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ESMLvsMSSMETF Comparison

ETF 1

ESML

iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF

This fund is part of

US Small Cap

+0.29%

Full ESML fund page

VS

ETF 2

MSSM

Morgan Stanley Pathway Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF

This fund is part of

US Multi-Factor

+0.25%

Full MSSM fund page

iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) belongs to the US Small Cap segment. Morgan Stanley Pathway Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF (MSSM) is part of the US Multi-Factor segment. ESML's top 3 sector exposures are Finance, Healthcare and Technology. In contrast, MSSM's top sector exposures are Finance, Technology and Healthcare. ESML is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.17%, versus 0.89% for MSSM. ESML is up 17.24% year-to-date (YTD) with +$334M in YTD flows. MSSM performs worse with 15.02% YTD performance, and -$79M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of ESML and MSSM below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.

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ESML vs MSSM performance and flow charts

Performance

Cumulative Flows

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Daily, global ETF data for advanced analysis or integration into apps (API), from our partner Trackinsight.

Data Services

Historic performance and flows

Data as of 10/28/2026

		1M	3M	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y
Perf.	ESML MSSM	+2.08%+1.99%	-0.46%-2.79%	+17.24%+15.02%	+17.66%+15.41%	+77.59%n/a	+39.52%n/a
Flows	ESML MSSM	-$84M-	-$78M+$6M	+$334M-$79M	+$330M-$64M	+$606M-	+$941M-

Volatility and drawdown

		3M	1Y	3Y	5Y
Volatility	ESML MSSM	+13.64%+13.31%	+16.31%+16.97%	+19.46%n/a	+21.16%n/a
Max drawdown	ESML MSSM	-8.35%-9.43%	-9.05%-9.62%	-26.61%n/a	-28.52%n/a
Max drawdown duration	ESML MSSM	73d73d	46d46d	296dn/a	980dn/a

Trading data

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	ESML	MSSM
Last sale 10/29/2026 at 1:30 PM	$54.19	$58.85
Previous close 10/28/2026	$53.50	$58.12
Consolidated volume 10/28/2026
Average volume 30 days
Average discount or premium 30 days
Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days

Replication quality

Data as of September 30, 2026

1-year trailing difference

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MSSM

is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an index

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	ESML	MSSM
Tracking error
Tracking difference
1 year cumulative return difference
Best
Worst
Daily return difference
Average
Worst

Main metrics

Last update 10/29/2026 at 1:30 PM

Live

Closed

	ESML	MSSM
Last price	$54.19	$58.85
1D performance	+1.29%	+1.26%
AuM	$2.73 B	$700.63 M
E/R	0.17%	0.89%

Characteristics

	ESML	MSSM
Management strategy	Passive	Active
Provider	iShares	Morgan Stanley
Benchmark	MSCI USA Small Cap Extended ESG Focus Index	-
N° of holdings	909	1802
Asset class	Equities	-
Trailing 12m distribution yield	Join	Join
Inception date	April 10, 2018	December 9, 2024
ESG	Yes	No

More ESML data on Trackinsight

More MSSM data on Trackinsight

Exposure

Countries

ESML

USA

95.64%

Other

4.36%

MSSM

USA

90.5%

Other

9.5%

Sectors

ESML

Finance

22.04%

Healthcare

15.23%

Technology

15.1%

Industrials

13.93%

Non-Energy Materi.

7.12%

Other

26.58%

MSSM

Finance

20.95%

Technology

15.86%

Healthcare

15.63%

Industrials

13.05%

Other

34.51%

Diversification

ESML

Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15

6.06%

MSSM

Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15

8.68%

Top 15 holdings

Data as of August 31, 2026

ESML

Moderna, Inc.

0.74%

Assurant, Inc.

0.62%

US Foods Holding Corp.

0.57%

Ovintiv, Inc.

0.46%

ONE Gas, Inc.

0.39%

Royal Gold, Inc.

0.38%

Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.

0.36%

Trimble, Inc.

0.33%

Guardant Health, Inc.

0.32%

Nutanix, Inc.

0.32%

Invesco Ltd.

0.32%

The Clorox Co.

0.32%

Dynatrace, Inc.

0.32%

Equitable Holdings, Inc.

0.31%

Unum Group

0.31%

MSSM

Ascendis Pharma A/S

0.89%

Dynatrace, Inc.

0.82%

TechnipFMC plc

0.67%

ViaSat, Inc.

0.63%

KBR, Inc.

0.63%

Regal Rexnord Corp.

0.53%

Avient Corp.

0.52%

IMAX Corp.

0.52%

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.

0.52%

Veeco Instruments, Inc.

0.51%

Brinker International, Inc.

0.50%

Plexus Corp.

0.50%

Haemonetics Corp.

0.49%

Life Time Group Holdings, Inc.

0.49%

Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.

0.47%

Frequently asked questions about ESML and MSSM

How have the ESML and MSSM ETFs performed in 2026?

As of October 28, 2026, ESML is up 17.24% year-to-date (YTD), while MSSM has returned 15.02%. That puts ESML better performer ahead so far this year.

Which ETF is attracting more investor money: ESML or MSSM?

Year-to-date, the ESML ETF saw +$334M in flows, compared to -$79M for MSSM.

Which ETF is more volatile: ESML or MSSM?

Over the past year, ESML had a volatility of 16.31%, while MSSM experienced 16.97%.

Which ETF is bigger: ESML or MSSM?

As of October 28, 2026, ESML holds $2.73 B in assets under management (AUM), while MSSM manages $700.63 M.

What sectors do the ESML and MSSM ETFs invest in?

ESML leans toward sectors like Finance, Healthcare and Technology. Meanwhile, MSSM focuses on Finance, Technology and Healthcare.

What are the top holdings of the ESML ETF and MSSM ETF?

ESML top holdings include Moderna, Inc., Assurant, Inc. and US Foods Holding Corp.. MSSM holds in its top three: Ascendis Pharma A/S, Dynatrace, Inc. and TechnipFMC plc.

ESMLvsMSSMETF Comparison

iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF

Morgan Stanley Pathway Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF

ESML vs MSSM performance and flow charts

Performance

Cumulative Flows

Get all the metrics on this page, and more, through a reliable ETF data feed

Countries

Sectors

Diversification

Top 15 holdings

How have the ESML and MSSM ETFs performed in 2026?

As of October 28, 2026, ESML is up 17.24% year-to-date (YTD), while MSSM has returned 15.02%. That puts ESML better performer ahead so far this year.

Which ETF is attracting more investor money: ESML or MSSM?

Year-to-date, the ESML ETF saw +$334M in flows, compared to -$79M for MSSM.

Which ETF is more volatile: ESML or MSSM?

Over the past year, ESML had a volatility of 16.31%, while MSSM experienced 16.97%.

Which ETF is bigger: ESML or MSSM?

As of October 28, 2026, ESML holds $2.73 B in assets under management (AUM), while MSSM manages $700.63 M.

What sectors do the ESML and MSSM ETFs invest in?

ESML leans toward sectors like Finance, Healthcare and Technology. Meanwhile, MSSM focuses on Finance, Technology and Healthcare.

What are the top holdings of the ESML ETF and MSSM ETF?

ESML top holdings include Moderna, Inc., Assurant, Inc. and US Foods Holding Corp.. MSSM holds in its top three: Ascendis Pharma A/S, Dynatrace, Inc. and TechnipFMC plc.

Which ETF is more diversified: ESML or MSSM?

ESML holds 910 securities with 6.06% of its assets in the top 15. MSSM has 1815 securities and a top 15 weight of 8.68%.

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