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VBvsESMLETF Comparison

ETF 1

VB

Vanguard Small Cap ETF

This fund is part of

US Small Cap

+1.29%

Full VB fund page

VS

ETF 2

ESML

iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF

This fund is part of

US Small Cap

+1.29%

Full ESML fund page

Vanguard Small Cap ETF (VB) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) belong to the same industry segment: US Small Cap. VB's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Information Technology and Financials. In contrast, ESML's top sector exposures are Industrials, Financials and Information Technology. VB is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.03%, versus 0.17% for ESML. VB is up 11.55% year-to-date (YTD) with +$205M in YTD flows. ESML performs better with 13.68% YTD performance, and +$30M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of VB 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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VB vs ESML 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 05/05/2026

		1M	3M	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y
Perf.	VB ESML	+7.93%+8.99%	+6.95%+7.72%	+11.55%+13.68%	+31.55%+37.48%	+61.61%+62.79%	+39.60%+39.80%
Flows	VB ESML	-$516M-$13M	+$486M-$53M	+$205M+$30M	+$773M+$3M	+$9.78B+$204M	+$14.36B+$977M

Volatility and drawdown

		3M	1Y	3Y	5Y
Volatility	VB ESML	+19.21%+19.22%	+16.77%+17.21%	+18.80%+19.68%	+20.67%+21.32%
Max drawdown	VB ESML	-8.96%-9.05%	-8.96%-9.05%	-25.25%-26.61%	-28.14%-28.52%
Max drawdown duration	VB ESML	48d46d	48d46d	296d296d	980d980d

Trading data

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	VB	ESML
Last sale 5/6/2026 at 1:30 PM	$290.85	$52.62
Previous close 05/05/2026	$286.69	$52.13
Consolidated volume 05/05/2026
Average volume 30 days
Average discount or premium 30 days
Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days

Replication quality

Data as of April 30, 2026

1-year trailing difference

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

Main metrics

Last update 5/6/2026 at 1:30 PM

Live

Closed

	VB	ESML
Last price	$290.85	$52.62
1D performance	+1.45%	+0.94%
AuM	$76.87 B	$2.36 B
E/R	0.03%	0.17%

Characteristics

	VB	ESML
Management strategy	Passive	Passive
Provider	Vanguard	iShares
Benchmark	CRSP U.S. Small Cap Index	MSCI USA Small Cap Extended ESG Focus Index
N° of holdings	1154	823
Asset class	Equities	Equities
Trailing 12m distribution yield	Join	Join
Inception date	January 26, 2004	April 10, 2018
ESG	No	Yes

More VB data on Trackinsight

More ESML data on Trackinsight

Exposure

Countries

VB

USA

92.27%

Other

7.73%

ESML

USA

93.72%

Other

6.28%

Sectors

VB

Industrials

17.73%

Information Techn.

13.69%

Financials

11.12%

Health Care

10.78%

Consumer Discreti.

9.82%

Other

36.86%

ESML

Industrials

17.15%

Financials

13.64%

Information Techn.

13.18%

Health Care

12.02%

Consumer Discreti.

11.18%

Other

32.83%

Diversification

VB

Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15

5.69%

ESML

Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15

7.53%

Top 15 holdings

Data as of March 31, 2026

VB

EMCOR GROUP

0.46%

NRG ENERGY

0.43%

ATMOS ENERGY

0.42%

TAPESTRY INC

0.40%

TECHNIPFMC PLC

0.38%

CIENA

0.38%

CASEYS GENERAL STORES

0.37%

JABIL CIRCUIT

0.37%

NATERA

0.37%

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY

0.37%

UTD THERAPEUT

0.36%

KYG3730V1059

0.35%

CURTISS WRIGHT

0.35%

LUMENTUM HOLDINGS

0.35%

COMFORT SYSTEMS USA

0.34%

ESML

US80004C2008

1.51%

TECHNIPFMC PLC

0.64%

US FOODS HOLDING CORP

0.57%

OVINTIV INC

0.52%

ASSURANT

0.44%

JANUS HENDERSON GROUP PLC

0.43%

XPO LOGISTICS

0.42%

ROYAL GOLD

0.42%

AKAMAI TECHNOLOGIES

0.39%

ALBEMARLE

0.39%

ATI INC

0.38%

WOODWARD

0.37%

CARPENTER TECHNOLOGY

0.37%

ONE GAS INC

0.36%

FEDERAL REIT

0.34%

Frequently asked questions about VB and ESML

How have the VB and ESML ETFs performed in 2026?

As of May 5, 2026, VB is up 11.55% year-to-date (YTD), while ESML has returned 13.68%. That puts ESML better performer ahead so far this year.

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

Year-to-date, the VB ETF saw +$205M in flows, compared to +$30M for ESML.

Which ETF is more volatile: VB or ESML?

Over the past year, VB had a volatility of 16.77%, while ESML experienced 17.21%.

Which ETF is bigger: VB or ESML?

As of May 5, 2026, VB holds $76.87 B in assets under management (AUM), while ESML manages $2.36 B.

What sectors do the VB and ESML ETFs invest in?

VB leans toward sectors like Industrials, Information Technology and Financials. Meanwhile, ESML focuses on Industrials, Financials and Information Technology.

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

VB top holdings include EMCOR GROUP, NRG ENERGY and ATMOS ENERGY. ESML holds in its top three: US80004C2008, TECHNIPFMC PLC and US FOODS HOLDING CORP.

Which ETF is more diversified: VB or ESML?

VB holds 1308 securities with 5.69% of its assets in the top 15. ESML has 906 securities and a top 15 weight of 7.53%.

Small Cap ETFs Among the Week’s Top Performers

July 3, 2023

VB

VBvsESMLETF Comparison

Vanguard Small Cap ETF

iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF

VB vs ESML 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 VB and ESML ETFs performed in 2026?

As of May 5, 2026, VB is up 11.55% year-to-date (YTD), while ESML has returned 13.68%. That puts ESML better performer ahead so far this year.

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

Year-to-date, the VB ETF saw +$205M in flows, compared to +$30M for ESML.

Which ETF is more volatile: VB or ESML?

Over the past year, VB had a volatility of 16.77%, while ESML experienced 17.21%.

Which ETF is bigger: VB or ESML?

As of May 5, 2026, VB holds $76.87 B in assets under management (AUM), while ESML manages $2.36 B.

What sectors do the VB and ESML ETFs invest in?

VB leans toward sectors like Industrials, Information Technology and Financials. Meanwhile, ESML focuses on Industrials, Financials and Information Technology.

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

VB top holdings include EMCOR GROUP, NRG ENERGY and ATMOS ENERGY. ESML holds in its top three: US80004C2008, TECHNIPFMC PLC and US FOODS HOLDING CORP.

Which ETF is more diversified: VB or ESML?

VB holds 1308 securities with 5.69% of its assets in the top 15. ESML has 906 securities and a top 15 weight of 7.53%.

Small Cap ETFs Among the Week’s Top Performers

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