AESB vs RUSC
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Core ETF vs Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF
Which is better, AESB or RUSC?
AESB costs less.
AESB has a lower expense ratio. RUSC is less concentrated, with 5.2% 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 | RUSC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38%Best | 0.64% |
| AUM | $2M | $81M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.33% |
| Holdings | 331 | 491 |
| YTD Return | -4.24% | +13.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +17.59% |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.6% | 5.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Russell Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 26, 2026 | May 13, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AESB vs RUSC 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 RUSC Performance
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Core ETF (AESB) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF (RUSC) is an ETF from Russell Investments. Year to date, AESB is down 4.24% versus a gain of 13.09% for RUSC.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AESB charges 0.38% per year while RUSC charges 0.64%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $64 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AESB currently yields 0.00% against 0.33% for RUSC.
Holdings Overlap
23.6% of AESB's money is in holdings RUSC also owns. 7.2% of RUSC's money is in holdings AESB also owns.
AESB and RUSC share little of their money.
31 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in AESB and 489 in RUSC, against full books of 331 and 491.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 351 positions for RUSC that do not appear in our book for AESB (71.2% of the fund), and 125 for AESB that do not appear in RUSC (68.2%).
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 RUSC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 2.94% | 0.28% | 2.66% |
| OFG:PROfg Bancorp Common Stock | 1.63% | 0.22% | 1.41% |
| HRMYHarmony Biosciences, Llc | 1.47% | 0.15% | 1.32% |
| PTGXProtagonist Therapeutics Inc | 1.17% | 0.36% | 0.81% |
| CDNACaredx Inc | 0.92% | 0.52% | 0.40% |
| OIIOceaneering International Inc | 1.04% | 0.27% | 0.77% |
| ENVAEnova International Inc. (usd) | 1.26% | 0.02% | 1.24% |
| TWSTTwist Bioscience Corp. | 0.94% | 0.30% | 0.64% |
| KFYKorn Ferry | 1.16% | 0.06% | 1.10% |
| TNKTeekay Tankers Ltd Common Stock Temp Line | 0.93% | 0.25% | 0.68% |
23.6% of AESB is already inside RUSC.
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 RUSC?
AESB has an expense ratio of 0.38% while RUSC charges 0.64%. AESB is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AESB and RUSC?
23.6% of AESB's money is in holdings RUSC also owns. 7.2% of RUSC's is in holdings AESB also owns. They hold 31 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in AESB and 489 in RUSC.
Which pays a higher dividend, AESB or RUSC?
AESB yields 0.00% while RUSC yields 0.33%, so RUSC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RUSC better than AESB?
AESB has a lower expense ratio. RUSC is less concentrated, with 5.2% 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.