A Strategic Rebranding: iShares Core ETF Adopts Classic 60 / 40 Allocation

iShares Core Growth Allocation ETF US4642898674

The iShares Core Growth Allocation ETF, trading under the ticker AOR, has undergone a significant strategic overhaul, including a name change and a shift in its benchmark index. Effective February 19, 2025, the fund now tracks the S&P Target Risk Balanced Index, formally adopting a target allocation of 60% equities and 40% fixed income. This move crystallizes the fund’s objective into a clear growth-oriented strategy with a defined risk profile.

As a fund-of-funds, the AOR ETF builds its portfolio primarily through other iShares Core ETFs. Its top ten holdings constitute the entirety of the fund’s assets, providing a transparent view of its strategic implementation:

• iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV): Approximately 34.5%
• iShares Core Total USD Bond Market ETF (IUSB): Approximately 33.8%
• iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETF (IDEV): Approximately 16.3%
• iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG): Approximately 6.45%
• iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF (IAGG): Approximately 6.0%

This allocation confirms the fund’s commitment to the 60/40 balance. The substantial weighting in IVV and IUSB highlights a pronounced focus on U.S. markets, which is then complemented by targeted exposures to international and emerging market securities.

Performance and Investor Activity in a Mixed Market

The fund’s performance through early December 2025 has been varied. Year-to-date returns have ranged between 15.56% and 15.99%. More recently, the ETF climbed roughly 3.07% over a one-week period, while its one-month gain stood at about 0.09%.

Investor interest appears sustained, as evidenced by strong liquidity metrics and consistent fund flows. The AOR boasts an average daily trading volume of around 287,300 shares. Furthermore, the fund recorded positive net inflows across all measured periods through December 5, including a 3.54% increase over one month and a 9.15% rise year-to-date.

The Evolving Context for Multi-Asset Funds

This strategic pivot occurs against a backdrop of divergent market signals, underscoring the potential appeal of a diversified approach. In November 2025, equity performance was split: the S&P 500 eked out a modest 0.13% advance, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined by 1.45%. Concurrently, the fixed income market saw gains, with the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index rising 0.62%, fueled by investor anticipation of further interest rate cuts from the U.S. Federal Reserve. In such an environment, the AOR’s blended strategy of combining growth-oriented equities with stabilizing bond components may attract attention.

By solidifying its 60/40 allocation and lowering costs, the newly positioned iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF aims to compete effectively in a crowded field. Its future performance and risk characteristics will be predominantly driven by the results of its major underlying holdings, particularly the IVV and IUSB ETFs.