AFSM vs FESC
First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF vs First Eagle Small Cap Equity ETF
Which is better, AFSM or FESC?
FESC costs less.
FESC has a lower expense ratio. AFSM is less concentrated, with 8.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 10.4%.
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 | AFSM | FESC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.55%Best |
| AUM | $130M | $5M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.52% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 657 | 184 |
| YTD Return | +19.57%Best | -9.73% |
| 1Y Return | +23.10% | - |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.42% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.06% | - |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.4%Best | 10.4% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | First Eagle Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 4, 2019 | Jun 30, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AFSM 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.
AFSM vs FESC Performance
First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (AFSM) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and First Eagle Small Cap Equity ETF (FESC) is an ETF from First Eagle Investments. Year to date, AFSM is up 19.57% versus a loss of 9.73% for FESC.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFSM charges 0.75% per year while FESC charges 0.55%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $55 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFSM currently yields 0.52% against 0.00% for FESC.
Holdings Overlap
9.8% of AFSM's money is in holdings FESC also owns. 18.2% of FESC's money is in holdings AFSM also owns.
FESC and AFSM share little of their money.
35 positions in common, counted across the 321 positions we hold weights for in AFSM and 181 in FESC, against full books of 657 and 184.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 139 positions for FESC that do not appear in our book for AFSM (77.3% of the fund), and 266 for AFSM that do not appear in FESC (83.0%).
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 AFSM | Weight in FESC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LPGDorian Lpg Ltd | 0.46% | 1.21% | 0.75% |
| TALOTalos Energy Inc | 0.40% | 0.90% | 0.50% |
| KALUKaiser Aluminum Corp | 0.25% | 0.87% | 0.62% |
| TTMITtm Techologies | 0.56% | 0.51% | 0.05% |
| HLITHarmonic Inc | 0.42% | 0.65% | 0.23% |
| ABMAbm Industries Inc | 0.32% | 0.75% | 0.43% |
| LFSTLifestance Health Group Inc | 0.30% | 0.76% | 0.46% |
| REPXRiley Exploration Permian Inc | 0.11% | 0.94% | 0.83% |
| TDCTeradata Corp | 0.32% | 0.71% | 0.39% |
| ROGRoche Holding Ag- Genusschein | 0.12% | 0.80% | 0.68% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AFSM 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, AFSM or FESC?
AFSM has an expense ratio of 0.75% while FESC charges 0.55%. FESC is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AFSM and FESC?
18.2% of FESC's money is in holdings AFSM also owns. 18.2% of FESC's is in holdings AFSM also owns. They hold 35 positions in common, counted across the 321 positions we hold weights for in AFSM and 181 in FESC.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFSM or FESC?
AFSM yields 0.52% while FESC yields 0.00%, so AFSM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is FESC better than AFSM?
FESC has a lower expense ratio. AFSM is less concentrated, with 8.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 10.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.