AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (ticker: YOLO) is designed to capture growth in the legal cannabis and hemp industries, both in the U.S. and abroad. To qualify for inclusion, companies generally must earn at least half of their revenue from cannabis-related activities, whether that’s cultivation, biotech, pharmaceuticals, or consumer products. The fund was established in April 2019 and is managed by AdvisorShares Investments, LLC, with Dan Ahrens at the helm.
Performance and Key Metrics
At the close of trading on September 4, 2025, YOLO finished at $3.24, compared to the prior day’s $3.16. Its net asset value is $3.16, leaving the shares at a slight premium of one cent. Daily volume came in around 64,940 shares, while the fund’s market cap sits near $48.29 million. The expense ratio is 0.74%, which is on the higher side for ETFs, but common among specialized, actively managed products.
Performance snapshot:
- YTD return: +30.58%
- 1 year return: +0.33%
- 52 week range: $1.45 – $3.82
The strong year-to-date performance reflects renewed investor optimism tied to potential regulatory reform, though longer-term returns have been modest given the industry’s ongoing challenges.
Holdings and Allocation
YOLO typically holds 25–30 positions, heavily tilted toward cannabis operators. As of September 4, 2025, the largest allocations are:
- AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (MSOS): 41.34%
- Village Farms International (VFF): 16.63%
- High Tide Inc. (HITI): 11.38%
- SNDL Inc. (SNDL): 6.68%
- Cronos Group Inc. (CRON): 4.96%
- Organigram Holdings Inc. (OGI): 4.12%
Other names in the mix include Aurora Cannabis (ACB), Tilray Brands (TLRY), Rubicon Organics (ROMJF), and Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ). Exposure comes through both direct equity stakes and swaps, particularly for U.S.-based operators.
By sector, the fund is concentrated in:
- Healthcare: 59.25%
- Consumer Defensive: ~30% (from firms tied to cannabis consumer products)
- Real Estate: 1.83%
- Technology, Utilities, Industrials, Energy: 0%
This breakdown highlights the fund’s tilt toward healthcare and consumer segments, with a notable presence in Canadian and international players due to federal restrictions in the U.S.
Quarterly Developments
On the institutional side, Old Mission Capital LLC raised its position in YOLO by 129.2% in Q1 2025, now owning 246,245 shares worth about $436,000. While there haven’t been fund-specific headlines tied directly to September 5, the broader cannabis sector remains in focus as U.S. federal rescheduling talks continue to shape sentiment.
The fund currently offers a dividend yield of roughly 4.76%, with the next ex-dividend date expected around September 23, 2025.
