
-3.7%
|
-5.4%
|
-4.7%
|
+9.9%
|
+7.8%
|
| 2022 |
-2.3%
|
-1.1%
|
+1.6%
|
-7.6%
|
0.0%
|
-7.7%
|
+10.0%
|
-5.0%
|
-9.9%
|
+6.7%
|
+8.8%
|
-5.6%
|
| 2021 |
-0.7%
|
+6.1%
|
+6.1%
|
+4.2%
|
+1.6%
|
+1.0%
|
+2.0%
|
+1.4%
|
-4.3%
|
+3.7%
|
-3.4%
|
+4.8%
|
| 2020 |
-1.4%
|
-7.2%
|
-12.8%
|
+14.2%
|
+4.3%
|
+0.3%
|
+2.5%
|
+5.9%
|
-3.8%
|
-2.7%
|
+14.9%
|
+3.0%
|
| 2019 |
+9.4%
|
+3.7%
|
-0.1%
|
+4.6%
|
-8.0%
|
+7.1%
|
+3.1%
|
-2.4%
|
+3.8%
|
+4.1%
|
+4.3%
|
+1.9%
|
| 2018 |
+8.1%
|
-6.5%
|
-3.4%
|
+1.4%
|
+1.2%
|
+2.4%
|
+4.1%
|
+1.9%
|
+1.2%
|
-5.9%
|
+4.8%
|
-9.1%
|
| 2017 |
+2.8%
|
+5.2%
|
-0.4%
|
+2.1%
|
+0.3%
|
+2.9%
|
+0.9%
|
-0.8%
|
+1.9%
|
+0.3%
|
+4.3%
|
+1.7%
|
< -5%
-5% to -2%
-2% to 0%
0%
0% to +2%
+2% to +5%
> +5%
Top Holdings (by weight)
| Symbol |
Company Name |
Weight |
|
ZBH
|
ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS INC |
3.0 % |
|
HII
|
HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES INC |
3.0 % |
|
CTVA
|
CORTEVA INC |
2.8 % |
|
MKTX
|
MARKETAXESS HOLDINGS INC |
2.8 % |
|
CPB
|
THE CAMPBELL'S CO |
2.8 % |
|
ALLE
|
ALLEGION PLC |
2.7 % |
|
VEEV
|
VEEVA SYSTEMS INC CLASS A |
2.7 % |
|
PFE
|
PFIZER INC |
2.6 % |
|
BA
|
BOEING CO |
2.5 % |
|
BF-B
|
BROWN-FORMAN CORP REGISTERED SHS -B- NON VTG |
2.5 % |
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 53 total holdings.
Related ETFs: MOAT vs Peers
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.
Investment Strategy
MOAT tracks the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index, which selects U.S. companies with sustainable competitive advantages ('wide moats') based on Morningstar's equity research. The index methodology evaluates firms on economic moat ratings, valuation, and financial health. The ETF holds 40-60 equally weighted stocks, rebalanced quarterly to maintain equal exposure. This passive, rules-based approach aims to capture the long-term outperformance potential of high-quality companies while mitigating single-stock risk through diversification.
Frequently Asked Questions
What criteria does Morningstar use to identify 'wide moat' companies?
Morningstar evaluates companies based on five sources of competitive advantage: intangible assets, cost advantages, switching costs, network effects, and efficient scale. Firms that demonstrate durable advantages in one or more of these areas receive a 'wide moat' rating.
How often is MOAT rebalanced?
MOAT rebalances quarterly to maintain equal weighting among its holdings and incorporate any changes to Morningstar's Wide Moat Focus Index constituents.
Does MOAT pay dividends?
Yes, MOAT pays quarterly dividends, though dividend yield is not a primary focus of the strategy. Payouts will vary based on the underlying holdings' dividend policies.
How does MOAT perform during market downturns?
While not immune to market declines, 'wide moat' companies have historically shown relative resilience during downturns due to their pricing power and ability to maintain profitability. However, performance will still correlate with broader equity markets.
Industry Overview
The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (MOAT) invests in U.S. companies with sustainable competitive advantages, as identified by Morningstar's equity research team. This strategy targets firms that can maintain above-average profitability over long periods due to strong barriers to entry, brand power, or cost advantages. The 'wide moat' theme appeals to investors seeking quality-focused exposure with lower volatility than the broader market. MOAT's sector-agnostic approach provides diversified exposure to high-quality companies across industries such as technology, healthcare, consumer goods, and financials.
Alternative Comparison
Compared to other quality-focused ETFs like QUAL or DGRW, MOAT stands out due to its equal-weighting methodology and exclusive focus on Morningstar's 'wide moat' companies. While QUAL (iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF) uses a broader quality screen based on profitability metrics, MOAT's strategy is more selective, targeting only firms with durable competitive advantages. Similarly, DGRW (WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund) emphasizes dividend growth, whereas MOAT does not screen for dividends, making it more suitable for investors prioritizing capital appreciation over income.
Issuer Overview
VanEck is a globally recognized asset manager known for its thematic and factor-based ETFs. The firm specializes in hard assets, emerging markets, and strategic beta strategies. VanEck partners with Morningstar for MOAT's index methodology, leveraging Morningstar's deep equity research capabilities to identify companies with durable competitive advantages.
Conclusion
MOAT offers a compelling approach for investors seeking exposure to high-quality U.S. companies with sustainable competitive advantages. Its equal-weighting methodology and quarterly rebalancing help manage risk while maintaining focus on long-term growth potential. While the concentrated portfolio may introduce higher volatility, the 'wide moat' theme has historically demonstrated resilience across market cycles. Investors should consider MOAT as a core holding for the quality component of a diversified portfolio.
Boost Your Returns with SectorSurfer
Award-winning investment strategy automation