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ESMLvsDFASETF Comparison
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) and Dimensional US Small Cap ETF (DFAS) belong to the same industry segment: US Small Cap. ESML's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Financials and Information Technology. In contrast, DFAS's top sector exposures are Industrials, Financials and Consumer Discretionary. ESML is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.17%, versus 0.27% for DFAS. ESML is up 3.91% year-to-date (YTD) with +$108M in YTD flows. DFAS performs worse with 3.1% YTD performance, and +$385M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of ESML and DFAS below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
ESML vs DFAS performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | ESML DFAS | -4.41%-5.85% | +0.68%+0.78% | +3.91%+3.10% | +25.45%+21.15% | +51.04%+41.49% | +27.90%n/a |
| Flows | ESML DFAS | +$15M+$227M | +$129M+$523M | +$108M+$385M | +$77M+$1.82B | +$267M+$5.01B | +$1.19B- |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | ESML DFAS | +16.00%+15.91% | +22.14%+21.92% | +19.74%+19.87% | +21.33%n/a |
| Max drawdown | ESML DFAS | -5.16%-5.87% | -16.43%-15.55% | -26.61%-26.11% | -28.52%n/a |
| Max drawdown duration | ESML DFAS | 13d29d | 46d46d | 296d373d | 980dn/a |
ESML | DFAS | |
Last sale 3/12/2026 at 1:30 PM | $46.71 | $70.35 |
| Previous close 03/11/2026 | $47.76 | $71.72 |
| Consolidated volume 03/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Create an account to view replication metrics
ESML | DFAS | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
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ESML | DFAS | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $46.71 | $70.35 |
| 1D performance | -2.20% | -1.91% |
| AuM | $2.24 B | $12.82 B |
| E/R | 0.17% | 0.27% |
ESML | DFAS | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Active |
| Provider | iShares | Dimensional |
| Benchmark | MSCI USA Small Cap Extended ESG Focus Index | - |
| N° of holdings | 814 | 1820 |
| Asset class | Equities | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | April 10, 2018 | June 14, 2021 |
| ESG | Yes | No |
Countries
Sectors
Diversification
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Top 15 holdings
How have the ESML and DFAS ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 11, 2026, ESML is up 3.91% year-to-date (YTD), while DFAS has returned 3.1%. That puts ESML better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: ESML or DFAS?
Year-to-date, the ESML ETF saw +$108M in flows, compared to +$385M for DFAS.
Which ETF is more volatile: ESML or DFAS?
Over the past year, ESML had a volatility of 22.14%, while DFAS experienced 21.92%.
Which ETF is bigger: ESML or DFAS?
As of March 11, 2026, ESML holds $2.24 B in assets under management (AUM), while DFAS manages $12.82 B.
What sectors do the ESML and DFAS ETFs invest in?
ESML leans toward sectors like Industrials, Financials and Information Technology. Meanwhile, DFAS focuses on Industrials, Financials and Consumer Discretionary.
What are the top holdings of the ESML ETF and DFAS ETF?
ESML top holdings include US80004C2008, US86765Q1067 and US19247G1076. DFAS holds in its top three: KRATOS DEFENSE AND SECURITY SOLS, HECLA MINING and MUELLER INDUSTRIES.
Which ETF is more diversified: ESML or DFAS?
ESML holds 899 securities with 7.99% of its assets in the top 15. DFAS has 1868 securities and a top 15 weight of 4.13%.
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