AESB vs SMLL
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Core ETF vs Harbor Active Small Cap ETF
Which is better, AESB or SMLL?
AESB costs less.
AESB has a lower expense ratio. AESB is less concentrated, with 22.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.3%.
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 | SMLL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38%Best | 0.80% |
| AUM | $2M | $12M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.63% |
| Holdings | 331 | 103 |
| YTD Return | -4.24% | +2.49%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | -0.71% |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.6%Best | 36.3% |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Harbor Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 26, 2026 | Aug 27, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AESB vs SMLL 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 SMLL Performance
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Core ETF (AESB) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Harbor Active Small Cap ETF (SMLL) is an ETF from Harbor Funds. Year to date, AESB is down 4.24% versus a gain of 2.49% for SMLL.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AESB charges 0.38% per year while SMLL charges 0.80%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $80 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AESB currently yields 0.00% against 1.63% for SMLL.
Holdings Overlap
0.8% of AESB's money is in holdings SMLL also owns. 0.9% of SMLL's money is in holdings AESB also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in AESB and 51 in SMLL, against full books of 331 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 50 positions for SMLL that do not appear in our book for AESB (96.5% of the fund), and 151 for AESB that do not appear in SMLL (87.5%).
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 SMLL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCRIMonarch Casino & Resort Inc | 0.79% | 0.94% | 0.15% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AESB and SMLL 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 SMLL?
AESB has an expense ratio of 0.38% while SMLL charges 0.80%. AESB is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, AESB or SMLL?
AESB yields 0.00% while SMLL yields 1.63%, so SMLL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SMLL better than AESB?
AESB has a lower expense ratio. AESB is less concentrated, with 22.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.