AFSM vs SEIS
First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF vs SEI Select Small Cap ETF
Which is better, AFSM or SEIS?
Nearly the same fund. SEIS costs less.
SEIS has a lower expense ratio. AFSM led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. AFSM is less concentrated, with 8.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 10.5%.
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 | SEIS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.55%Best |
| AUM | $130M | $607M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.52% | 0.35% |
| Holdings | 657 | 767 |
| YTD Return | +19.57%Best | +10.36% |
| 1Y Return | +23.10%Best | +11.88% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.42% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.06% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3%Best | 18.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -25.1%Best | -25.7% |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $13,097Best | $12,417 |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.4%Best | 10.5% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | SEI EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 4, 2019 | Oct 8, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 10, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2 years).
AFSM vs SEIS 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 covers the 2 years both funds cover.
AFSM vs SEIS Performance
First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (AFSM) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and SEI Select Small Cap ETF (SEIS) is an ETF from SEI EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS. Over the past year AFSM returned +23.10% while SEIS returned +11.88%. Year to date, AFSM is up 19.57% versus a gain of 10.36% for SEIS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SEIS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 17.3% for AFSM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -25.1% for AFSM and -25.7% for SEIS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFSM charges 0.75% per year while SEIS 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 0.35% for SEIS.
Holdings Overlap
42.3% of AFSM's money is in holdings SEIS also owns. 33.7% of SEIS's money is in holdings AFSM also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
119 positions in common, counted across the 321 positions we hold weights for in AFSM and 369 in SEIS, against full books of 657 and 767.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 235 positions for SEIS that do not appear in our book for AFSM (62.1% of the fund), and 188 for AFSM that do not appear in SEIS (53.2%).
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 AFSM | Weight in SEIS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANFAbercrombie & Fitch Co. Class A | 0.78% | 1.24% | 0.46% |
| VIAVViavi Solutions Inc | 0.72% | 0.83% | 0.11% |
| APLEApple Hospitality Reit Inc | 0.66% | 0.82% | 0.16% |
| PARRPar Petroleum Corp | 1.17% | 0.21% | 0.96% |
| KNSAKiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. | 0.71% | 0.55% | 0.16% |
| BTSGBrightspring Health Services Inc | 0.56% | 0.65% | 0.09% |
| MATXMatson Inc | 0.90% | 0.28% | 0.62% |
| WTSWatts Water Technologies Inc | 0.11% | 1.07% | 0.96% |
| DKDelek Us Holdings Inc | 0.34% | 0.78% | 0.44% |
| CAKECheesecake Factory Inc/the | 0.32% | 0.78% | 0.46% |
42.3% of AFSM is already inside SEIS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AFSM or SEIS?
AFSM has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SEIS charges 0.55%. SEIS is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFSM or SEIS?
Over the past year AFSM returned +23.10% vs +11.88% for SEIS, so AFSM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AFSM annualized +14.44% vs +11.43% for SEIS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFSM or SEIS?
SEIS has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 17.3% for AFSM. Worst drawdown: AFSM -25.1% vs SEIS -25.7%.
Should I hold both AFSM and SEIS?
AFSM and SEIS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AFSM and SEIS?
42.3% of AFSM's money is in holdings SEIS also owns. 33.7% of SEIS's is in holdings AFSM also owns. They hold 119 positions in common, counted across the 321 positions we hold weights for in AFSM and 369 in SEIS.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFSM or SEIS?
AFSM yields 0.52% while SEIS yields 0.35%, so AFSM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SEIS better than AFSM?
SEIS has a lower expense ratio. AFSM led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. AFSM is less concentrated, with 8.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 10.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.