ASCE vs SMMD
Allspring SMID Core ETF vs iShares Russell 2500 ETF
Which is better, ASCE or SMMD?
ASCE has been ahead.
SMMD has a lower expense ratio. ASCE led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. ASCE is less concentrated, with 27.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.7%.
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 | ASCE | SMMD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.15%Best |
| AUM | $193M | $4.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.17% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 52 | 1,030 |
| YTD Return | +21.38%Best | +13.31% |
| 1Y Return | +29.05%Best | +17.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.16% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +7.00% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.2%Best | -9.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $13,463Best | $12,584 |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.3%Best | 43.7% |
| Fund Family | Allspring Global Investments | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 8, 2025 | Jul 6, 2017 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 8, 2025 to Oct 13, 2026 (1.3 years).
ASCE vs SMMD 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 covers the 1.3 years both funds cover.
ASCE vs SMMD Performance
Allspring SMID Core ETF (ASCE) is an ETF from Allspring Global Investments and iShares Russell 2500 ETF (SMMD) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year ASCE returned +29.05% while SMMD returned +17.31%. Year to date, ASCE is up 21.38% versus a gain of 13.31% for SMMD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ASCE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 14.5% for SMMD. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -9.2% for ASCE and -9.7% for SMMD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ASCE charges 0.38% per year while SMMD charges 0.15%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $15 annually, a gap of $23 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ASCE currently yields 0.17% against 1.06% for SMMD.
Holdings Overlap
42.2% of ASCE's money is in holdings SMMD also owns. 2.7% of SMMD's money is in holdings ASCE also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
20 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in ASCE and 510 in SMMD, against full books of 52 and 1,030.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 475 positions for SMMD that do not appear in our book for ASCE (95.5% of the fund), and 28 for ASCE that do not appear in SMMD (52.4%).
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 ASCE | Weight in SMMD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CORTCorcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 3.69% | 0.15% | 3.54% |
| EXELExelixis Inc | 2.60% | 0.19% | 2.41% |
| CDECoeur Mining Inc | 2.50% | 0.29% | 2.21% |
| OASChord Energy Corp | 2.53% | 0.12% | 2.41% |
| VIRTVirtu Financial Inc Class A | 2.57% | 0.07% | 2.50% |
| UHSUniversal Health Services Inc. | 2.41% | 0.12% | 2.29% |
| SNSharkninja Inc | 2.34% | 0.19% | 2.15% |
| SMTCSemtech Corp | 2.24% | 0.21% | 2.03% |
| EXLSExlservice Holdings, Inc. (A) | 2.28% | 0.07% | 2.21% |
| NFGNational Fuel Gas Co | 2.20% | 0.11% | 2.09% |
42.2% of ASCE is already inside SMMD.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ASCE or SMMD?
ASCE has an expense ratio of 0.38% while SMMD charges 0.15%. SMMD is the cheaper option, by $23 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ASCE or SMMD?
Over the past year ASCE returned +29.05% vs +17.31% for SMMD, so ASCE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ASCE annualized +25.70% vs +19.34% for SMMD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ASCE or SMMD?
ASCE has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 14.5% for SMMD. Worst drawdown: ASCE -9.2% vs SMMD -9.7%.
Should I hold both ASCE and SMMD?
ASCE and SMMD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ASCE and SMMD?
42.2% of ASCE's money is in holdings SMMD also owns. 2.7% of SMMD's is in holdings ASCE also owns. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in ASCE and 510 in SMMD.
Which pays a higher dividend, ASCE or SMMD?
ASCE yields 0.17% while SMMD yields 1.06%, so SMMD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMMD better than ASCE?
SMMD has a lower expense ratio. ASCE led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. ASCE is less concentrated, with 27.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.