NUSCvsESMLETF Comparison
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NuShares ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) belong to the same industry segment: US Small Cap. NUSC's top 3 sector exposures are Finance, Technology and Industrials. In contrast, ESML's top sector exposures are Finance, Technology and Healthcare. NUSC is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.31%, versus 0.17% for ESML. NUSC is up 11.54% year-to-date (YTD) with -$140M in YTD flows. ESML performs better with 16.74% YTD performance, and +$411M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of NUSC and ESML 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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NUSC vs ESML performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 09/10/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | NUSC ESML | -5.21%-3.56% | +1.01%+2.33% | +11.54%+16.74% | +15.70%+20.88% | +42.43%+58.15% | +27.09%+43.94% |
| Flows | NUSC ESML | -$592K-$7M | -$54M+$368M | -$140M+$411M | -$99M+$416M | -$126M+$636M | +$84M+$1.10B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | NUSC ESML | +14.31%+15.76% | +16.80%+16.92% | +19.64%+19.67% | +21.18%+21.24% |
| Max drawdown | NUSC ESML | -6.62%-5.69% | -10.10%-9.05% | -26.88%-26.61% | -28.74%-28.52% |
| Max drawdown duration | NUSC ESML | 25d25d | 53d46d | 379d296d | 1073d980d |
Trading data
NUSC | ESML | |
Last sale 9/11/2026 at 2:43 PM | $50.11 | $53.83 |
| Previous close 09/10/2026 | $49.80 | $53.41 |
| Consolidated volume 09/10/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of August 31, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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NUSC | ESML | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 9/11/2026 at 2:43 PM
Live
Closed
NUSC | ESML | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $50.11 | $53.83 |
| 1D performance | +0.62% | +0.79% |
| AuM | $1.26 B | $2.80 B |
| E/R | 0.31% | 0.17% |
Characteristics
NUSC | ESML | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | Nuveen | iShares |
| Benchmark | MSCI TIAA ESG USA Small-Cap Index | MSCI USA Small Cap Extended ESG Focus Index |
| N° of holdings | 398 | 901 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | December 13, 2016 | April 10, 2018 |
| ESG | Yes | Yes |
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Exposure
Countries
NUSC
USA
92.98%
Other
7.02%
ESML
USA
96.59%
Other
3.41%
Sectors
NUSC
Finance
23.78%
Technology
17.86%
Industrials
14.22%
Healthcare
13.48%
Other
30.66%
ESML
Finance
22.56%
Technology
16.47%
Healthcare
14.46%
Industrials
13.98%
Other
32.53%
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Diversification
NUSC
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
14.13%
ESML
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
7.94%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of July 31, 2026
NUSC
ATI, Inc.
1.26%
TD SYNNEX Corp.
1.08%
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
1.07%
Viatris, Inc.
1.07%
nVent Electric Plc
1.06%
East West Bancorp, Inc.
1.04%
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
0.96%
AGNC Investment Corp.
0.90%
Service Corp. International
0.87%
Popular, Inc.
0.85%
Arrow Electronics, Inc.
0.83%
Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
0.83%
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.
0.80%
Murphy USA, Inc.
0.76%
Medpace Holdings, Inc.
0.75%
ESML
Sandisk Corp.
2.76%
US Foods Holding Corp.
0.55%
Assurant, Inc.
0.50%
Ovintiv, Inc.
0.43%
ATI, Inc.
0.40%
Carpenter Technology Corp.
0.39%
nVent Electric Plc
0.37%
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.
0.36%
Woodward, Inc.
0.33%
BlackRock Cash Funds - Treasury
0.32%
Equitable Holdings, Inc.
0.31%
Healthpeak Properties, Inc.
0.31%
Moderna, Inc.
0.31%
Brixmor Property Group, Inc.
0.31%
East West Bancorp, Inc.
0.31%
Frequently asked questions about NUSC and ESML
How have the NUSC and ESML ETFs performed in 2026?
As of September 10, 2026, NUSC is up 11.54% year-to-date (YTD), while ESML has returned 16.74%. That puts ESML better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: NUSC or ESML?
Year-to-date, the NUSC ETF saw -$140M in flows, compared to +$411M for ESML.
Which ETF is more volatile: NUSC or ESML?
Over the past year, NUSC had a volatility of 16.8%, while ESML experienced 16.92%.
Which ETF is bigger: NUSC or ESML?
As of September 10, 2026, NUSC holds $1.26 B in assets under management (AUM), while ESML manages $2.80 B.
What sectors do the NUSC and ESML ETFs invest in?
NUSC leans toward sectors like Finance, Technology and Industrials. Meanwhile, ESML focuses on Finance, Technology and Healthcare.
What are the top holdings of the NUSC ETF and ESML ETF?
NUSC top holdings include ATI, Inc., TD SYNNEX Corp. and Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.. ESML holds in its top three: Sandisk Corp., US Foods Holding Corp. and Assurant, Inc..
Which ETF is more diversified: NUSC or ESML?
NUSC holds 401 securities with 14.13% of its assets in the top 15. ESML has 904 securities and a top 15 weight of 7.94%.
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