AESB vs FESC
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Core ETF vs First Eagle Small Cap Equity ETF
Which is better, AESB or FESC?
AESB costs less.
AESB has a lower expense ratio. FESC is less concentrated, with 10.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 22.6%.
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 | FESC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38%Best | 0.55% |
| AUM | $2M | $5M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 331 | 184 |
| YTD Return | -4.24%Best | -9.73% |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.6% | 10.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | First Eagle Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 26, 2026 | Jun 30, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AESB vs FESC 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 FESC Performance
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Core ETF (AESB) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and First Eagle Small Cap Equity ETF (FESC) is an ETF from First Eagle Investments. Year to date, AESB is down 4.24% versus a loss of 9.73% for FESC.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AESB charges 0.38% per year while FESC charges 0.55%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $55 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AESB currently yields 0.00% against 0.00% for FESC.
Holdings Overlap
9.1% of AESB's money is in holdings FESC also owns. 11.9% of FESC's money is in holdings AESB also owns.
FESC and AESB share little of their money.
19 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in AESB and 181 in FESC, against full books of 331 and 184.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 155 positions for FESC that do not appear in our book for AESB (83.6% of the fund), and 133 for AESB that do not appear in FESC (79.2%).
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 FESC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDNACaredx Inc | 0.92% | 1.04% | 0.12% |
| HNGEHinge Health Inc | 0.91% | 1.04% | 0.13% |
| CAKECheesecake Factory Inc/the | 1.59% | 0.34% | 1.25% |
| SPBSpectrum Brands Holdings Inc | 0.74% | 0.83% | 0.09% |
| KALUKaiser Aluminum Corp | 0.40% | 0.87% | 0.47% |
| MRVIMaravai Lifesciences Holdings Inc | 0.26% | 0.87% | 0.61% |
| TDCTeradata Corp | 0.40% | 0.71% | 0.31% |
| AMNAmn Healthcare Services Inc | 0.50% | 0.55% | 0.05% |
| LFSTLifestance Health Group Inc | 0.26% | 0.76% | 0.50% |
| MGNIMagnite | 0.25% | 0.69% | 0.44% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AESB and FESC you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AESB or FESC?
AESB has an expense ratio of 0.38% while FESC charges 0.55%. AESB is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AESB and FESC?
11.9% of FESC's money is in holdings AESB also owns. 11.9% of FESC's is in holdings AESB also owns. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in AESB and 181 in FESC.
Which pays a higher dividend, AESB or FESC?
AESB yields 0.00% while FESC yields 0.00%, so FESC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is FESC better than AESB?
AESB has a lower expense ratio. FESC is less concentrated, with 10.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 22.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.