INVESTMENT STRATEGY

The Equity Ascent Index supports our philosophy with a rules based process.

A thoughtfully chosen universe, a quality gate that rewards capital efficiency, and three market capitalization sleeves - each scored the way its part of the market actually behaves.

~1,500
Base universe
5
Construction stages
3
Independent sleeve
methodologies
The process

From a universe of thousands to a portfolio that earns its place.

Read it top to bottom for the whole picture. Open any stage for the full methodology behind it.

1
Base Universe

Choose the right pond.

A rules-based, free-float universe of the largest US-listed companies. A full quarterly reconstitution consistently aligns our base universe with the overall market.

~1,515companies in
Full methodology
2
Quality Gate

Remove the capital destroyers.

Within each market cap sleeve, companies are ranked on Free Cash Flow Return On Invested Capital. The bottom 10% in each sleeve are removed before the sleeve methodology is applied.

~1,365remain (≈90%)
Full methodology
Then: split into three sleeves, each scored on its own terms
Large Cap
Efficient broad market beta
~200
holdings
60%
of index

The most efficiently priced tier. The 200 largest qualifying companies, weighted by free float - deliberately simple, because here the universe and quality gate do the work.

View full methodology
Mid Cap
Quality + Momentum
~72
holdings
20%
of index

The on-ramp where high-growth companies arrive. Scored on momentum confirmed by quality - businesses the market is already rewarding for real progress.

View full methodology
Small Cap
Quality + Value
~108
holdings
20%
of index

Established, well-run businesses trading at a discount. Scored on value and quality, with a momentum filter that screens out value traps.

View full methodology

See the full Equity Ascent Index.

Explore Completed Index