XSHD doesn`t make much effort to resemble the broader market. The fund delivers its mandate by screening the US small-cap universe for high dividend yields, and then screening the results for low volatility. The order is important because it may translate into a greater emphasis on yield than volatility. Furthermore, holdings are weighted by dividend yield. While there are limits to prevent too much exposure to any one sector or firm, those limits are loose enough that XSHD`s portfolio of 90 names can diverge significantly from market-neutral, look for an overweight to defensive sectors, for example. XSHD charges a reasonable fee for a dividend play, though plain-vanilla competitors are available for a fraction of the price. Note that the same methodology is used by SPHD (which holds US large-caps) and IDHD (developed international equity).