AAEQ ETF — Alpha Architect US Equity 2 ETF

Alpha Architect US Equity 2 ETF (AAEQ)

Updated October 16, 2026.

AAEQ is a low-cost ETF. its trailing-12-month yield is 0.09%, its expense ratio is 0.09%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 50/100 (Unproven). Total return is 8.6% over the past 0.8 years, 3.6 points behind SPY at 12.2%.

Alpha Architect US Equity 2 ETF is an actively managed fund that seeks long-term capital appreciation through broad, tax-efficient exposure to U.S. total-market equities, investing at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of U.S.-listed companies or those with principal operations in the United States. The fund has a very modest distribution rate and distributes annually, though its latest distribution was special and may not recur on a regular basis. With an expense ratio of 0.09%, the fund appeals to investors seeking broad U.S. equity exposure with tax efficiency and active management.

AAEQ performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 8.6% over the past 0.8 years, 3.6 points behind SPY at 12.2%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 10.3%.

AAEQ key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

50 · Unproven

Issuer

Alpha Architect

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

12/09/2025

Expense ratio

0.09%

Distribution frequency

Annual

Trailing yield

0.09%

Last close

$54.64 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$518,600,744

Average volume

206.0

Dividend

$0.049

Ex-dividend date

12/30/2025

Payment date

12/31/2025

Beta

1.0232

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (the posted rate) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (0.09%) is the sum of split-adjusted cash distributions with ex-dates in the last 12 months, divided by the published price. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: Alpha Architect or company page; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

AAEQ risks and drawbacks

Payments are annual, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 10.3%.

Who may consider AAEQ — and who may not

AAEQ may suit someone looking for low-cost broad dividend exposure. It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (AAEQ pays annual); investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

More on AAEQ

• All tickers starting with A

Tagged: Active, Tax Efficient.

Frequently asked questions

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