AESB vs AFSM
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Core ETF vs First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF
Which is better, AESB or AFSM?
AESB costs less.
AESB has a lower expense ratio. AFSM is less concentrated, with 8.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 23.8%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AESB | AFSM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38%Best | 0.75% |
| AUM | $2M | $129M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.51% |
| Holdings | 335 | 646 |
| YTD Return | -4.46% | +20.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +22.78% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.21% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +7.56% |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.8% | 8.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 26, 2026 | Dec 4, 2019 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AESB vs AFSM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
AESB vs AFSM Performance
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Core ETF (AESB) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (AFSM) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Year to date, AESB is down 4.46% versus a gain of 20.54% for AFSM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AESB charges 0.38% per year while AFSM charges 0.75%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $75 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AESB currently yields 0.00% against 0.51% for AFSM.
Holdings Overlap
54.3% of AESB's money is in holdings AFSM also owns. 28.0% of AFSM's money is in holdings AESB also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
76 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in AESB and 319 in AFSM, against full books of 335 and 646.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 231 positions for AFSM that do not appear in our book for AESB (67.5% of the fund), and 86 for AESB that do not appear in AFSM (40.2%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AESB | Weight in AFSM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| APLEApple Hospitality Reit Inc | 3.55% | 0.67% | 2.88% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 3.14% | 0.42% | 2.72% |
| CATYCathay Generalbancorp | 2.67% | 0.62% | 2.05% |
| ANFAbercrombie & Fitch Co. Class A | 1.16% | 0.88% | 0.28% |
| MATXMatson Inc | 1.11% | 0.93% | 0.18% |
| CAKECheesecake Factory Inc/the | 1.66% | 0.33% | 1.33% |
| HRMYHarmony Biosciences, Llc | 1.46% | 0.53% | 0.93% |
| OFG:PROfg Bancorp Common Stock | 1.61% | 0.37% | 1.24% |
| PTGXProtagonist Therapeutics Inc | 1.23% | 0.70% | 0.53% |
| EBFEnnis Inc | 1.59% | 0.23% | 1.36% |
54.3% of AESB is already inside AFSM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AESB or AFSM?
AESB has an expense ratio of 0.38% while AFSM charges 0.75%. AESB is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AESB and AFSM?
54.3% of AESB's money is in holdings AFSM also owns. 28.0% of AFSM's is in holdings AESB also owns. They hold 76 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in AESB and 319 in AFSM.
Which pays a higher dividend, AESB or AFSM?
AESB yields 0.00% while AFSM yields 0.51%, so AFSM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is AFSM better than AESB?
AESB has a lower expense ratio. AFSM is less concentrated, with 8.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 23.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.