AESG vs IWO
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Growth ETF vs iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF
Which is better, AESG or IWO?
IWO costs less.
IWO has a lower expense ratio. IWO is less concentrated, with 6.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 19.0%.
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 | AESG | IWO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.24%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $13.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.47% |
| Holdings | 375 | 1,105 |
| YTD Return | -5.77% | +4.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +4.16% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +16.84% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +3.25% |
| Top 10 Weight | 19.0% | 6.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Small Cap Growth |
| Inception | Aug 26, 2026 | Jul 24, 2000 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AESG vs IWO 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.
AESG vs IWO Performance
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Growth ETF (AESG) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Year to date, AESG is down 5.77% versus a gain of 4.95% for IWO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AESG charges 0.40% per year while IWO charges 0.24%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $24 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AESG currently yields 0.00% against 0.47% for IWO.
Holdings Overlap
68.8% of AESG's money is in holdings IWO also owns. 29.7% of IWO's money is in holdings AESG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
138 positions in common, counted across the 192 positions we hold weights for in AESG and 1,119 in IWO, against full books of 375 and 1,105.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 793 positions for IWO that do not appear in our book for AESG (65.3% of the fund), and 44 for AESG that do not appear in IWO (27.3%).
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 AESG | Weight in IWO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAMPLiveramp Holdings Inc | 2.51% | 0.15% | 2.36% |
| TWSTTwist Bioscience Corp. | 1.45% | 0.83% | 0.62% |
| PTGXProtagonist Therapeutics Inc | 1.63% | 0.57% | 1.06% |
| CAKECheesecake Factory Inc/the | 1.66% | 0.34% | 1.32% |
| TXG10x Genomics Inc Com Usd 1 Cl A | 1.21% | 0.69% | 0.52% |
| FBPFirst Bancorp/puerto Rico | 1.83% | 0.02% | 1.81% |
| HRMYHarmony Biosciences, Llc | 1.58% | 0.12% | 1.46% |
| ENVAEnova International Inc. (usd) | 1.42% | 0.28% | 1.14% |
| KRYSKrystal Biotech Inc | 1.14% | 0.56% | 0.58% |
| ANFAbercrombie & Fitch Co. Class A | 1.28% | 0.40% | 0.88% |
68.8% of AESG is already inside IWO.
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, AESG or IWO?
AESG has an expense ratio of 0.40% while IWO charges 0.24%. IWO is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AESG and IWO?
68.8% of AESG's money is in holdings IWO also owns. 29.7% of IWO's is in holdings AESG also owns. They hold 138 positions in common, counted across the 192 positions we hold weights for in AESG and 1,119 in IWO.
Which pays a higher dividend, AESG or IWO?
AESG yields 0.00% while IWO yields 0.47%, so IWO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IWO better than AESG?
IWO has a lower expense ratio. IWO is less concentrated, with 6.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 19.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.