AESL vs IWN
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF vs iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF
Which is better, AESL or IWN?
IWN costs less.
IWN has a lower expense ratio. IWN is less concentrated, with 5.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.7%.
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 | AESL | IWN |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.24%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $13.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.55% |
| Holdings | 102 | 1,393 |
| YTD Return | -2.65% | +14.77%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +17.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.07% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +6.58% |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.7% | 5.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Small Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 26, 2026 | Jul 24, 2000 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AESL vs IWN 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.
AESL vs IWN Performance
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF (AESL) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Year to date, AESL is down 2.65% versus a gain of 14.77% for IWN.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AESL charges 0.40% per year while IWN 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, AESL currently yields 0.00% against 1.55% for IWN.
Holdings Overlap
75.0% of AESL's money is in holdings IWN also owns. 13.8% of IWN's money is in holdings AESL also owns.
Most of AESL is already inside IWN. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
87 positions in common, counted across the 126 positions we hold weights for in AESL and 1,290 in IWN, against full books of 102 and 1,393.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,053 positions for IWN that do not appear in our book for AESL (81.1% of the fund), and 33 for AESL that do not appear in IWN (21.2%).
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 AESL | Weight in IWN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UBSIUnited Bankshares Inc/Wv | 3.47% | 0.43% | 3.04% |
| APLEApple Hospitality Reit Inc | 3.23% | 0.25% | 2.98% |
| FBPFirst Bancorp/puerto Rico | 3.22% | 0.19% | 3.03% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 2.96% | 0.23% | 2.73% |
| HOMBHome Bancshares Inc/ar | 2.72% | 0.38% | 2.34% |
| ONBOld National Bancorp/In Common Stock | 2.20% | 0.53% | 1.67% |
| ESNTEssent Group Ltd. | 2.30% | 0.36% | 1.94% |
| EBFEnnis Inc | 2.33% | 0.04% | 2.29% |
| SLDESlide Insurance Holdings, Inc. | 2.11% | 0.11% | 2.00% |
| VCTRVictory Receivables Corp | 1.86% | 0.23% | 1.63% |
75.0% of AESL is already inside IWN.
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, AESL or IWN?
AESL has an expense ratio of 0.40% while IWN charges 0.24%. IWN is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AESL and IWN?
75.0% of AESL's money is in holdings IWN also owns. 13.8% of IWN's is in holdings AESL also owns. They hold 87 positions in common, counted across the 126 positions we hold weights for in AESL and 1,290 in IWN.
Which pays a higher dividend, AESL or IWN?
AESL yields 0.00% while IWN yields 1.55%, so IWN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IWN better than AESL?
IWN has a lower expense ratio. IWN is less concentrated, with 5.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.