Most investors are mesmerized by large cap equity strategies with familiar and famous companies making up the bulk of the indexes.
However, it’s clear that hanging out in mid-cap and small-cap territory is where you historically find better long-term returns.
With that in mind, I’m thrilled to welcome David Dabora of Alpha Blue Capital to discuss his new US Small-Mid Cap strategy.
It’s better known as Alpha Blue Capital US Small-Mid Cap ETF.
Ticker ABCS.
It’s unique approach targets VFQM (value, fundaments, quality and momentum) equities in a manner that attempts to capture the best of value and growth at reasonable price strategies.
Without further ado, let’s turn things over to David.
Meet David Dabora of Alpha Blue Capital
Over 30+ years of successful investing experience. Founder, Managing Partner & Portfolio Manager of Alpha Blue, LLC | Alpha Blue Capital L.P. | Alpha Blue Capital Management LP providing Fundamental Research & Value-Focused Investment Management since inception in 2010. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area City of Greenbrae in Marin County, California. Portfolio Manager & Architect of the ABCS-Alpha Blue Capital US Small-Mid Cap Dynamic ETF Strategy and the Alpha Blue Alternative Equity Hedge Fund Strategy.
Reviewing The Strategy Behind ABCS ETF (Alpha Blue Capital US Small-Mid Cap Dynamic) with its creator David Dabora
About the Author & Disclosure
Picture Perfect Portfolios is the quantitative research arm of Samuel Jeffery, co-founder of the Samuel & Audrey Media Network. With over 15 years of global business experience and two World Travel Awards (Europe’s Leading Marketing Campaign 2017 & 2018), Samuel brings a unique global macro perspective to asset allocation.
Note: This content is strictly for educational purposes and reflects personal opinions, not professional financial advice. All strategies discussed involve risk; please consult a qualified advisor before investing.
These asset allocation ideas and model portfolios presented herein are purely for entertainment purposes only. This is NOT investment advice. These models are hypothetical and are intended to provide general information about potential ways to organize a portfolio based on theoretical scenarios and assumptions. They do not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation/goals, risk tolerance and/or specific needs of any particular individual.
What’s The Strategy Of ABCS ETF?
For those who aren’t necessarily familiar with a “US Small to Mid-Cap dynamic strategy with targeted annualized alpha & investment performance of 1%-3% in excess of the Bloomberg US 2500” style of asset allocation, let’s first define what it is and then explain this strategy in practice by giving some clear examples.
ABCS is a pioneering Active Dynamic Small-Mid Cap ETF that integrates a repeatable fundamental bottom-up security selection investment process practiced for 30+ years with the flexibility of investing in Vanguard Small & Mid Cap Passive CRSP Equity Index ETFs all in one ETF. The portfolio of individual stocks have attractive Value, sound Fundamentals, Quality & positive business Momentum (V,F,Q,M). The strategy focuses on the less efficient, bottom 30% of stocks by market weight of the US stock market. At launch there were 100 stocks and 4 Vanguard Small & Mid Cap ETFs representing approximately 65% and 35% of the holdings, respectively.
The strategy begins with its Investment Philosophy:
1. Value Investing spanning to growth & quality at a reasonable price.
2. Fundamental Bottom-up security selection.
3. Prudent and Consistent equity risk taking.
4. Disciplined Risk Management & Broad Diversification.
Unique Features Of Alpha Blue Capital US Small-Mid Cap Dynamic ABCS ETF
Let’s go over all the unique features your fund offers so investors can better understand it. What key exposure does it offer? Is it static or dynamic in nature? Active or passive? Is it leveraged or not? Is it a rules-based strategy or does it involve some discretionary inputs? How about its fee structure?
The ABCS ETF has broad exposure to the bottom 30% of the US market by market weight with individual stocks greater than $500 million to up to the largest market cap in the Vanguard Mid Cap CRSP Index ETF of approximately $55 billion. The ETF is very much Dynamic and definitely active but allows for investing in the 6 Vanguard Small & Mid Cap Passive ETFs: Mid Blend (VO), Mid Value (VOE), Mid Growth (VOT), Small Blend (VB), Small Value (VBR), Small Growth (VBK).
The ETF does not use any leverage and is not rules based. The strategy utilizes a proven Investment process dependent on a fundamental / analytical edge and judgment.
The Fee structure is as follows: 40 bps plus the 2bps for fees related to the current Vanguard ETFs for a total of 42 bps. There is a fee waiver through 12/31/24 bringing down the expense ratio to 27 bps.
What Sets ABCS ETF Apart From Other Funds?
How does your fund set itself apart from other “equity factor and/or equity optimization” funds being offered in what is already a crowded marketplace? What makes it unique?
Having the flexibility to invest in the Vanguard Small & Mid Cap CRSP Index ETFs definitely makes it unique. In addition, the ability to dynamically tilt the portfolio to the best opportunities in both size and style with the individual stocks and ETFs in the Small-Mid Cap space and the goal of achieving 1%-3% Alpha over the Bloomberg US 2500 Index.
What Else Was Considered For ABCS ETF?
What’s something that you carefully considered adding to your fund that ultimately didn’t make it past the chopping board? What made you decide not to include it?
The ABCS ETF is a comprehensive strategy that allows for flexibility to manage it effectively and has a very good probability of achieving its investment objectives. There was nothing more to possibly add to the strategy. It is inclusive of the whole design.
When Will ABCS ETF Perform At Its Best/Worst?
Let’s explore when your fund/strategy has performed at its best and worst historically or theoretically in backtests. What types of market conditions or other scenarios are most favourable for this particular strategy? On the other hand, when can investors expect this strategy to potentially struggle?
The ABCS ETF strategy is new and there were no specific back tests. The process has been practiced for over 30 years and other similar active stock selection strategies have performed well and outperformed the benchmarks. Additionally, The Vanguard Small & Mid Cap CRSP Index ETFs have performed well in the past and are considered by many to be best in class.
The strategy will generally be Value-focused and centered so when the market is driven more by Value stocks, it is anticipated to outperform. Conversely, in speculative or low quality driven markets, it is possible the ETF may underperform. Generally, in down or negative return markets, the ETF could outperform but also be down too.
Why Should Investors Consider Alpha Blue Capital US Small-Mid Cap Dynamic ABCS ETF?
If we’re assuming that an industry standard portfolio for most investors is one aligned towards low cost beta exposure to global equities and bonds, why should investors consider your fund/strategy?
I would suggest that the ABCS ETF does have a low cost, that can invest in even lower cost Vanguard Small & Mid Cap Passive ETFs with the goal and ability to add Alpha.
ABCs has the potential to provide the best of both worlds of Active and Passive Investing in the less efficient, bottom 30% of the US market by market cap with the potential or opportunity to outperform the larger Cap broad US market returns.
How Does ABCS ETF Fit Into A Portfolio At Large?
Let’s examine how your fund/strategy integrates into a portfolio at large. Is it meant to be a total portfolio solution, core holding or satellite diversifier? What are some best case usage scenarios ranging from high to low conviction allocations?
ABCS ETF wouldn’t be considered a total portfolio solution but could be a core holding or satellite diversifier. Based on its market cap range and broad diversification, it could be as much as a 30-50% of a US Public Equity allocation.
Some other Investment applications of the ABCS ETF:
1. Stand Alone basis for Active/Passive Small-Mid Cap exposure.
2. Part of a US Small-Mid Cap Multi Manager mandate (active and/or passive).
3. Passive Equity Investors in the S&P 500 and/or Total US Market.
4. Private Equity and/or Private Business Owners.
5. Part of a Global Equity Mandate.
The Cons of ABCS ETF
What’s the biggest point of constructive criticism you’ve received about your fund since it has launched?
I wouldn’t call it criticism but many I have shared the strategy with are curious about the ultimate reaction of potential investors of the Dynamic Active strategy that integrates Vanguard Small & Mid Cap Passive CRSP Equity Index ETFs.
The Pros of ABCS ETF
On the other hand, what have others praised about your fund?
The comprehensive nature of the Strategy and a great opportunity for outperformance of the benchmark and larger cap passive and active strategies. And the pioneering implementation of investing in passive ETFs in an active strategy.
ABCS ETF Review: Alpha Blue Capital US Small-Mid Cap Dynamic — 12-Question FAQ
1) What is ABCS and what’s its goal?
ABCS (Alpha Blue Capital US Small-Mid Cap Dynamic ETF) is an active, dynamic U.S. equity strategy focused on the bottom ~30% of the market by weight (small–mid caps). It seeks 1%–3% annualized alpha over the Bloomberg US 2500 Index by combining bottom-up stock selection with flexible exposure to Vanguard small/mid-cap index ETFs.
2) How does the strategy work in practice?
The core is a repeatable, fundamental bottom-up process honed over 30+ years, targeting companies with V-F-Q-M characteristics: Value, solid Fundamentals, Quality, and positive business Momentum. ABCS complements this with tactical exposure to Vanguard CRSP small/mid-cap ETFs to adjust size/style tilts efficiently inside one wrapper.
3) What did the portfolio look like at launch?
At launch, ABCS held ~100 individual stocks (~65%) plus four Vanguard small/mid-cap ETFs (~35%). The mix can shift as opportunities change, but the guiding universe remains U.S. small–mid caps.
4) Which Vanguard ETFs can ABCS use?
ABCS may allocate among six CRSP index ETFs to fine-tune exposures: VO (Mid Blend), VOE (Mid Value), VOT (Mid Growth), VB (Small Blend), VBR (Small Value), VBK (Small Growth). This flexibility lets the manager dynamically emphasize attractive size/style pockets alongside single-name picks.
5) Is it active or passive? Any leverage? What are the fees?
ABCS is fully active (security selection + ETF tilts), unlevered, and not rules-based (uses discretionary judgment grounded in a defined process). Gross expense: 0.40% plus ~0.02% pass-through on current Vanguard ETF sleeves (total ~0.42%). A fee waiver through 12/31/2024 reduces the net to ~0.27% during that period.
6) What’s the investable universe and position sizing?
Focus is on the bottom ~30% of the U.S. market by weight, generally >$500M market cap up to roughly the largest name in the CRSP Mid-Cap index (≈$55B). The manager builds a broadly diversified portfolio of single names plus ETF sleeves to manage risk and style balance.
7) What sets ABCS apart from other small/mid-cap funds?
Two features:
A V-F-Q-M stock-picking framework applied to a less efficient small/mid universe, and
The pioneering blend of active single-name selection with dynamic Vanguard CRSP ETF tilts—allowing the portfolio to lean into value/quality or shift size/style as conditions warrant while pursuing 1%–3% alpha vs. the Bloomberg US 2500.
8) When might ABCS perform best—and when might it lag?
ABCS is value-centric at its core, so regimes favoring value and quality historically suit it. In speculative, low-quality melt-ups, or narrow growth-led markets, it may trail. In down/negative markets, the approach may outperform on a relative basis (though it can still decline).
9) What are the key risks?
Typical small/mid-cap risks (greater volatility, liquidity, wider spreads), active-management risk (stock/tilt selection), and factor risk (value/quality can be out of favor). While ETF sleeves aid diversification, the fund can underperform benchmarks over shorter windows.
10) How can ABCS fit into a broader portfolio?
Not a total solution, but suitable as a core small–mid cap holding or a satellite diversifier. Given breadth and cap range, allocations of ~30%–50% of a U.S. public-equity sleeve are plausible for investors seeking a combined active/passive approach in small–mid caps.
11) Was anything left out by design?
No. The design is intentionally comprehensive—combining active V-F-Q-M stock selection with passive CRSP ETF flexibility—to execute the mandate without additional complexity.
12) What feedback has ABCS received so far?
Curiosity: how investors will react to an active, dynamic strategy that integrates passive Vanguard sleeves.
Praise: the comprehensive architecture, outperformance potential, and innovative implementation that marries active security selection with index ETF tilts.
Learn More About ABCS ETF
We’ll finish things off with an open-ended question. Is there anything that we haven’t covered yet that you’d like to mention about your fund/strategy? If not, what are some other current projects that you’re working on that investors can follow in the coming weeks/months?
I would add that I have over 30+ year track record with very successful investment performance and I am very excited about the strategy and optimistic that investors will ultimately embrace it. I am funding the initial Capital in ABCS and am committed to a $1-$5+ million investment in the ETF.
Nomadic Samuel Final Thoughts
I want to personally thank David for taking the time to participate in the “The Strategy Behind The Fund” series by contributing thoughtful answers to all of the questions!
If you’ve read this article and would like to have your fund featured, feel free to reach out to nomadicsamuel at gmail dot com.
That’s all I’ve got!
Ciao for now!
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